Page 59 - Chronicle Vol 17

WORKFORCE
The battalion is going through a seismic change. The role change to the SFA role comes with a reduction in numbers, down from 695 to only 329, of all ranks and capbadges. We have made every effort to keep those soldiers who cannot remain with the battalion, in the army. The reduction will be as gradual as possible and inflow from the Infantry Training Centre has been reduced since June this year, along with an increased posting out of soldiers to other training establishments. 85 Riflemen will move to other Battalions within the Regiment and 16 will move to other Infantry capbadges. The rest of the reduction will come from a net out- flow and a significant reduction in attached arms to the Battalion (namely the REME who will reduce from 69 to only 11).
FAMILY AND WELFARE MATTERS
The welfare teams’ now famous coffee and waffle mornings are drawing increas- ing audiences with every occasion and the free Edinburgh Zoo trips and dis- counted dry ski slope lessons remain a firm favourite with the families. The deployed welfare grants for both soldiers and their families have been of great help keeping the families entertained whilst the Battalion has spent many weeks away on Operation INTERFLEX. The welfare team organised some cracking par- ties, including an impressively long fireworks display in November. One benefit of the reduction in the Battalion’s size next year is that there ought to be enough houses for all of our families in Edinburgh, rather than having to commute from places farther afield.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RECRUITMENT
Despite the tempo of operations, the Battalion has worked hard to maintain links with the community. We have a good link with the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) Scotland, and will give some auction winners a rich ‘day in the life of a Riflemen’ experience in Edinburgh in December. We also hosted four Barbers from the Worshipful Company in November at Warcop to experience a little of Op INTERFLEX. We have hosted eight Potential Officer (PO) visits, often to Warcop and Wathgill to demonstrate the training of the Ukrainian recruits first hand to the POs. C Company were granted the Freedom of Sunderland in November and marched through the city on Remembrance Sunday, continuing the bond with one of the Battalion’s principle recruitment areas.
CONCLUSION
The Battalion has once again contributed to European security performing brilliantly in Estonia and providing an unparalleled commitment to training Ukrainians in the UK. Another six months on Operation INTERFLEX have set the
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