Page 15 - 103RA 2018-20

COVID-19 – Continuation of Training
The obvious challenge for the wider Field Army, and the team at 103RA, was the continuation of training when all service personnel were not to attend bases, barracks and training facilities in person. At the sharp end, Gunnery is a hands-on, physical job and not one that can be easily drilled from the kitchen table. Hence, it was clear early on that our training would need to focus on Gunnery theory and the development of our people conceptually, given that all training would take place over ‘Zoom’ – a video confer- encing application. We spent the early weeks
getting up to date with Mandatory Annual Training
Tests (MATTS) in order to be ready to mobilise if
required. From there the focus switched to wider
conceptual understanding of a gun battery’s
place within the brigade and divisional opera-
tions. This is something than most Level 2 and 3
Strike personnel don’t typically receive training on,
but wider tactical and strategic understanding is
never going to be wasted or in vein. One of the
benefits of having more experienced regular staff
attached to a Reserve Regiment is their ability to deliver training with rounded experience and operational insight to contextualise the theory being taught – we very much felt the benefit of the PSI and SPSI during this period.
As the pandemic progressed, it was understood at all levels that it wasn’t going to end quickly. 209 Bty took change in direction with training in order to keep content fresh and keep people engaged. In early June, we began a series of sessions to develop leadership and management training – including scenario based tactical/ethical problem-solving tools used by RMAS and group discussions around ethical issues often touched upon in MATT 6 – values and standards. This was good preparation for several Gnrs and LBdrs who were preparing to do adapted ALDP cadre courses
Regimental Journal 2018-20
it was understood at all levels that it wasn’t going to end quickly
in order to be eligible for promotion boards. PT is as necessary as ever in holding force elements at readiness and the Regiment’s PTIs created joint Battery circuit training sessions on Zoom which
added to a sense of ‘togetherness’ that we know our soldiers weren’t getting much of from elsewhere. Further, an additional 1⁄4 day of pay was available to soldiers who completed 2 x further training runs per week and submitted evidence to the training teams. The result of this was a regiment and battery which, despite the challenges of COVID, have remained physically fit and robust.
At the time of this journal publication, the pandemic continues to significantly affect life across our planet. Manchester, where 209 Bty is based, sits in a region constantly affected by the highest level of lock-down measures and this does not appear likely to change in the near future. Virtual training is proposed to continue for the foreseeable future. It will be the whole battery, as a collective, who will continue to maintain morale and support one another.
Commander Field Army - Commendation
“Lance Bombardier Hatton is a reservist within 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volun- teers) Regiment Royal Artillery and is trained as a gun number in a Light Gun Battery. It was recently brought to the attention of the chain of command that Lance Bombardier Hatton had employed his MATT 3 First Aid skills, acquired through military training, to save the life of a member of the public.
On Sunday 5 May 2019, whilst shopping in his local convenience store in Gorton, Manchester, a teenage male was chased into the store by an assailant where he was stabbed in the leg leaving him seriously injured. Not knowing whether the assailant would return, LBdr Hatton remained in the store and called the emergency services while two unknown males rendered initial first aid to the victim. Prior to the arrival of the police and ambulance crew the two unknown males administering first aid fled the scene leaving LBdr Hatton in the store awaiting the arrival of the emergency services. Not thinking of his own safety, LBdr Hatton admin-
istered first aid by applying pressure to the victims wound whilst giving reas- surance until the police and ambulance service arrived. Following emergency trauma care by the ambulance crew, the victim was rushed to hospital. Following this LBdr Hatton remained at the scene providing the police with a witness statement.
As one of the first on the scene, and a trained trauma technician, Sergeant Stephen Wood of Greater Manchester Police later commented that on arrival he discerned that the injury sustained by the victim was life threatening.
In relation to the selfless actions of LBdr Hatton he commented that, “There is nothing more frustrating and life threatening than witnesses standing by and doing nothing. This is common place and very rarely do witnesses get involved despite the horrific injuries I have come across. The injuries were so severe the victim may still require his leg amputating. That said I can say with confidence that without Anthony’s intervention the male would not have
been alive when I arrived on scene. To add to this Anthony then remained at the scene providing us with a valuable account of what he had witnessed, again something many witnesses don’t do these days.”
Lance Bombardier Hatton’s calmness, presence of mind, courage and deci- siveness in this situation embodies the expectations the Army has of it’s soldiers, which in this case saved the life of a member of the public. For this outstanding soldierly act he is wholly deserving of formal recognition.”
13