Page 433 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
cigarettes and individual cigarettes in varied positions within the articulated trailers and in the cabs of a quantity of other vehicles selected for use in the training exercises. Training went well, and after three days the Colonel in charge of SLB was invited to conceal individual cigarettes and packets anywhere on a lengthy convoy parked-up in anticipation of being able to depart for Kuwait. LCpl Osborne was taken from the area, ensuring that neither she nor her MWD would see where the cigarettes had been concealed by the Colonel. Then she was asked to search the entire convoy with her MWD who located all the target cigarettes plus a few more that were not part of the test! The additional sticks of 200 cigarettes were confiscated in spite of the disapproval of the civilian truck driver!
The Colonel of SLB was genuinely amazed and gave his authority to search all convoys without delay. Within a few days a sizeable number of cigarettes had been seized and, more importantly the overt presence of the dog, locating cigarettes so efficiently, ensured no more illegally smuggled contraband made it through. The schooling of the dog and the following searches proved a complete success. The Commander openly praised the ingenuity of the TMWDSU. He was utterly impressed with the adaptability and speed of the training to thwart what could have been a calamitous setback for the occupants of SLB.
Op EAM was an anti-smuggling Operation designed to halt the supply of explosives and fatal devices that were being imported into Iraq by insurgents crossing from Iran. This called for LCpls Keily Osborne and Michaela Cleary to be attached to the RE and the PARAs for the Op.
At the time, the RESA and the PARAs were quite stunned to see females deployed so far forward. The able handlers were able to say that this was standard practice for the RAVC and then set about digging their trenches and filling sandbags for added protection. This was much needed in the hostile terrain which was to be their home for the duration. The searches were pretty routine, in spite of being adjacent to mine fields plagued with anti-personnel mines. The dogs and seasoned handlers proved their grit and determination alongside the other hardy soldiers, and feedback from the PARAs and RE was impressive, but not unpredicted given the excellence of RAVC female handlers.
Sadly, as with most conflicts many of the lessons
learned from previous conflicts are all too soon forgotten and have to be re-learned the hard way. The British Army has a knack of learning to forget. (See page 426).
During a meeting in early December 2006 the closure of SLB meant that the TMWDSU had to move and be located beside the RAF dog Section.
The move was scheduled to take place by 31st January 2007 and the Unit fully Operational by 5th February 2007.21 The relocation of TMWDSU meant that the two MWD Units, RAVC and RAF, would be in the same kennel complex so making the prospect of British MWD provider Units working from the same AOR a reality.
This situation generated a good deal of negotiation between the RAVC and the RAF 903 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW), who were providing Force Protection to the Combined Operating Base (COB). The closure of SLB and the move of the resident Units contained within and the relocation to the COB also resulted in a significant up-lift in personnel and a shift in how our effects based capability was presented to the majority of the Army population. Major Iain Rose RAVC (VO) provided SME input and the positive and effective arguments necessary to justify the RAVC TMWDSU primacy in the job of providing the bulk of MWD services within a Joint framework. His passionate delivery was a reminder, if needed, that the RAVC had earned the right to maintain its established C2 based upon its recognised ability to deliver high quality MWD capability in a flexible sustained manner.
The transition period that followed the relocation to the COB forced the Unit into a temporary split into a Forward and Rear as the RAVC’s Protection dogs were needed to guard the long-established Divisional Temporary Detention Facility.
Op TELIC 8/9
By late TELIC 8/922 in 2007, the RAVC’s commitments to both Iraq and Afghanistan stretched the Corps’ ability to source RAVC Officers to sustain the commitment in SLB, so it was decided by Permanent Joint Head Quarters (PJHQ) that VOs from Cyprus would be brought in to assist.
Cyprus Military Working Dog Support Unit had supported TELIC Operations in a number of ways, such as detaching VOs during Relief in Place, and having two AES dog teams on 24 hours Notice to Move (NTM) to support Operations in Iraq. The
21 TMWDSU/G1/05 dated 12th December 2006.
22 Extracts from Post Operational Tour Report dated 29th January 2007 by Major Iain R B Rose RAVC.
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