Page 41 - QDG 2023

That’s the warm up complete, dress over to your logs
It has been yet again another successful and rewarding year for the Gymnasium
Guardroom
Ah yes, stag. A soldier’s delight. “Civvies pay thousands for this”, as they did for this brand new, state of the art guard box with heating system fitted (ideal gonk box for a 10 minute snooze while it’s not busy), a new state of the art gate with flashing lights, and a brand new fence line to give the pads an even bigger divide and line of defence against last minute stashings.
Here at the RBSM guardroom your safety is our main priority, and we continue to pride ourselves with a staggering 100% success rate in 2023 against any terrorist attack, drone swarm and infiltration.... although I can’t say the same about an insider threat, especially after a few beers...
The old, trusted Gate Guardian is still doing a fine job at the gate, captured in Iraq during the first Gulf War. Afterall “one man’s diffy is another man’s buckshee”.
Although we are peacetime soldiers (for now), there’s a lot going on in the world, with new fronts popping up all over the globe. QDG are busier than ever. With more boots out the door and nearly every Sqn deployed simulta- neously, manpower is strapped, especially for camp security. This is where the MPGS and Civil Guard Service step in. We thankfully now have only 2 QDG Troopers on the gate within a 24-hour period (backfilled by MPGS and CGS): one Guard Commander and a 2ic that man the guardroom itself, taking up a lot of the slack from the manning of the guard force to ensure the freedom for more troops to deploy when needed.
Daily clearance patrols are sent out to ensure the perimeter is checked and that camp is secure and it’s no question that these assets are priceless to the ongoing, daily security that’s needed to RBSM.
Onto the military discipline and general housekeeping side of Robertson Barracks, where the Regimental Duty Staff consists of one staff member - Cpl Jones, who has several roles with the QDG. These include the really FUN stuff, including general fire and gas safety ensuring relevant buildings are up to date with weekly fire checks, as well as gas tank readings. This, in addition to ensuring the right personnel are attending duties parade and guard mount on time, in the right kit, and that overall disci- pline and dress regulations are abided by across the regiment.
Finally the real punchy stuff, the sharp end of the blade. We’re talking illegally parked cars, we’re talking mullets, we’re talking the constant battle that is areas and the odd fly tipping (pads)! Don’t forget the odd trip to Colchester for the naughty boys and girls who got caught- “Rule number one... Don’t get caught”.
We hope 2024 is as prosperous as 2023, minus the trips to Colly... and the fly tipping (pads)... and the AGAIs.
RDS Joke Corner
Whats red and white and goes up and down?
The gate, Get on it!
EJ