Page 280 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
the expansion of the RAVC TA and how it could make a significant contribution was reported in the winter 2002/3 issue of Chiron Calling: “Let’s hope that those in the corridors of power recognise this and seize the opportunity. There would be no shortage of ex-service personnel with dog handling experience willing to join a TA MWD Unit and make a continuing contribution to the security of the nation.”16
However, it was the 1998 Strategic Defence Review that set the pattern for the future deployment of the Armed Forces and focused on the re-organisation of the Army. This was to ensure that it could be more re-active to a role assisting the UN in peace keeping operations and humanitarian aid scenarios. This review saw the regrettable necessity of yet another re-organi- sation of the TA, however it nonetheless made it a more positive and meaningful force albeit smaller.
Lt Col Peter Roffey in his Editorial Note in Chiron Calling (winter ‘98/99) commented: “The RAVC TA Officer Pool is an excellent example of the manner in which the TA can integrate with and support the Regular force”.17 The RAVC TA Officers’ Pool was unaffected in that Review. However, four years later, it was a different story.
In 2002, the RAVC TA Officers’ Pool came under Review – there was thought given to the idea of extending the use of TA Veterinary Officers to support Regional Brigades. After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York on 11th September 2001, planning caused HMG to look at its capability to meet a disaster on the same scale in the UK. And, more importantly, take suitable preventative measures. HMG stated at the time that the role for the TA in meeting such a threat, and the value that TA VOs could offer, was particularly pertinent in view of the concern that the enemy may resort to biological attack.
Meanwhile, there were commitments to be met and non-RAVC TA handlers were mobilised to the Former Yugoslavia to patrol installations such as Banja Luka Metal factory, one of the many locations of the Stabilization Force (SFOR) for NATO. These handlers excelled in their role and served alongside Regular RAVC personnel.
RLC TA handlers had also served in Kosovo during 1999 and 2000 with the RAVC Unit on Op AGRICOLA, and a number of TA soldiers were later trained to handle Vehicle Search dogs in Pristina. Dog handlers were again mobilised
from all parts of the UK to support Op TELIC in Iraq in 2003. These Protection dog handlers completed training at the Defence Animal Centre and deployed to Shaibah Logistics Base and the Combined Operating Base at Basra Airport where they conducted regular patrols.
Major Chris Ham RAVC, whilst OC at 104 MWD Sp Unit, had already proposed the formation18 of a TA MWD handler cadre which would hugely alleviate the overstretch and could also be particu- larly useful for surge requirements. He suggested that this measure be researched to determine if it could be a viable option.
However, there was once again a period where the role of the RAVC TA was not exploited and this continued until 2007 – then more success- fully, in 2013. During 2007 the Commander of 104 Logistic Support Brigade, Brigadier Chris Blong – Late RLC and Colonel Matt Limb OBE, Late RLC Commander 2 Group RLC – directed Major Ham the OC of the recently re-roled Army Dog Unit Northern Ireland (ADU NI), 104 MWD Support Unit, to take up his pen to produce a staff paper on the feasibility and formation of an RAVC TA Unit at Grantham, the HQ of RLC TA.19
The concept was simple.
The increased requirement for Military Working Dog teams was unpredicted in Future Army Structures and Defence Planning Assumptions (DPA). The increased demand for MWD on Operations necessitated a Defence wide review of MWD capability. This review was completed by the DJT (Defence Joint Capability) study with the aim of:
a. Predicting MWD requirements out to 2020.
b. Establishing a pan-defence MWD capability
and concept of employment.
c. Identifying a single POC for MWD governance,
the Defence Competent Authority.
The Paper assumed that there would be five MWD Sp Units, each consisting of fifty MWD personnel. After much staff work it was concluded that the overall liability for the RAVC TA Unit
should be ninety handlers.
To meet the increased Operational requirement
for MWD, several Regular LAT uplifts were endorsed:
a. Liability Attribution Tribunal (LAT) 06 identified thirty-seven posts, lifed to 2009.
b. LAT 07 identified seventy-five posts, lifed to 2010.
16 Ibid.
17 Chiron Calling Winter 1998/1989 Editorial Note by Lt Col (Retd) Peter A Roffey DL.
18 Reference 104 MWD/G5/1 dated 12th March 2008.
19 The Requirement for an RAVC TA Unit 104 MWD/G5/1 dated 17th March 2008 to Comd 104 Log Sp Bde from Major Chris Ham RAVC.
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