Page 64 - RSDG Year of 2023

62 EAGLE AND CARBINE
THE CORPORALS’ MESS
CPL Mather, PMC
2023 Has been another exceptionally busy year for the Cpls Mess with Mess members playing a key role in the Regiments prepa- rations, deployment, and successes on OP NEWCOMBE followed by A Sqn deploying to Germany on Ex ARCADE LEDGER,
Whilst in Germany some of our more senior members had the opportunity to educate the younger mess members of what life was like for the Mess when we were based in Fallingbostel with more experienced members, sandbags pulled up reminiscing about ‘the good old days’ and some being introduced to German beer for the first time. There was also an opportunity to visit some of the ‘old haunts.
OP NEWCOMBE was a massive success for the regiment on both ROTO 4 and 5. ROTO 4 saw B SQN working under the Royal Irish battle group, it didn’t take long for B Sqn to establish themselves as the battle winning asset within the long-range recce group and members of the mess playing a pivotal role in that. RHQ and A SQN then took over the battle group for ROTO 5 which unfortunately was cut short and quickly changed from an operational tour to a G4 tour and presented a multitude of different problems and issues that the regiment had to adapt to quickly to enable us to draw down the theatre, and again members of the Cpls Mess played a key role in pushing this forward. Roto 5 however was aptly named the “Short range recce group”.
Members of the mess have been heavily involved in many exercises and sporting events throughout the year with the Football team in Miami the rugby team in Sri Lanka and the ski team in Norway
The Corporal’s Mess has recently changed its committee with Cpl Mather taking the reigns as the PMC (President of Members Committee) and Cpl Jackson as the PEC (President of Entertainment Committee) and a host of other new committee members.
Both the PMC and PEC have done a remarkable job, guided as ever by the RSM.
Since the changing of the committee the team have been pushing hard to rejuvenate the Mess and encourage the younger generation of JNCO’s to get involved and have a positive attitude towards the mess life.
Cpl Jackson has been instrumental in the organising of the summer ball, Christmas function and the first Mess Burns night for many years now. I am sure he loves the job however he has recently stated that he has had more sleepless nights as the PEC than what he did on his crew commanders’ course.
All in all, the Cpl’ Mess has had a challenging year however myself, the PEC and the committee will continue to drive forward with the mess ensuring that it will always remain by the JNCO’s and for the JNCO’s.