Page 526 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
Op HERRICK 20
The Final Chapter
The final Op HERRICK tour for the RAVC in Helmand Province, as a formed Sqn, was from 19th May 2014 to 1st November 2014. 102 MWD Sqn had last deployed on Op HERRICK 15 and RAVC personnel deploying on this final Operation had first completed numerous HFT Exercises up to and including CT3 (BG level) as well as OTXs as part of PDT.
The chronology for the deployment, including training and recovery, is shown in Table 3 below:
to JFSp(A), Mvr BG and FP Wing. The Section rotated VS teams through Camp Qargha and one other location every six weeks to support the KSU. Drugs Dog Multi-Purpose (DDMP). One person delivered a DETECT capability to JFSp(A) and the FP Wing.
IE3D Section, six personnel delivered a DETECT capability to JFSp(A), Mvr BG and the FP Wing. HASD Section, three personnel delivered a DETECT capability to B Troop (EOD&S), Engr Sqn Gp. Protection Section, twelve personnel delivering a PROTECT and DETECT capability to JFSp(A) and the FP Wing. The Section rotated protection teams through Camp Qargha (QAA) and one other every six weeks to support the Kabul Support Unit (KSU). 102 MWD Sqn delivered a PROTECT and DETECT capability to JFSp(A), Mvr BG and FP Wing.
102 MWD Sqn final and tasks were: to deliver a MWD FP with PROTECT and DETECT assets to JFSp(A), Mvr BG and FP Wing, in order to enable ANSF-led security and UK redeployment. Within the Joint Force Engineer Group, the ORBAT for the MWD Sqn is detailed above right. JF Engr Group consisted of, in total – twenty-three Officers and two hundred and sixty-seven Soldiers.
An emotive account of the final Medal Parade, marking the end of Op HERRICK combat tours, was shared in the spring/summer issue of Chiron Calling in 2015:
1st Military Working Dog Regiment Operation HERRICK Medal Parade.84
On a bitterly cold, but thankfully not rainy, Friday 5th December the Operation HERRICK 20 Medal Parade took place in Chiron Lines, Normandy Barracks, Sennelager, Germany. Personnel from 102 Military Working Dog Squadron, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment received their campaign medals from Colonel Commandant of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, Lieutenant General James Everard CBE, Commander Land Forces.
102 Military Working Dog Squadron deployed to Afghanistan in April 2014. In total, fifty personnel deployed with 42 MWD teams including Protection, Vehicle Search, Arms Explosive Search, Improvised Explosive Device Detection, High Assurance Search and Drugs Detection assets. During their six-month tour, the Squadron supported Joint Force Support (A), Regional Command (South West) and the Manoeuvre Battle Group in a critical and crucial role of securing Camp Bastion during its redeployment. Whilst the majority of the Squadron had returned
Date
Event
23 – 27 Sep 2013
Op HERRICK study week (20X)
Oct 13
ARB
Oct – Nov 13
Ex PASHTUN HAWK – Sennelager
12 – 15 Nov 13
Veterinary Combat Casualty Training – DSTL
26 – 27 Nov 13
Emergency Veterinary Surgery Course – Swindon
8 Jan – 28 Mar 14
Ex PASHTUN PANTHER – STANTA
3 Mar – 12 Apr 14
Ex PASHTUN LINKS 7 – Jordan
17 – 31 Mar 14
Pre-Tour Leave window tranche 1
4 Apr 14
26 Apr 14 19 May 14
Tranche 1 MWDs deploy to Th
Tranche 2 personnel deploy to Th ToA with 103 MWD Sqn
5 Apr 14
Tranche 1 personnel deploy to Th
7 – 21 Apr 14
Pre-Tour Leave window tranche 2
24 Apr 14
Tranche 2 MWDs deploy to Th
3 – 30 Apr14
Deployment window
1 Nov 14
Last recovery flight from theatre
The composition of the final Sqn consisted of a workforce mainly from 102 MWD Sqn with one RAF Police handler from RAF Waddington:
The SHQ had eight personnel including veterinary support. The following MWDs were deployed: Arms Explosives Search (AES) Section. Eight personnel delivered a DETECT capability to JFSp(A), Mvr BG and the Force Protection (FP) Wing. The Section rotated an AES team through Camp Qargha (QAA) every six weeks to support the Kabul Support Unit (KSU). The VS Section of twelve personnel delivered a DETECT capability
84 Chiron Calling dated Spring/Summer 2015 ‘1st Military Working Dog Regiment Operation HERRICK Medal Parade.’
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