Page 5 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 3
Colonel Commandant Royal Armoured Corps
General Sir Chris Deverell KCB MBE ADC Gen
2019 marks the 80th Anniversary of the Royal Armoured Corps. In the period since our inception, we have repeatedly committed ourselves to the Nation’s defence, in two World Wars, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Northern Ireland conflict, and on many occasions between and since. We are, and always will be, a Combat Arm of the British Army that fights to pro- tect the Nation’s interests. Our twin capabilities of Armour and Reconnaissance have utility across the spectrum of conflict, not just in warfighting. I can personally attest to this as a Brigade Commander in Basra in 2005, when the deployment of a tank on a street corner was the fastest way to quell trouble. (Challenge anyone who asserts that British Main Battle Tanks were not de- ployed to Helmand because they wouldn’t have made a differ- ence, or that AJAX wouldn’t have made a difference had it been available to us at the time.) But we must remain a key part of the nation’s insurance premium for warfighting, expert in combined arms manoeuvre, and at the heart of the Division.
We are leaders in mounted manoeuvre, but that is not all we can do. Versatility has always been one of our key characteris- tics, founded on strong leadership, willingness to take risk at all levels, small team dynamics, the ability to understand and decide quickly, and on professionalism. We exemplify Abraham Lincoln’s philosophy: whatever you are, be a good one. We are Robust, Agile, and Capable. However, it will be vital in our en- deavours to ensure that we amount to more than the sum of our parts. Our individual regimental traditions are a central part of our heritage and to be celebrated. They must not be allowed to divide us. The Corps has gone from a peak of 135 or so regiments in 1944 to 14 regiments today. We must cleave to a single RAC View if we are to help shape the future.
Throughout our history, the RAC has also been at the forefront of innovation, both in tactics and technology, and must continue
to be so. Whilst the chain of command can facilitate innovation, through committed and focussed leadership, it is best delivered by empowering our people to think and to experiment. Innova- tion is the only way I know to break out of the zero-sum game in which we often feel trapped – between needing additional re- source or to reduce our ambition. And the opportunity for us to innovate is not confined to the introduction of AJAX into ser- vice, great though that opportunity is, for the Corps, the Army, and for Defence. We need an innovation mindset everywhere, including on how we can make ourselves more efficient or de- liver a better service to our people. As Commander Joint Forces Command, I have been amazed at how much can be achieved by seizing opportunity, often for what are tiny amounts of money in the scheme of Defence.
As I write, our country is in the midst of a political crisis over Brexit, long-standing alliances are under the microscope, and we face challenges from both state and non-state actors, including from new threat vectors such as cyber, information operations, and space. At times like this in the past, the Armed Forces have always stood up to the plate. We must stand ready to do so again.
I shall be handing over as Colonel Commandant RAC later this year, to Major General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne, currently Deputy Commander NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Italy, but appointed to command the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, on pro- motion to Lieutenant General, in July 2019. In similar vein, the Deputy Colonel Commandant RAC, Brigadier Angus Watson, who has been a superb servant of the Corps, has recently handed over to Brigadier Alex Potts. You will be in very good hands. I wish they, and you, well, and will follow your progress with interest.