Page 6 - Chiron Calling Autumn/Winter 2022

Major General Z R Stenning OBE, Commandant, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Major General Stenning is the 31st Commandant
of The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and
Director Leadership British Army. He commissioned from Sandhurst in 1995.
Major General Stenning has commanded from Platoon to Brigade on deployments to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, The Congo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Oman. He has served in Battalion roles including Recce Platoon, Intelligence Officer, Operations Officer and Adjutant.
He commanded 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment from 2011-
2013 deploying to Helmand in 2012,
where he commanded a Combined Force of British and Afghan forces. From 2017-2019 he commanded 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade; the Brigade led on experimentation to design and enact enhanced methods of fighting for the British Army.
At the staff, Major General Stenning was Chief of Staff 1 Mechanised Brigade between 2005- 2007, which included deploying to Iraq during the heavy urban fighting of 2007. Other staff appointments have included Assistant Chief
of Staff Empowerment for the
Army and Chief of Staff 3rd (UK) Division between 2014-2017.
This period included the re-set
to warfighting operations and
initial deployments of UK Forces
to Ukraine and Estonia. His most recent appointment was Head of
Military Strategy in the UK Ministry of Defence between 2018-2021. In this role he worked collaboratively across the services to shape and deliver the Integrated Defence
and Security Review including oversight of strategic plans for the employment of UK Forces. He also led on the National Aircraft Carrier Policy and the Special Operations Transformation Programme which included the Future Commando Force.
He holds a Bachelors in War Studies from Kings College London, Master’s degree in Defence Studies and a Masters in Defence Administration. Major General Stenning has two sons and enjoys watching all sports, walking, skiing and supporting Bath Rugby.
Lighting of
The Platinum Jubilee Beacon by Capt Payne, DATR Adjutant
On Thursday 2nd July 2022, The Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR)
was one of 2000 locations across the UK to mark the occasion of Her Majesty, The Queen’s occasion of reaching the Platinum Jubilee milestone. The guest of honour, representing the Lord Lieutenant was Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Gp Capt Rory Underwood MBE.
The creation of the beacon was completed by the Army School of Farriery with design by WO1 Bould, Farrier Sergeant Major. The design was personalised to reflect the unit’s strong affinity with farriery and equine mastery and as such was made from horseshoes to give a unique shadow when the beacon was lit.
As the first event in Melton’s 4 / Chiron Calling
Platinum Jubilee celebrations
many local dignitaries including
the Mayor of Melton and a crowd of roughly five hundred people steadily trickled in to witness the lighting of the beacon, this included the bugler, piper and local choirs performing
in the run up to the beacon been lit by as well as enjoy local drinks and food in the magnificent front field of the Equine Training Squadron.
The Beacon Lighting took place on the same day as the Platinum Jubilee Trooping of the colour on Horse Guards Parade in London. All Military Horses on the Trooping of the Colour would have spent time
at Remount Barracks when first arriving, usually from Ireland, as
young ‘Remounts’ (the name given to horses that have not completed their training to allow them to go on military parades). All military horses take time out to have a rest from their duties in London and return for periods of grass rest within the fields of Remount Barracks.
It was a privilege for members
of the DATR and Melton town to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee at Remount Barracks,
a place deeply connected with
the equine elements of State Ceremonial and Public Duties that we were all fortunate to witness over the amazing celebrations during
the Platinum Jubilee weekend in London.