Page 283 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
RAVC Reserve handlers participated in a UK Resilience Training Exercise organised by 104 Sqn, integrated with the Regular Army which was critical for increasing experience and creating Unit cohesion. The invitation, from 104 Sqn, often referred to as ‘our brother/sister Sqn’, saw a strong uptake by their Reserve counterpart handlers. One part of the Exercise, in a large built-up urban area, allowed dog teams to experience complex scenarios in unfamiliar environments – critical training for the dog and handler. Not content with just training in London, the first Annual Camp for the nascent Sqn was completed in Sennelager alongside 102 Regular Sqn. Reserves VOs regularly completed Locums in Germany, Cyprus, Melton and in London with both the Kings Troop and Household Calvary, where civilian clinical skills proved invaluable.
Reserve handlers integrated weekly with Regulars at North Luffenham providing much needed support in the kennels or on Exercises. One Reserve soldier was attached to 104 Sqn for nearly a year. Two RAVC Reserves, whilst their partners were posted to Cyprus, worked at the Cyprus Troop: Sgt Anna Ingram RAVC provided an AES handler on-call cover, and Pte Linsey Furness provided VS and Protection dog assistance on a daily basis. LCpl Furness was the first RAVC Reserve to complete her PNCO Cadre at AMSTC Strensall, near York. This landmark achievement was soon followed by LCpl Penny Waltham who completed her cadre with Regular members of 1 MWD Regt. Regular soldiers commented, at the conclusion of the courses, that they did not realise Penny was Reserve soldier. Such was the quality of the RAVC Reserves.
Many other Reserves chose to step forward into additional roles as a result of their experience:
A Reserve took the role of Adjutant in 1 MWD Regt RHQ during late 2020, and the early part of 2021, while other personnel were deployed to curtail the Covid 19 pandemic. Handlers also completed training with their civilian counterparts in Wales with Wagtail UK Limited. Several Corps handlers found full-time jobs with this successful company. One handler attended the National Flagship Event for Reserves at 10 Downing Street with Mr Collin Singer, the Managing Director of Wagtail UK Ltd, during the summer of 2018. And Captain Richard Harvey RAVC put the military skills he had learned to good use alongside his veterinary expertise when he travelled to the Congo basin to assist in the conservation of African wildlife, notably helping to conserve the endangered forest elephants being horrifically
slaughtered by poachers for their tusks.
Plenty of opportunities were available to the ‘volunteers’ that were perfectly in-line with their Regular counterparts such as sporting activities which included Army Polo (one of the lesser- known Army sports) and Adventure Training – all being part of the Reserves Package. Personnel of all ranks and all trades completed parachuting courses in Cyprus, paragliding courses in Bavaria, and joint sailing opportunities in Iceland and the Fastnet Race, made famous for testing participants to their absolute limits. At the time of writing, in 2021, there had been three separate attachments of the Military Reserves Exchange Programme. Reserves deployed on Exercise GREEN DRAGON with 42 Royal Marine Commando in June 2018 on Dartmoor, and other members of 101 MWD Sqn attended Ex GREEN DAGGER a Commando Brigade Exercise OTX in the USA which tested both handling and soldiering skills with the USMC. Akin to the success of the Continental TA on a NCO Cadre, the RAVC Reserves also ‘thrashed’ their Regular Counterparts at the charity event, meticulously organised by a Regular PSI, Cpl
Andy Miles RAVC, of 101 Sqn.
The RAVC Centenary Celebrations in 2018 saw
three RAVC Reserves Officers riding and one soldier marching in the parade. The DATR, during 2019, embraced the use of RAVC Reserves and had an establishment of three personnel, mainly employed running Pack Horse training for teeth arms and assisting the Canine Training Squadron with instruction and the re-homing of retired MWDs, thus making good use of the diverse skill sets of the RAVC Reserves.
21st Century RAVC Reserve
Rather like their TA Pool counterparts of the mid – 80s and 90s, the RAVC Reserve of the 21st century contributes hugely to the wider Army.
The RAVC Reserve has transferred, to date (spring 2021) six Reserves to Regular RAVC service as VOs and dog trainers with one trans- ferring to the QARANC (Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps) where LCpl Angela Morey passed out as the Top Student – a testament to her ability and training. Lieutenant Colonel Caroline Whittle in her extensive Reserve career has had many varied appointments, including AMS Band President at the rank of Major, and then deservedly promoted she became the Commanding Officer of Southampton University Officers’ Training Corps (SUOTC) in late 2015. After this busy tenure she was appointed as the AMS Officers’ Reserve Career Manager for the entire Southern region of the UK.
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