Page 4 - Chiron Autumn 2016

Reading the draft of this edition of Chiron Calling is always a good prompt and guide for me to decide what I would like to include in the Foreword. Reading this edition made me smile for many reasons. The rst was to read, and see the evidence, of how busy and effective our of cers and soldiers are across a wide spectrum of operational areas. The second reason was to realise that this high tempo of operational duties has not stopped everyone from enjoying sport and adventurous training activities. Getting this quality of life balance correct is an essential part of maintaining morale, and an accurate marker of good leadership at all levels.
Interoperability with other partner nations, government departments and the private sector is a key part of all our activities at home, and abroad. We are now required as a Defence Task to provide non-discretionary support to homeland resilience. Military aid to civil powers and agencies has always been part of what we do, but the change to non-discretionary support has changed both the intensity and quantity of what we are tasked to do. Doctrinally, it is a perfect t for us because we are being asked to deliver both animal and veterinary capability. A third reason to smile was to read about how we are involved in partnering with other countries and organisations. The 1st Military Working Dog Regiment is taking the initiative to engage with the Home Of ce police forces and other government departments to deliver working dog capability. This is complemented with developing interoperability with our NATO partners. These links are strengthening the bonds we already have, increasing our knowledge of their doctrine and tactics, and most importantly developing mutual trust in each other. Trust is the foundation of interoperability in NATO and in the
Director’s Foreword
By Colonel D A Macdonald QHVS (Douglas)
homeland. It’s not all dogs though. The promotion of veterinary capability is also being improved by partnership with DEFRA, and through the concept of ‘One Health’ in Defence engagement and capacity building activities.
The reader may be surprised to learn that I was unaware of all the above activities taking place. Chiron Calling, it appears, keeps me up to date, as well as you. This lack of knowledge on my part also brought a smile. The Army Command Review has resulted in what remains of the Army Medical Directorate having a lighter touch, or engagement, with the operational units. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help feeling a nervousness that the touch from the Headquarters is too light. However, this greater freedom, or mission command, for our units is just as CGS, General Sir Nick Carter, would wish it to be. It is one year since CGS introduced the Army Leadership Code and our units and people are clearly following his intent. We are to promote a culture that empowers
leaders at every level and Chiron Calling tells me that we are. Had my nervousness remained, CGS would have exhorted me to ‘tolerate risk and accept honest mistakes as a natural part of leader development. Micro-management and over assurance has no place on the battle eld and it must not feature in peacetime either’. The former President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan, shares a similar philosophy to General Sir Nick. Ronald Reagan had a plaque on his desk that read, ‘there is no limit to the amount of good you can do, if you don’t care who gets the credit’. We have excellent of cers and soldiers in our units, both RAVC and non-RAVC and I am proud, and happy, to have the humility to give them the full credit for their initiative and professionalism at all levels. They are doing good across the board.
Recently, no Foreword has been complete without a speci c mention for our Reserves. Clearly this one is no exception, but I do wonder how long it will be before we stop making this a separate element. I raise this as a question for discussion based on a conversation I recently had with Commander 8 Engineer Brigade, Brigadier John Etherington. Brigadier Etherington watched a collective training exercise this week to see our search and protection teams working in London on HMS Belfast, at the Shard, 10 Downing Street and other locations. He advised that he saw reserve soldiers working alongside their regular colleagues, and he couldn’t tell them apart by their performance, con dence or conduct. That is a great compliment; and a great indicator that we are already well on the way to being one Corps, regardless of our terms and conditions of service. Another reason to smile.
I hope you enjoy reading this latest edition of Chiron Calling.
4 Chiron Calling
RAVC Colonel Commandant appointed as the most senior UK Of cer in NATO
It gives us great pleasure to share the announcement of our Colonel Commandant’s appointment as the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) in the rank of General in March 2017.
Lieutenant General Sir James Everard KCB CBE has a long and distinguished military career, including deployments in Bosnia, Kosovo, US (including The Pentagon), Cyprus, Canada, Germany and Iraq. He currently holds the role of Commander Field Army, in charge of the Army’s deployable divisions and responsible for their force protection and generation for operations.
Sir James has been the Colonel Commandant RAVC since March 2012 and his tenure is due to end in March 2017. He is a real people’s person who has been held in high esteem by all members of the Corps and families.
We wish Sir James, Lady Everard and their family the very best from all members of the RAVC.