Page 372 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
selection process to ensure they are genuine volunteers and, if successful, can go on to complete dog handler training. Our handlers have a natural desire or affinity to work with dogs, over long hours, often at night, or at weekends. From there we need to separate them from the pure ‘animal lover’; the role requires additional strengths such as the need to be a reliable, motivated soldier who has the courage and communication skills to politely inform Senior Officers and fellow soldiers how to correctly employ their dogs.
All handlers are taught using a trained dog; this requires the dog to be pre-trained by a qualified MWD trainer. The new handler is taught how to care for and ‘maintain’ their dog which includes instruction in husbandry, veterinary care, advanced First Aid, and continuation training. After the consolidation period of their training, and following operational experience, the very best handlers can be assigned to the School to train new MWDs and instruct new handlers in current operational techniques.
The first revised Dog Trainer Class 3 Course commenced on 20th January 2003 and the first Dog Trainer Class 3 Course completed (with 100% pass rate) concluded 14th February 2003.
The ‘new’ Class 3 Dog Trainer course had been evaluated and developed to meet the current operational needs of the Army. Its success led, shortly after, to the development of the ‘new’ Class 2 Dog Trainer course which reflected the lessons learned from operational analysis. During this period the Corps’ training had to adapt rapidly to meet the needs of the growing numbers deployed on war fighting operations. For the majority of RAVC personnel this meant a shift from dog training to Operational handling in a war zone; without such a change, it is doubtful the Corps would have been so successful in Iraq and particu- larly in Afghanistan as the war fighting campaign took hold and dominated much of UK Defence capability.
A career path shared with MWDs has, over the years, been made entirely possible:
A ‘new’ Dog Trainer career pathway was developed for newer members of the Corps; however those who had started their career journey, on the previous Dog Trainer pathway could complete the ‘older’ career structure.30
The RAVC Regular cohort has a career pathway to follow and the career pathway open to the RAVC Reserve is very similar in many respects.
The main difference being that greater emphasis is placed on work place training elements which are completed in the Reserve squadron under close supervision.
During 2009, the Corps introduced an appren- ticeship programme in Animal Care. Soldiers were enrolled at the start of their Class 3 Military Working Dog Hander (MWDH) course following their basic training. At the end of 2010, a more appropriate Service dog handler-specific appren- ticeship was introduced, which was formally re-titled – Animal Care (Service Dog Handler) with separate Level 2 and Level 3 courses.
All RAVC soldiers are now enrolled on the most successful ‘flagship’ Animal Care (Service Dog Handler) Level 2 qualification, when they start their Initial Trade Training (ITT). ITT is the first training that a soldier conducts after completing basic training. (ITT was formerly known as Phase 2 or trade training i.e., B3 DT or B3 DH course). On completion of ITT, all RAVC soldiers remain at DATR to undertake a two-week Functional Skills (FS) training package in Maths and English. On completing the FS package, soldiers are posted to 1 MWD Regt where they continue with the support of Service Provider staff. After passing the Level 2, and generally while serving at 1 MWD Regt, they are enrolled on, and complete, the Level 3 qualifi- cation.
The apprenticeship framework in Animal Care (Service Dog Handler) Level 2 is made up of the following components: Employment responsibilities and rights, personal learning and thinking skills, FS in Maths and English at Level 1, independent paper-based assessment tests on three units (health and safety, health and wellbeing of dogs, control/restraint of dogs) and the Level 2 Diploma in work-based Animal Care (Service Dog Handler) National Proficiency Test Council, (NPTC), formerly land-based sector skills, City and Guilds).
The Level 3 broadly extends the knowledge learned at the Level 2 and includes the following components: FS in maths and English at Level 2, Level 3 Diploma in work-based Animal Care, and two independent paper-based tests; One is an assignment on planning, controlling and supervising movement of animals and the other a written test on health, safety and security, handling and restraint of animals.31
The current Defence Chief Veterinary and Remount Officer and Head of the RAVC, Colonel Mark Morrison, during the summer of 2021,
30 Taken from Head of CEG letter to all RAVC Dog Trainers dated 4th February 2004.
31 Royal Army Veterinary Corps Apprenticeship Programme Self-Assessment Report for Academic Year 19/20.
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