Page 4 - RADC Bulletin 2018

FOREWORD
Foreword
Colonel T Davies L/RADC, Chief Dental Officer (Army)
Once again it has been a busy year for everyone and your contributions to this year’s RADC Bulletin prove
it. Despite the fact most of us are generally employed in Firm Base delivery it hasn’t prevented many of you from deploying, going on exercise, partaking in sporting events and generally continuing to spread the word as to what a capable bunch you all are, as individuals and as part of a team.
When I joined the RADC there were commonly opportunities/roles for us in locations all over the country
and abroad; the difference now is that although there are roles in many places the number of jobs in one site for personnel in the same rank has diminished so that at a time when the Army is looking to save money by reducing the frequency of unit moves our people
and their families, more often than not, will have to move especially
if promotion is in the offering. That said, the chances for promotion within the Dental Nurse Cadre remain extremely good when compared to other Corps and Regiments.
The competition for conversion of commission, whether this
be from a Short Service Commission to Intermediate Regular Commission (IRC) or from IRC to Regular Commission (Reg C) is extremely competitive. However, what is reassuring is that personnel still wish to remain in the RADC for the medium and long term; this is very good news for the Army and wider Defence as they realise our personnel are required. RADC Dental Officers are making themselves increasingly competitive for Conversion Boards which bodes well for the standard of our future leaders.
For those of you working in Medical Regiments and deploying on exercises, such as Exercise ASKARI SERPENT, the time taken to complete post exercise and equipment reports has been appreciated and remains fundamental to the future delivery of dentistry on operations and exercises. We have a long history of successfully supporting the Army on operations and in war; this is the fundamental reason for our existence and it is good to see the enthusiasm with which our personnel take responsibility for such work. Those involved on operations understand the importance of having well trained, knowledgeable and enthusiastic RADC Dental Teams that can calmly and efficiently treat the Deployed None Battle Injuries (DNBI) in order to maintain Fighting Power as well as supporting trauma treatment in an austere environment.
I wish to thank Maj Sarah Armstrong, ably supported by Captain Cheryl Blackwood, for organising and delivering a team for the AMS Athletics Championship. We may not have been the largest team but we were certainly the loudest, and we competed well in team and individual events with some notable results from RADC members representing their Medical Regiments as well. Anyone who was privileged to witness the camaraderie and effort from both our male and female tug of war teams will have no issues with stating that our Corps ethos is alive and kicking. I make no excuses for advertising here the AMS Athletics Championship 2019 to be held at the RMAS on Thu 20 and Fri 21 June so that you can start to arrange your training, participation and attendance.
My predecessor, Colonel Simon Creasey, emphasized the point
in a foreword for the Bulletin that “the Corps needs to attract, recruit and retain the very best” and that is true more than ever, and to
see our personnel performing well against their peers from other corps and regiments is always good to see. Anyone who saw the Representative Colonel Commandant and I at the recent Passing Out Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst would have realised how proud we were as Officer Cadet (now Lieutenant) Simon Fear was presented with the MacRobert Sword, awarded for being the best on the course (a course of over 100 PQOs and Reservists) – an outstanding achievement for both the individual and the RADC. We are attracting the best and we must, for all levels, develop them into the best leaders so that RADC personnel continue to deliver what is required while supporting all around them.
Finally, wherever you are serving, whatever rank you are, whatever organisation you are working for whether it be in Staff and Command, Training, Primary Care or Field Army, Regular, Reservist or Retired, we must continue to stand proud of what we have achieved and are continuing to accomplish while still maintaining an enviable ethos; long may we do so.
Ex Dentibus Ensis
OCdt (now Lt) Simon Fear RADC passing off the square at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after being awarded the MacRobert Sword for Top Student
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