Page 28 - 1RHA 2022

1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
1 RHA Training Wing Sgt C Hampson
2022 has been yet another busy but successful year for the 1 RHA Training Wing whilst we have been getting back into a normal routine with the global pandemic. We have seen
some changeovers to the training team with Staff Sergeant Hem- ingfield leaving and taking over as JFC Commander and TSM for A Battery (The Chestnut Troop). Newly promoted Sergeant Hampson has taken over the role of the Training Wing 2IC.
Over the past year, the Training Wing have run various courses to keep the Regiment at a high level of readiness. As part of UKSB (United Kingdom Standby Battalion), it is crucial that we maintain that high level of effectiveness.
The Regimental Training Officer and his team work closely with the Battery Training Officers to ensure that constant flow of train- ing and competency. Whether that is booking the training area, running internal courses or booking external courses such as FCBISA 4.2 Uplift, DTTT ph3, AS90 Operator, FST Operator, Artil- lery logistic Operator, the conversion from MATTs to ITR’s and safety courses to name a few. By no means going unnoticed, we have had a lot of help from various instructors from each Bat- tery who have worked tremendously hard to ensure all training is completed to a high standard and with such professionalism. Thank you for your time and effort for this training period.
The new Training Wing 2IC, Sergeant Hampson, with an AS90 guns background, has found this year a real revelation as she has never previously been employed within a training environ- ment. She has had numerous challenges since being in post that she has met head on. Finding her bearings around the different systems that are used to enable the booking of the various train- ing areas for all the different courses, going through the correct procedure for running safety courses, checking that people have the correct course pre-requisites along with many other skills
that she has had to grasp quickly. She has settled in well and has forged a good working relationship with different Training Teams and The Battery Training Officers. Sergeant Hampson has also been the link between the Regiment and the main training providers to ensure maximum success for the unit. As things are changing quite drastically in the Army, it is our ambition as a smaller team to create more time for training to ensure we get the utmost best resources available for our instructors to be able to train our soldiers.
On the other side of the Training Wing, the MTWO has seen another remarkably busy period. Driver training has become far more complex due to the new procedures and the changeover of Brigade Master Drivers, not to mention safety restriction notices. Since October 21, the Training Wing has delivered 27 internal driver courses and assisted another 13 external driver related courses being held by other units. Listed below is the variety of courses that has been delivered:
• Driver Licence Acquisition (B, C, C+E and H licence)
• Armoured Service Driver Conversion
(WARRIOR, AS90 and BULLDOG)
• HAZMAT - (x2 courses)
• UST – Ran two back-to-back with 19 RA
• FLRT Operator – Collaborated with 26 RA
• EPLS Operator – Collaborated with 26 RA
• Land Rover SDC – (x8 courses)
• MAN SV conversion - Various
• Battlefield Ambulance Conversion – x2 Conversion
It has been a particularly challenging period due to the availabil- ity of DMIs, whilst complying with the necessary safety notices corresponding to the armoured equipment. Course delivery has been complex for the DMIs, but they have delivered, and all have been instrumental in delivering success during this period.
A special mention goes to Bombardier Foster who has worked tirelessly for the Regiment and has delivered a wide range of courses to support 1 RHA, Deep Recce Strike Brigade and in support of the 3XX Master Driver. Bdr Foster has consistently delivered courses since October 2021 until today, only breaking during leave periods. Thank you, E Battery, for allowing Bombar- dier Foster to support the Training Wing, he will be sorely missed.
Looking ahead, the MTWO will be concentrating on instructor succession, this will enable driver succession for many years to come. Currently our driver deficits are reducing, the creation of new DMIs and other driving related instructors is being fully sup- ported. Safety is another key area for the MTWO where he deliv- ers the monthly road safety issue to each MT Sgt. Safety is taken extremely seriously within the unit, and we look forward to the Winter Road Safety campaign being provided by Wiltshire Police, this December, organised by SSgt Robinson, our current RFM.
Overall, it has been a remarkably busy period for the entire Regi- ment. Looking forward, we now need to plan for Mission Ready Training and assisting the individual Batteries in their upcoming deployments to Estonia. Alongside that, we must continue to drive down our training deficiencies and driving license gaps to meet readiness. Another busy period lies ahead.
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