Page 36 - Chiron 2024

Life of an Army RVN
by LCpl Baddick
I’ve been posted to the Defence Animal Training Regiment since April 2023 and I have certainly been exposed to lots of new opportunities. Coming from
small animal civilian nursing job, I am lucky to have had this as my first ever posting as this way I am exposed to the veterinary care for both the dogs and horses. The equine world is very new to me, but I am enjoying every minute of it.
Each day can be different, depending on which department we are assigned to. This can either be on the Canine or the Equine department. Most days are of a similar routine but occasionally with the odd emergency thrown into the mix. Day to day, I assist with the procurement of Military working animals, maintaining health and welfare off all the animals on site – this includes routine preventative care to OOH emergency care for our animals.
Usually, the day starts off with setting up the practice making sure the building and equipment is ready for the day ahead. This ranges from setting up our surgical theatres for the numerous surgeries that go ahead,
soft tissue and orthopaedics included. It also includes, preparing radiograph and dental equipment and gathering kit ready for sick parades. Once the day is in full swing – as a nurse we take part in radiographing, scanning, general anaesthesia monitoring and Veterinary Officer clinical support – our roles can never be described as ‘dull’!
I have also been presented with some great opportunities to enable me to broaden my experiences as a RVN in the military, they have included the following:
The first being, a long drive to Smiths Barracks, Baumholder to take part in a K9TCCC (Canine Combat Casualty Care) course held by the US Army. An amazing course teaching and sharing emergency tactical field care techniques. A selection of military medics, dog handlers, vets and nurses from numerous European countries attended this course, shared knowledge, and educated one another on improved and up to date procedures.
The second, a horse buy. A long drive up to the beautiful Edinburgh via Northumberland National Park stopping off along the way at private yards to perform vetting’s on horses for the DATR. This consisted of a check-up by the vet and then a complete series of limb radiographs. This trip meant night’s stay in Edinburgh Castle!
A dog buy, visiting a vender in Holland to buy thirty protection dogs to be trained here at the DATR. Each dog had a thorough behavioural and veterinary check over including blood screening before being bought and transported back to the UK.
I have also been lucky enough to travel to Cyprus and take part in a neutering clinic for stray cats on Episkopi. This was a super fun week that was interesting change of scenery compared to day-to-day life at the DATR. We neutered thirty-seven cats and five dogs in five days, and I feel very proud and honoured to be part of such an amazing team.
A short time in Cyprus
by Pte Annie Wilkinson
Iwas posted out to Cyprus on the 29th of May 2023. I handle both Arms Explosive Search (AES) and Patrol (PAT) Military Working Dogs. My
AES dog is Robin, and the PAT dog is Oti. So, what does the job entail? We are based here at Episkopi Garrison and then branch out on daily tasking by vehicle or, if lucky, helicopter. We do taskings at Troodos camp, Mount Olympus, Ayios Nikolaos and Dhekelia. As I am paired with both AES and PAT, I conduct patrol taskings and Vehicle Check Points; we can also be called out to help the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) police if needed. When big functions or VVIPs arrive at Episkopi, one of us could be tasked with searching the areas or buildings before and after the event.
The team out here is small, which sometimes can be challenging due to our workload, but we work well together and look after one another. When people come out to cover, they fit in with the team. It is not all work and no play. We like to take the dogs to the beach for a swim, which helps them cool off. And for a short time in the winter, we take them up to Troodos so they can eat a snowball or two. We’ve gone karting, spa trips, and clay pigeon shooting for team cohesion days.
The Adventure training out here is also good. You can do climbing, scuba diving, mountain biking, gliding, and a whole lot more.
Here is a photo of me and MWD Oti and a few pictures of our dogs.
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