Page 284 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
One RAVC soldier, Pte Claire Scott, attained her MRCVS qualification and subsequently passed the rigorous Army Officer Selection Board and RMAS training to become a Lieutenant in 101 MWD Sqn. She later left the Sqn to take up the position of Captain Instructor at Bristol UOTC, once again demonstrating the calibre of RAVC Reserves.
Other Reserves have worked as Staff Officers in Bde HQs; Chris Ham went on to join the Army Reserve Recruiting Assurance Team (ARRAT) and then as the SO1 (Lt Col) Project VICTORIA, a review of the Army Medical Services before finally retiring 31st March 2022 from his lengthy contri- bution to the Corps and is thought to be longest serving RAVC cap badged person.
The Army Reserve is underpinned by the volunteer ethos of our society – Reservists who aspire to be ‘twice the citizen’. The Army Reserve must utilise this ethos to harness the best and broadest talents from our society for the benefit of UK Defence. The Army Reserve must offer opportunity, including command and leadership, training and assurance, new skills, new and rewarding experiences, in an integrated and mutually supporting military environment.20
This ethos was reflected in the Reserves Forces Review 203021 which describes a vision for the future. It was published in May 2021 and offered 18 recommendations for consideration, in four key areas:
Re-defining the Reserves’ relationship with society, recognising the need to cooperate and share expertise with, for instance, industry and academia.
Expanding the role of the Reserves as part of an integrated joint force, helping deliver ‘active’ tasks – such as homeland resilience and defence diplomacy – whilst preserving and enhancing their assured capability to meet ‘contingent’ tasks such as war fighting.
Ways to unlock the full potential of the Reserve component of the UK’s armed forces, such as simplifying commitment types.
Transforming how the Reserves are supported to deliver their mission, recognising the unique needs of the force and with a strong emphasis on digital enablement.
As for the future of the RAVC Reserves, the author believes that the future is bright, for our RAVC Reserves.
The RAVC will undoubtedly maintain its ability to attract high calibre and talented personnel,
either as Regular or Reserve RAVC soldiers. Retention of personnel, given the high training investment, is still critical to the long-term success of the RAVC Reserves, coupled with integration and acceptance of the Reserves by our RAVC Regular counterparts. Heaps of opportunities remain available in terms of gaining experience in handling a Military Working Dog, including – taking part in overseas Exercises, sporting and Adventure Training opportunities, Continual Professional Development, and gaining civilian canine qualifications. Learning new skills, many of which are transferable, means handlers can volunteer for operations at home and abroad and discover good promotion prospects and financial initiatives such as good pay and the Annual Bounty.
As confirmed over the last two decades on RAVC Operational deployments, the demand for Army dogs always far exceeds the number of dogs and handlers available. So, proving that the RAVC, either Regular or Reserve, clearly still has a key part to play on Operational Service.
Pte Rosy Jones with her MWD Daz (Patrol) being thoroughly inspected by Captain Cees Bennett, both RAVC Reserves of 101 MWD Sqn.
20 Army Reserves Strategy Realignment note to CGS dated 27th September 2019.
21 Reserve Forces Review 2030 – Unlocking the reserves’ potential to strengthen a resilient and global Britain Published 13th May 2021.
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