Page 100 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

98
Regimental Support Team (RST)
Sergeant Bryan Chadbourne
The Mercian RST has always had a very good name, so coming here I knew it would not be an easy tasking like people can often think.
I arrived in June and hit the ground running, with it being the busiest time of the year. Over the summer period all the ACFs and CCFs conduct their summer camps. We send men to each of these as the face of the regiment, and to help run the training.
The soldiers here have to step up to be the face of the battalion on a daily basis, as we get a lot of request from councils and organisations asking to send a regimental representative for charity events or presentations.
The main aim I have been focusing on is recruiting, as there have been areas we have not been to in a long time. The purpose of this is too educate people on the regiment, and to promote our name and history out to areas that are unaware of who we are.
Sergeant Spilsbury will be leaving RHQ after doing 22 years in the regiment, and we wish him the best of luck in the future. We have had a few new faces on the RST, and I will now leave it to them to talk about their experiences while at RHQ Mercian.
Private Noon
I joined the team in early May not really knowing what to expect.
I soon realised the fast pace of life was going to keep me busy. A week of briefings on recruiting and the various command tasks, helped me settle in and understand my role. I soon found out that the large majority of my time would be spent going to local schools and colleges.
My first task that I would cut my teeth with, was to set up a command task at Kings School Chester. This was my first time really speaking in front of a large crowd, and was daunting at first. However, I soon got the speed of it and my briefs began to flow. Many more schools and colleges followed.
My next big tasking would be to support the Colonel of the Regiment on his gruelling sailing expedition from Wales to Scotland. This was very rewarding, as I saw the whole team progress throughout the challenge.
My time on the RST so far has been more than rewarding, and personally I think this has taught me valuable briefing and communication skills.
Lance Corporal Milton
I joined the RST in March for a year posting, and so far it has proved to be a valuable experience.
Tasking can range from a recruiting stand in a town centre,
to giving team tasks to cadets and presentations to schools. As
a JNCO you will be in command of a small team on these. The most enjoyable tasking I’ve been on so far was going to York for a weekend to give field craft lessons to tri service nurses.
The new recruiting trailer that was designed by the RST
Members of the RST taking time to pose for Capital FM at one of their recruiting events
Presentations at schools can also prove to be an intimidating task too. Presenting to a school year of up to 200 pupils can be a bit nerve racking, although it is enjoyable and I would be happy to do more in the future. I’m enjoying my time on RST and if given the chance I would repeat the posting.
Private Earp
I joined the team in April. After coming from Chester and being deployed on Op Tosca, I was looking forward to a period of stability as I was expecting my first child. This was going to be partnered hand in hand with the thick and fast tasking of the RST.
My first major task was a one week stint in Tenby Camp, providing support to an Army Cadet Force camp. We provided training support such as CAM and concealment lessons, alongside command tasks. We were also there to add an infantry perspective to the whole training program. This tasking in my eyes was very rewarding, as the cadets were squeezing us for information and seemed more than interested in our role.
July saw us formally take on the affiliation with HMS Albion. We went down to HMB Drake where HMS Albion is currently in dry dock on a period of refit. This was an interesting two day trip as we visited various Royal Navy training facilities, such as HMS Havoc the Navy sinking ship simulator. Overall, the past year has been thick and fast, but for myself also hugely rewarding.
Sergeant Watts briefing students at one of our OTC’s about the opportunities available in the regiment
THE MERCIAN EAGLE