Page 470 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
and fleet tanker and one of the nine ships that comprise the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG).
The CSG was led by the aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth – the largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy – on her maiden 26,000 mile deployment. However, it was the crew of the tanker Fort Victoria who welcomed the Troop aboard whilst the 200m-long ship was docked at Limassol Port in Cyprus for refuelling.
Paired with their VS MWDs, the teams spent the morning conducting environmental training followed by multiple searches throughout the ship. The first challenge was to get on board the vessel, which was achieved using the gangway, a 40m-long narrow bridge which was no more than a metre wide and every step resulted in a bounce and sway. Walking up this moving bridge alone was a test, even for our most confident MWDs.
Mobility on the ship was particularly challenging, especially for handlers with the larger VS dogs when they were required to carry their dogs up the very steep, precarious stairs to gain access to the different levels of the ship.
Multiple sites were used for search training, including the open storage area (which was also used as a gym and for maintenance work) on deck, small office rooms and the limited-access large storage areas deep in the hull. Using a selection of different training aids, the MWDs not only had the task of pin-pointing their target scents, but also had to work through many environmental challenges, including working in tight spaces and corridors, on unfamiliar floor surfaces and searching around moving parts... including people. The biggest challenge for the MWDs in the storage rooms below deck was the continuous flow of air and dispersal of the scent from the static location.
Each dog team encountered difficulties to overcome and the handlers learnt a great deal about their own dog’s response to different environments. Several of the VS handlers were less familiar with breaking down multiple areas, instead of a singular vehicle, and they methodically worked through the search areas to ensure a successful find; in some areas allowing their dog to work off-lead. It was great to see the excitement of both the dogs and handlers working in this novel environment and the eagerness of the dogs to search.
Whilst an AES MWD would easily accomplish this search training, it was a great opportunity to push the VS dogs within their specifications and encourage development within the VS Teams. This was a unique opportunity for them to be able to search such a large ‘vehicle’, as they would typically spend their time providing an element of force protection at the Main Entry Points of the four Sovereign Base Area Military bases on Island.
Overall, the training was a huge success and was beneficial not only for the dog teams but also the crew members who appeared delighted to see the dogs on board their ship and to have the opportunity to interact with them.
1 MWD Regiment provides support to not only 1st (UK) Division but also to 3rd and 6th (UK) Divisions respectively and has been working closely with Specialised Infantry Units providing MWD support and educating them on the benefits of MWDs as a Force Multiplier – building on the lessons learnt from Operational conflicts in the past. It is from the 6th (UK) Division Units, where the Army’s New Ranger Force will be provided.
At this time, within the UK, 1 MWD Regt search handlers are held at Immediate Notice to Move to support Royal Engineer Advanced Search Teams or to assist in any MACA requests from civilian agencies such as the Police. In addition to MWD roles, 1 MWD Regt proactively supports other non-MWD military activity but never at the expense of their focus which is to provide MWD and veterinary capability to the Field Army and wider defence.
The Integrated Review – 2021:
The Integrated Review set out the govern- ment’s overarching national security and inter- national policy objectives to 2025. The objectives inform future policy-making for all government departments. They will also inform future Spending Reviews, offering further opportu- nities to align resources with ambition over the long term. The Cabinet Office document from March 2021 states: “We will ensure all government instruments work together, coordinated by enhanced strategic capabilities at the centre, to achieve our objectives.”36
The RAVC despite its success over the last 60 years was not immune from the Review and during November 2021 it was announced that there would be a very slight reduction in the Regiment’s regular component and a small reduction to the Regiment’s Reserve work force. The changes to the overall establishment and structural changes would be adopted at a slightly later date.
As always a Review indicates the future is a moveable feast.
And so...
As one of the youngest Regiments in the British Army, 1 MWD Regt (RAVC) continues to mature as a world leading MWD organisation. It is built upon the exceptional work ethic, adaptiveness
36 Cabinet Office Published:16th March 2021.
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