Page 6 - Chiron Spring 2020
P. 6

 6 CHIRON CALLING
In August 1998 W1038142 Pte Speer started Basic Training at ATR Lichfield and on completion, she had a well-deserved Christmas and New Year off (little did she know this was going to be the only time in the next 15 years she will have both off!!!). In January 1999 Pte Speer started her Phase 2 at the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) which consisted of a 2-week Dog Handler course which she completed with Military Working Dog (MWD) Ash (pictured). The next stage was a 2-week course at the Services Veterinary Hospital, which was a brief insight to the Veterinary Technician (VT) life which was what Pte Speer had selected as a career in the Army. Then the final phase was when Pte Speer had the pleasure of meeting ‘Alfred the Mule’ on the Transportation Pack Pony course. Pte Speer had successfully passed all the courses involved in the Phase 2 element enabling her to start her B3 VT course which lasted 31⁄2 months, and on her successful completion Pte Speer remained at the DAC to gain more experience with dogs & horses until she was ready for her B2 VT course which she passed with flying colours and was susequently promoted to LCpl. During the next year LCpl Speer covered as VT at 101 MWD Support Unit (SU) and the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery (KTRHA) which was both more independent and working solely with the Veterinary Officer (VO). In April 2001 LCpl Speer deployed on Op Palatine as a VT providing veterinary care for the MWDs’ there was also additional work involving the feral animals in Bosnia.
In September 2001 LCpl Speer was selected to attend the Advanced Military Equitation Course (AMEC) held at the DAC which was 6 1⁄2 months of early mornings, late evenings and a few involuntary dismounts! On completion LCpl Speer remained at Equine Division gaining more Equine veterinary experience and started to compete on Military Working Horse (MWH) ‘Umbro’ at numerous competitions which included The Royal Windsor Horse Show 2002 where LCpl Speer was presented a rosette from HRH The Queen. In January 2004 LCpl Speer was posted
WO1 (RSM) Angie Speer RAVC
to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) were she gained enormous veterinary experience, attended numerous amounts of ceremonial parades and state visits and gained promotion to LSgt (Cpl) within the 4-year posting.
In January 2008 Cpl Speer was posted to 101 MWDSU as Senior VT after promotion in September 2008 Sgt Speer was transferred within the unit to Training Sgt where she organised all Military Annual Training Tests, Pre Deployment Training and Mission Rehearsal Exercise for the unit getting ready to deploy on HERRICK 10. On tour Sgt Speer was CQMS & VT which kept her busy. On returning to Aldershot Sgt Speer started representing the Army in Cricket and the Army Medical Services (AMS) in Hockey. In May 2010 Sgt Speer was posted back to the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery (KTRHA) as VT where she attended a lot of county shows with the musical drive and ceremonial parades. In January 2011 Sgt Speer was posted to the Army Medical Directorate as the Director Army Veterinary Remount Services (DAVRS) Staff Assistance in the rank of SSgt. When SSgt Speer was familiar with her new administrative duties and responsibilities she found time to try skiing at the AMS Skiing Championships coming 4th in the novice race, she also attended a Basic Drill course at Catterick in November 2011. In July 2012 SSgt Speer was posted to 103 MWD Sqn in Sennelager, Germany as SQMS, soon it was time to go on MRX to Jordan and then deploy on HERRICK 19 which involved a lot of Forward Operational Bases’ closing down then on returning to Germany 103 MWD Sqn had a disbandment parade.
At the end of August 2014 SSgt Speer started as Estate Manager at Equine Training Sqn, DAC which involved the retirement & rehoming of Military Working Horses within the Army. SSgt Speer had worked with beforehand at the KTRHA or HCMR in her previous VT roles so retiring them gave SSgt Speer a lot of pleasure and enjoyment in her job. In April 2016 SSgt Speer was promoted to WO2 and was appointed as RQMS at the DAC in
July 2016, back to sorting out accounts, Unit Identity Numbers and preparing for inspections kept WO2 (RQMS) Speer busy but when she found time she would naturally pop down to Equine to ride her favourite horse ‘Lily’. WO2 (RQMS) Speer also rode ‘Gladstone’ on the RAVC Centenary Parade. (Pictured). Then in October 2018 WO2 Speer was posted to 102 MWD Sqn as SSM which was different but WO2 (SSM) Speer thoroughly enjoyed her posting, dealing with the troops and the MWDs’ going on exercises and courses. Sadly, she was short toured due to promotion, in September 2019 to take up the appointment of WO1 (RSM) at the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR). She says that much of her time in spent attending meetings and courses including Fire, RAVC Reunion and completed my first Remembrance Sunday Parade in Melton Mowbray (Pictured).
If any spare moments are available WO1 (RSM) Speer is currently at Equine Training Squadron riding a new horse ‘Navigator’ getting ready to compete in The Royal Windsor Horse Show 2020.
We wish RSM Speer the very best during her tenure of the RSM at the DATR.
RSM Defence Animal Training Regiment
   























































































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