Page 243 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Ex GRIFFIN FOCUS 2006
Scotland was the location for Ex GRIFFIN FOCUS attended by WO2 Robert Hart RAVC from 102 MWD Sp Unit who provided a personal account for Chiron Calling:
Having only arrived at 102 MWD Support Unit in late April 2006, I was initially surprised that my first months in unit would be so hectic due, essentially, to the start of the new Training Year for an ever-growing unit. And also because of the steadily increasing tempo in Pre-Deployment Training (PDT) requirements prior to 102’s Operational Commitment Plot (OCP) commencing in March 2007.
From day one, the pace has been reluctant to slip, the Unit undertaking Ex CHIRON LEADER, Collective Training (CT) 1-2 a Sub-unit Exercise to the present day as 102 prepares for OPTAG Pre-Deployment Training, Range packages and Ex KUSH DRAGON. Every month has seen progressive forms of Collective Training and in June the Unit took part in Exercise GRIFFIN FOCUS – probably the most prominent Capstone29 Exercise and Collective Training Competence (CTC) 4-5 for Theatre Troops.
Even before the Unit’s departure it was obvious that MWD assets would be at a premium with 8 Transport (Tpt) Regt’s request for MWD support to go to the Theatre Reception Centre (TRC) at Carlisle Airfield and further support requirements for the 8 Force Eng Bde, HQ at RAF West Freugh Airfield, Stranraer. With seven vehicles and 15 personnel – five of whom had arrived the day before departure – the Unit set off on what was probably the longest Lines of Communication (LoC) by road, encountered by the RAVC since its formation.
Three days and 700 miles with forced stops and stringent convoy procedures, the Unit arrived at Stranraer, having detached three handlers at the TRC. The TRC equipped, as most would expect, with transit accommodation, feeding and a compulsory RSOI package, allowed the Unit the opportunity to provide Real Life Support (RLS) to what was to be the hypothetical APOD/Reception Centre for all five thousand exercising troops. It also afforded the Unit a shop window for Military Working Dog capability, with both Protection and Vehicle Search.
One of the greatest benefits came when the remainder of the Unit moved a further 70 miles to West Freugh and we began to take full advantage of the air assets to conduct changeovers every second day, with the TRT. Two Merlin Helicopters spared the Unit from carrying out road moves throughout the Exercise allowing Military Working Dog Teams the opportunity to gain invaluable Environmental Training with what is considered a relatively new addition to the rotary fleet.
Under Admin Control of 8 Tpt Regt, the Unit successfully managed both RLS and Exercise providing the Incident Response Team (IRT) with AES Dog Teams in support of the EOD operations, VS support to the RMPs and Protection assets to both West Freugh and the Bulk Fuel Installation based nearby. The Unit also provided two AES Teams for further Environmental Training on board HMS Albion when the teams were dropped off by Landing Craft.
Having never before been a part of such a large-scale deployment, one thing stood out. Whether it’s PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, LION SUN or International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School (ILRRPS), the scale of things doesn’t change how we do business. We deploy, maintain, sustain and recover MWD assets, and we can comfortably hold our own amongst the rest.
In daily debriefs, it was pressed on all to document points on how the Unit could do business better and identify lessons that the Unit could use to develop, not only the soldiers but also the equipment. Eighteen days later and the best the Unit could muster was the lack of an adapter which we had purchased locally on the first day.30
The opportunity to get actively involved in conservation and to be immersed in African culture and community presented itself in May 2006. WO1 (RSM) Paul Williams was one of fortunate few to gain a place on Exercise ADVENTUROUS TIGER:
Ex ADVENTUROUS TIGER
– Namibia (3rd – 24th May 2006)
A Defence Animal Centre (DAC) team has recently returned from a successful Level Three adventurous training expedition in Namibia, which combined a testing physical challenge with a fascinating insight into African culture and game conservation.
Following months of pre-planning, having had their fitness thoroughly assessed by the RSM in Snowdonia, and by the PTI in the gym, twelve personnel (eight men and four women) from the RAVC and the RAF Police – ranging in rank from Pte to Col – were selected to go!
The team, under the Officer in Charge, Colonel Tom Ogilvie-Graham MBE, and Expedition Leader WO1 Paul Williams, departed on 3rd May 2006 from Gatwick and, after a 10-hour flight on Air Namibia, arrived in the capital, Windhoek, the following day.
The expedition had three main exercise objectives; firstly, to complete a four-day, 85km
29 Refers to the rock that would lock or wedge the rest of the rocks tightly together within an arch, giving it strength, within the military context refers to a Divisional Level exercise to enable Combat Support and Combat Service Support Units to conduct field training.
30 Chiron Calling dated Winter 2006/Summer 2007.
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