Page 35 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017
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 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 33 Light Aid Detachment
  2017 was a cause for celebration throughout the REME as it was our 75th anniversary having been formed in 1942 dur- ing the Second World War; these revelries continued as it also proved to be a very successful year for The Royal Lancers Light Aid Detachment (LAD).
A LAD led vehicle rehabilitation started off the Training Year which was designed to build longevity into an ageing CVR(T) fleet. The opportunity was seized to pair this with our neigh- bouring Reserve unit, 102 Battalion REME, on Exercise ZINC SPROCKET 17. This resulted in Reserve REME soldiers com- ing to the LAD and assisting with maintenance on the vehicle fleet. 102 Logistic Brigade Commander, Brigadier Eastman, was full of praise when he visited the LAD and was taken aback with the amount of Regular soldiers prepared to give up their week- end to support this successful pairing event.
Castlemartin Ranges and Colective Training Competency Level 1 (CTC 1) (troop) training on Salisbury Plain would then fol- low. This was stretched out over a three-month period and was the first deployed test for the Fitter Sections and one in which they were not found wanting. High equipment availability was achieved in Castlemartin but the fleet’s rigidity did start to waiv- er during CTC1. Despite heroic efforts from the LAD trades- men, short periods of usage between Squadrons and multiple handover takeovers of vehicles meant that no real ownership could be invested into the CVR(T)s and equipment availability averaged 73%.
What followed turned out to be the most intense six week period of the year. The LAD had to rehab the CVR(T) fleet following CTC1, whilst also in-inspecting and conducting maintenance on 116 Land Rovers as we looked to get to the start-line for Exercise NORTHERN LANCER in good fighting order. Some excellent work from Sergeant Laidler in the LAD inspection cell ensured this was achieved. With a total of 176 vehicle platforms deployed on the exercise for three weeks, the equipment availability aver- age was 97%, with 100% achieved for a 36 hour period. This high availability was a direct result of the robust in-inspec-
tions and hard pre-deployment work by all members of the LAD and Squadrons: it visibly paid off.
On our Technical Evaluation in October 2017, the LAD achieved an overall Green. This report received praise from Commander Equipment Support from 101 Logistic Brigade stating, “an excellent report demonstrating continual im- provement from a dynamic command team,” and 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade’s BEME say- ing, “overall, an excellent ‘TECHEVAL’ fa- cilitated by an extremely effective LAD.
The Officer Commanding...and his
Lance Corporal Wilkinson and Craftsman Lea on Exercise NORTHERN LANCER
team deserve a huge amount of credit for the standards they are setting and the culture they have created within the LAD.”
In November 2017, Headquarter’s and C Squadron Fitter Sec- tions deployed on Exercise LIGHTNING ACE working to 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade as part of the trial for the update to the Bowman communications system being rolled out to the Army. For this exercise the Regiment averaged 94% availabil- ity with a challenging CVR(T) fleet. This was clear evidence of the hard work and dedication shown by the deployed Trades- man and C Squadron crews; the pauses in the exercise between phases to capture signals system data undoubtedly contributed!
Although the LAD as a team had a successful year, there were also a lot of individual achievements worthy of mention. Lance Corporal Wilkinson was selected to represent the Army at Rug- by League and was a key player in their recent tour of New Zea- land. Corporal Hart became the Army Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Ul- tra Heavy Weight Champion. The Royal Lancer LAD football team, led by their captain Lance Corporal Jackson, got to the semi-finals of the Craftsman Cup minors, with Corporal Hughes and Craftsfman Lea selected to represent the Corps. Craftsman Lea’s success didn’t end there as he also came 2nd in the Army U23 Mountain Biking Championships. Lance Corporal Franks and Lance Corporal Price successfully passed their PTI course
and, finally, Corporal Thomson is now Officer Cadet Thom- son at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after his
success at Main Board.
As we move into our 2018 Readiness Year, 2017 has ensured that the LAD is in the best possible shape to support the Regiment. The knowledge, skills and experience that all the Tradesmen have gained have
set the conditions for another successful year.
DCM
 Craftsman Smith enjoying the sun on Castlemartin Ranges

















































































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