Page 519 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Our early memories of HERRICK 16 will be the extraor- dinary time and effort put into ensuring everyone had helmet camouflage and was conforming to theatre dress policy. This whilst demoralising, spurred the handlers on to validate as soon as possible and get out into the other locations.
Those who had already served in Bastion warned us that life here consists of briefings and demos. Our time here has been no different. Some demos have been useful others less so; some appear to have been programme fillers for another’s convenience. There have been some memorable moments: Sgt Dave Rea hosting his favourite Estonian rock group who spoke no English rates highly, and the SSM interviewed with ‘JACK FM’ stands out.
LCpl Cooksey and MWD “Jerry” have been prolific in their successes. After so many finds, it became boring almost for this team. During one search, Jerry decided to investigate a hole in a compound wall after becoming interested. Without warning he disappeared through it and into the room below. Once there, his character- istic barking signalled to Cooksey and the BRF that he’d found something... at this point they came under heavy contact and had to withdraw without him.
Some deliberation went into what to do next. The height that Jerry had jumped into restricted his exit back, and the nature of operations in theatre meant that nobody would be permitted to enter through the same hole to rescue him. It’s testament to the high regard that dogs are held in that an unusual solution was found to retrieve him – LCpl Cooksey will no doubt explain how on his return.
Operations always seem to bring out the best in us. Thousands of vehicles have been searched and hundreds of kilometres of fence line have been patrolled. Sixty-eight RSOI presentations have been given to the day one ‘shock of capture’ arrivals and regrettably, we attended vigils for those twenty soldiers and airmen who have tragically lost their lives.
On the ground, handlers performed superbly. Some involved in heavy fighting, some experi- encing less action, but all providing the capability required. Meanwhile, where it matters, the handlers have done an excellent job of delivering MWD capability to operations. Returning for their ‘recalibration’ every four to six weeks, the handlers pass through with tales and sunburn and outrageous hair before the SSM spots them!
IE3D is now fully integrated into frontline patrols. A wide range of individual dogs’ abilities caused issues at first. Some enjoyed water too much, some became distracted and some really
liked chickens too much! The results were an excellent detection rate, additional confidence held by Dismounted Close Combat Patrols and an earned reputation in theatre.
Op HERRICK 17
105 MWD Squadron Officer Commanding Over- view.73 by Major Martyn Thompson MBE RAVC 105 MWD Sqn has had a demanding and challenging six-months as it prepared for deployment to Afghanistan later that year. Many of these challenges were exacerbated by the absence of a fully functioning SHQ (OC’s post gapped, 2IC injured and on sick leave and the SSM promoted to RSM). This problem was finally resolved in May when Captain Laura Riley stepped into the Sqn 2IC’s shoes, with Captain Caz Bullard arriving as the new Squadron Veterinary Officer and WO2 (SSM) Blacky Blackmore moving across from RHQ.
With the team in place (and the Sqn at D-3) work began in earnest to manage a plethora of Exercise support serials. This included integration of the IE3D teams from 4 Brigade at both North Luffenham and Stanford Training Area (STANTA), a consecutive 10-week commitment, support to the Royal Engineers at Wimbish with Search teams and the preparation for the flagship overseas exercise in Jordan between 18th June and 16th July 2012.
The deployment to Jordan went extremely well and saw approximately sixty personnel and thirty-nine MWDs depart from either Hannover or Brize Norton for Jabel Batra, Jordan. This is the fourth time this Exercise has taken place, and with all of the Sqn now under the command of the EOD and Search Task Force there have been a multitude of new relationships developed which bodes extremely well for HERRICK 17 running from November 2012 to April 2013.
The training has been challenging and the opportunity to exercise in a representative environment with access to a full array of search assets, explosive samples and international presenters has been very rewarding. The training delivered by the CPN Tracking Team and the Human Factors presenter was definitely thought provoking and there is certainly mileage in considering both disciplines in the wider RAVC community.
The Sqn has been bolstered by a further twenty- three RAF handlers who help to make up the Afghanistan ORBAT and we will also take control of a further forty-six handlers from the wider Field Army. The all up total of a deployed MWD Sqn is now in the region of one hundred and twenty personnel and MWDs – we have certainly come a
73 Chiron Calling article Autumn 2012 ‘105 MWD Squadron Officer Commanding Overview’ by Major Martyn Thompson MBE RAVC.
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