Page 29 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

Bramley Training Area remains our permanent staff also took part in a Station
second home for Basic Close Combat Skills team to compete in this year’s Trailwalker.
exercises. Full of nights under ponchos with Captain Sarah Thomson, Staff Sergeant
good old fashioned basic soldiering and Erica Welsh, Corporal Hamilton Nickles
living with thousands of pheasants. and Corporal Nerys Jones took part and
There has been little time this year for completed the 100 km running event in 14
much ‘compulsory fun’, however a few hours. This beat last years’ time by some
of us are looking forward to heading to margin and has certainly raised the bar
France at the end of January 2017 for the for next year’s challenge. Of course, the
Worthy Down annual ski trip. I am sure it competitors would not have achieved this
will be case of ‘all the gear and no idea’. without their amazing Pit Crew: Sergeant
Overall this has been an extremely fast Ricky Oxley and myself who kept morale
moving year. It would be remiss without high and the body fuelled.
mentioning, however, that the foundations
on which the Squadron has been built is
due to the tireless work of all the trainers;
without their efforts I know the Squadron
would not be in the good state that it is
currently in and I am extremely proud of
Major Jed McInally, on the right, during the Late Entry them all.
Commissioning Assessment Board

Service Initial Personnel
In February a full review of the Chief Clerks
and Personnel Function Area Officers Administration Course
courses led to their amalgamation into a Squadron
new ‘Human Resources Manager’ course:
this makes better use of the experience By Corporal Daniel Hillan
of both audiences, avoids duplication of
effort by the trainers, and gives personnel This training year has seen the Squadron
in senior human resources roles on Units a staff working at full capacity running Land,
better understanding of their interactions. Air and Reserve courses alike. We have
Leading a highly successful Continuing also introduced the Surge course purely to
Professional Development week in meet the demand of Voluntary Transferees
April, the Squadron delivered a series of wishing to join the Branch.
leadership and team building challenges
to the Wing, including an orienteering Student integration is a key aspect of life in
exercise, communication tasks, and the Squadron with the aim of encouraging Captain Jim Douglas at the World Obstacle Course
training on stress management. Racing Championships
joint service exposure as well as learning
about their own specific service ethos. We
Command Leadership and do this by running events such as Duty
Management Squadron of Care evenings where the senior course
hosts the junior course to welcome them to Warrant Officer Class One Paul Brenton and Captain
Jim Douglas at the World Obstacle Course Racing
By Major Sue Wilkinson their phase 2 training and the Squadron. Championships
International evening is another event
Another year has flown by and many which brings all trainees together. Each
students have passed through the doors. course is given a country to research the
The Squadron’s main effort still remains the traditions, culture, food and interesting
delivery of robust and relevant command, facts. They display what they have found
leadership and management training, at the event including cuisine and the
and with the exception of the restructuring evening ends with each course providing a
of the Senior Non Commissioned Officer traditional dance or sport for the country.
course, very little has changed in terms of It’s a great night where diversity and
course content. inclusion is fully on display.

The training team has again gone through The Squadron also continues to enhance
the assignment cycle and the new team its name by engaging with the local
are getting used to the fast Squadron community, helping local charities and
tempo and have all learned the ability to schools. This year course personnel have
be on their feet for 18 hours a day and still worked at the local Primary School
remain enthusiastic during a very wet and enhancing the playground area and
cold day on exercise. helping make a difference. Two of the

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