Page 26 - RSDG Year of 2022 CREST

24 EAGLE AND CARBINE
across the three deployed Fitter Sections and LAD Main. The rear operations group, headed up by the ASM, have done well to maintain the Leuchars fleet and organise the inevitable handover of vehicles to the Light Dragoons, Queen’s Dragoon Guards, and Land Training Fleet post MRX’s. The home team have also navigated the Land Equipment Assurance (LEA) and Technical Evaluation (TECHEVAL) recently with good results. They have also provided soldiers to BATSUB as Temporary Staff, to Cyprus to enable Ex KRONOS HUNTER for The Scottish and Northern Irish Yeomanry, and to OMAN to support 7 LMBCT trawls (which never seem to stop). 2023 already looks busy with a composite Fitter Section deploying on Ex KHANJAR OMAN in January as OPFOR. We have soldiers aligned to Op INTERLINK activity in the first quarter, but the biggest challenge will be the receipt of vehicles from the Whole Fleet Management System in early 2023. Ensuring that the LAD are providing fit equipment to the Regiment in good time is always our main effort and this looks like the most challenging FoE since its return from Fallingbostel. From a REME viewpoint, there is plenty to keep us busy and plenty to look forward to. The receipt of a new Light Weight Recovery Vehicle (LWRV) – after the LAD volunteered to support a four-week HMTV LWRV trial in Aldershot earlier this year – is exciting, as is a proposed Augmented Reality Communications trial. Most importantly, the establishment of an STA Squadron in the regiment means that our shape will change in July 23, and we need to drive competence that we don’t have now, especially with the Panther vehicle. Exercise WESSEX STORM will test all these things before we go on to become the Vanguard Joint Task Force (VJTF) ISTAR Gp LAD in January 24.
After reading the previous paragraphs, it won’t come as any surprise that operational commitments and pre-deployment training have curtailed the LAD’s ability to enter any of the principal Craftsman Cup competitions this year. However, the Detachment have still managed to punch well above their weight at representative sport level. Cfn Burnip continues to make the considerable journey from Leuchars to Lyneham (and Aldershot) to represent both the REME and the Army FA. The EME continues to represent the Army Veterans Football Team and SSgt McCurdie has represented both the REME veterans and Army veterans rugby club. The ASM continues to defy age as the fittest man in the LAD and leads the regiment’s cross country running team. Owing to our wonderful location, we have a thriving LAD Golf Association who have competed in multiple Corps, Army and RPOC competitions. At the time of writing Cfn Briars is representing the regiment at nordic skiing and will travel to Norway with them again in the New Year.
A Sqn Ftrs on Task During Op NEWCOMBE ROTO 5
The LAD have also run a six-week adventure training package for Soldiers to conduct hill walking on Sports Afternoons and bag a Munro. We have supported the Corps ‘Lifting the Decks Mental Health Challenge’, raising money for the REME Charity in the process.
Some of the LAD have achieved personally in 2022. SSgt Entwistle received a 16 Brigade Combat Team Commendation for his efforts on Op NEWCOMBE 4 and has been nominated for the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) REME SNCO of the year award. A Squadron Fitter Section - headed up by SSgt Wykes – are a 1st Division nomination for the Chief Scientific Advisor’s Award in the Engineering Team category. At JNCO level, LCpl Gabel was awarded a Master General REME Commendation for his exceptional performance throughout A Sqns MST. All are combat indicators of the calibre of REME Soldier we have supporting this great Regiment.
Arte et Marte.