Page 81 - The Cormorant 2018

ACSC (Reserves) 9 Lt Cdr Francis Gaffney RNR
A KEY FEATURE OF the Reserves’ ACSC is the vast array of talent and backgrounds of the students. Our cohort
included the deputy chairman of a large chain of funeral directors, a government virologist, an ex-USN aviator and now
veterinarian, a patent attorney, a high-end party planner, and officers on Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) appointments (four of whom with PhDs) – and that was just from one Syndicate of eleven! As well as tri-Service UK officers, the Course was further enriched by students from the Royal Bermuda Regiment, the Royal Canadian Army, US Navy, and the German Army. This mix of cultures generated a valuable insight and many discussions reflecting a range of experiences, opinions, and values.
The Course was in three Phases: an Induction weekend at the JSCSC, a nine-week self-study phase (SSP) and finally returning to Shrivenham
for a fortnight of intensive and challenging study during the two-week main residential phase (MRP). The Induction weekend in May was, for some, the first opportunity to meet and work with tri-Service colleagues – challenging some preconceptions, whilst confirming others!
The lectures began in earnest (very) early on the Sunday morning of the MRP with briefs on our campaign presentations, advice on our imminent briefs to senior officers and defence writing, and just in case anyone’s soul was not weeping at this stage,
a bit of doctrine on Global Strategic Trends and future operations. Those who eagerly awaited mention of Clausewitz or Sun Tzu were not to be disappointed.
I lost count, in the mid-thirties, late in the first day.
We then retreated to our syndicate rooms for the first of numerous SRAs. The Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot) Report of 2016 stressed the importance of avoiding groupthink through reasonable challenge; an environment in which challenge is expected and accepted, engenders the generation and exploitation of alternative options. We were challenged, in both senses of the word, at every point of the ACSC(R). We were challenged by having to engage and assimilate the huge volume of literature in the SSP; we were challenged in our insightful lectures via the content and excellent presenters; the DS and DSD challenged our opinions – and we each others’ –
in SRAs; we were challenged by our peers in the evenings through the sharing of ideas and debate in the bar, at dinner, or in the fireside chats with senior officers. We were also challenged in our preparation for our assessed activities – having to complete four significant products within ten days!
Throughout the Course we were treated to very high calibre visiting speakers and presenters. The variety and insightful nature of the presenters and panels meant their lectures were thought-provoking but candid and the answers to the questions from the audience were often eye-wateringly honest.
The presence of such senior officials shows the support and investment Defence and UK PLC has in its Reserves officers. Amongst others, we heard from CDS, the DG of the Defence Academy and Joint Force Development, ACC Gavin Williams of Wiltshire Police, Lt Gen (retd) Sir Graeme Lamb, Maj Gen Ranald Munro Director Reserve Forces and
Cadets, Maj Gen (retd) Jamie Gordon Chief Executive RFCA, Cdre Martin Quinn Commander Maritime Reserves, and numerous senior academics and
Civil Servants, as well as from organisations such as DCDC, Defence Cyber, NATO, and the Chartered Management Institute.
General Lamb’s rousing and inspirational after-dinner speech at the Course Mess Dinner summed up ACSC(R) 9’s cohort, that “those in uniform are men and women apart whose shared warrior spirit binds them together.” Such an intensively challenging Course raised everyone’s game and it was immensely satisfying to undertake and successfully complete the Course amongst such a respected, if not respectable, peer group of Reservist colleagues, and now friends.
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