Page 45 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

26 Engineer

Regiment

Members of 26 Engineer in Cyprus. It was also an opportunity Deploying
Regiment provide an outline to exercise its abilities to project, plan,
resource and deliver at long range on an
of their experiences. overseas deployment and gain vital force I deployed in February 2016 and my
main responsibilities were organising
support engineering experience. adventurous training packages for the
Army Power Cricket Cup Based in Episkopi, I was employed as troops in theatre. The package consisted
of a one day visit to historical locations
Champions Chief Clerk where I juggled the daily in Jordan which were The Beach Club,
administration of a Rear Operations Group Petra and Wadi Rum, all of which were
and a deployed Squadron. I was also magnificent and breath taking places
By Lance Corporal Arun Krishnan
heavily involved with project finance and to visit. The majority of troops took
budgeting across a number of projects. I advantage of this opportunity. The job
It was a great honour being a part had loads of opportunities to take in the itself was a great opportunity to be
of the AGC Cricket Club and to win local culture, visit the green line and soak working in this type of environment as it
the Army Power Cup 2016. We won up some of the Cyprus sun and take part gives a wider view and experience working
by the combination of good batting, in various adventure packages. alongside the local population and various
incisive bowling and superlative fielding units out there.
throughout the season. The team as Exercise Shamal Storm 16
a whole was a mixture of talents and I got the opportunity to go on a guided
experience and being my first season I By Corporal Valynn Ashton tour to visit the ancient city of Petra which
got a great opportunity to learn more is also known as the Rose city due to
skills and to enrich my knowledge and The exercise was conducted in Jordan the colour of the stone out of which it is
competency as a cricketer. It has been a between January and April 2016 and had carved. This is also part of the location
truly memorable season playing for the been designed to validate the Vanguard where the movie Indiana Jones was filmed.
AGC Cricket Club
Enabling Group. The exercise also provided Riding a camel was one of the exciting
an opportunity to conduct interoperability things I wanted to do; and I did after
Exercise Pinestick 2016 training with the Jordanian Armed Forces, negotiating a fair price with one of the
thereby supporting wider Army and UK locals to ride his camel for two minutes.
By Sergeant Janine Smith Defence Engagement priorities. The role The tour guide was knowledgeable, he
of 38 Headquarters and Support Squadron gave a lot of information about the Petra.
Exercise Pinestick was an excellent was to provide training support and force I drifted off a bit during the tour to capture
training opportunity for Royal Engineers protection engineering to the exercise to photographs of the remarkable scenery
to improve, refine and perfect their ensure our forces were at readiness to fulfil every chance I got. It was a great day out
trade skills whilst delivering Defence their role. in Petra, an experience not to be forgotten,
Infrastructure Organisation outputs and one I would repeat if the opportunity
arises again.

Left to right:
Val Ashton attempts a new mode of transport

Val Ashton out and about sightseeing
Janine Smith in Cyprus during Exercise Pinestick
Arun Krishnan being coached in cricket skills

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