Page 101 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Saskia Oakley, Kim Addyman and Trina Burgoyne enjoying the dependents’ party in Alanbrooke Barracks on Friday 30 March 14.
Families
May 2014 saw the ROG wave goodbye to the 5 RIFLES Manoeuvre Battlegroup as they headed off to Afghanistan for the very last time on HERRICK 20. With just under half the Battalion deployed to Afghanistan the Welfare Centre was left with the task of looking after the families not just of those deployed but also left behind and immediate families in the UK.
Capt Hedges and his team set about the task of formulating a plan and programming in events and activities to entertain and amuse all of the 5RIFLES families. This was no easy task with a wide variety of needs to cater for. It was decided that the Battalion would hold one major event each month with a variety of smaller weekly events to help in between.
Cpl Clark, Cpl Allcock, Stevie Spit, Cpl Morgan and Cpl Collier posing for photos after the Drag Queen performance in the NAAFI bar on Sunday 22 Jun 14.
The take over of
the ROG was marked
with a dependents’
party in the Warrant
Officers’ & Serjeants’
Mess on Allanbrooke
Barracks. This was
a well attended event
which was enjoyed by all. The Mess was decorated with plenty of balloons and even some life size balloon men, which seemed to disappear by the end of the evening. Some of the other main events we have been running for the families have included a shopping trip to Dortmund and a trip to the Aqua Park in Oberhausen.
Other events and activities included basic German lessons which were run from within the Welfare Centre and allowed dependents to bring children and even a dog along to lessons. This is something they wouldn’t
who have participated have found them very demanding.
Sunday lunches have been a highlight on the ROG calendar. We have run one a month with the average attendance at 80 – 90 has been a full three
...and even some life size balloon men, which seemed to disappear by the end of the evening
have been allowed to do in the Education Centre. Fitness classes have been run by the military gym staff and although they haven’t been very well attended, those
and held in the NAAFI bar on camp. This proved to be a very entertaining night for all those who attended. Although the artist was only due to perform for an hour he stayed on for nearly two hours because he was enjoying the banter with the audience.
Without a shadow of doubt the major success of the ROG has been the introduction of “Chosen Tots”. This is a mother and toddler group which is solely run by dependents with a little help to cover all the red tape from the welfare staff. The group is headed up by Nicola Flanagan with a good handful of people always willing to assist where possible. The group has proved to be very popular with a detailed constructive learning programme which culminates with story time before everyone departs.
In the future, the calendar remains extremely busy for the 5 RIFLES dependents with plenty of events
still planned for the remainder of the deployment including a children’s Halloween party, spa day, Salamanca Day and an Oktoberfest.
dependents. There
course Sunday lunch laid on at minimum cost to the dependents, which is normally followed by some form of activity for the children. These activities have ranged
from an indoor assault course which was organised and run by the gym staff to children’s entertainer and arts and crafts for Fathers’ Day.
On Sunday 22 Jun 14 the Welfare Centre organised a slightly different event in the form of a drag queen act. This was open to both dependents and serving personal
THE RIFLES
FIFTH BATTALION 99