Page 384 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham MBE also completed Operational tours utilising his wider scientific experience to enhance capabilities such as water purification in conflict zones such as Rwanda and Iraq. And was instrumental in the Iraq Survey Group’s use of specialist dogs in 2004.
Lt Col Chris Ham worked as an SO1 at 2nd Medical Brigade in York, before being short toured in the summer of 2011 and then re-assigned as SO1 MWD at the Defence Explosive and Search Branch where he was responsible for Urgent Operational Requirements that successfully delivered two ‘battle winning’ MWD capabilities to ‘save life and limb’ in Afghanistan as the handlers and their dogs searched for IEDs.
Additionally, exceptional and specially selected high calibre RAVC Corporals were assigned as Recruit Instructors at the Army Training Regiments at Lichfield, Winchester and Pirbright.
The amalgamation into the AMS not only benefitted many individual Officers and soldiers but also allowed an increase in the structure of the Officer cadre giving greater scope and variety, allowing the Corps to recruit additional Officers, for instance nine Army Bursars at various University Medical Schools were to join the Corps. Following the integration, all RAVC Officers attended the AMS Induction Course. And, in line with AMS practice of CPD for VOs, a similar continual review for soldiers was also introduced within the RAVC. There were fringe benefits too, which included membership of the AMS Sports Union enabling greater access to financial support alongside access to many other sporting associa- tions for Corps personnel.
Modern Day Expectations:
As a consequence of the changes that began after 1995, the evolved ‘modern day’ RAVC requires Officers and other ranks to fulfil wider employments other than those, that at one time would have been termed ‘traditional RAVC posts’, or employments. As a result, the individual is better equipped and prepared to compete for promotion, which everyone must do against all Officers from the wider Army. This is now commonplace and to give a view of how this has been working and the roles that have been successfully completed by RAVC officers both Veterinary Officers, LE (Late Entry), and soldiers, here are several examples from within the Corps:
Army Personnel Centre: SO2 Officers Career Manager based in Glasgow – As part of the AMS Career Management Division, with responsibil-
5 Lt Col Richard C Pope OBE RAVC written testimony dated April 2021.
ities including career management of circa 500 plus DE and LE Officers (Lt to Lt Col), entering the Command and Staff Cadre (Professionally Qualified Officers), LE commissioning into the Army Medical Services, Promotions, Assignments, Changes in Terms of Service/Commission type, Retirement and supporting Career Management Roadshows in Units across the UK and Germany. An incumbent offered this comment on the job: “A really tough job that takes you into the heart of career management and provided endless challenges in the respect of managing the careers of others. Interestingly everyone not involved with career management had a view of how better it could be done!”5
Joint Forces Command: SO1 Medical Operations and Capabilities based in Northwood – Lt Col Richard Pope OBE as part of the Med Ops/Cap branch, with responsibilities including direct liaison with FinMil Cap on the Defence Medical Services Major Equipment Procurement programme, D&ES Med IPT (Integrated Project team) on procurement, Capability Development through to Delivery, Equipment Fielding Plans and Programme Board. Managing a Tri-Service team of SO2s and SO3s. The post holder worked directly to an RAVC OF5. Key stakeholder engagement was HQ Army, Navy, Air Force, DE&S, MOD Main Building, DFID and multiple other NGOs. This post gave real insight into capability development through to fielding new equipment to Defence. During the later part of short tenure, the RAVC Lt Col was focused on supporting Op GRITROCK (UK support to the Ebola outbreak in Africa), helping to force generate mobile laboratory testing capabilities (equipment) and equipping Navy and Air Force capabilities ahead of their deployment.
A personal account of his experience Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down, is given here by Major Nick M Coulson RAVC:
This year has seen some important changes at Porton Down. 1991 marked the 75th anniversary of the Estab- lishment and this was commemorated by a Beating of the Retreat by the Royal Engineers band. This was significant as the original facility at Porton was called ‘The Royal Engineers Experimental Station’. Also, from 1st April 1991, the Establishment obtained Agency status (allowing more financial independence) and changed its name to the ‘The Chemical and Biological Defence Estab- lishment’ (CBDE). The inclusion of the word ‘biological’ now more accurately reflects the activities that take place at Porton as the threat from biological weapons (BW) has received increasing interest.
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