Page 10 - QARANC Vol 18 No 2 2020

8 The Gazette QARANC Association
Exercise
Proton
Serpent
I joined the QARANC in 1982 thinking that I would be posted to Germany in no time, learn to ski and go on Snow Queen every year. Marvellous. I had many tremendous adventures but no German posting and no skiing until my final tour as OC Nursing at 202 Field Hospital when we took a team to the AMS ski meet in Canada. I realised finally what I had been missing. I squeezed in one the following year in France and that was it, civvy skiing only from then on. Until, that is, 18 years later when I joined exercise Proton Serpent in Serre Chevalier this year.
Much has changed as the exercise has evolved and grown over the intervening years but the enthusiasm, ethos and commitment needed to take part has not changed at all. This is no holiday! The collective effort to organise the event and the individual effort to take part, whether as a beginner or as an experienced skier, is considerable and impressive.
For me as Colonel Commandant it was the best opportunity imaginable to spend time with Regular and Reserve QARANC in a way that is
Patrol Race finish
not possible during a short unit visit. As a result I learned a lot and got to know many more of our officers and soldiers. Being Colonel Commandant is no protection from the traditions of the event however such as the snowball bombardment unleashed on the winners at each prizegiving. I was warned to exit rapidly stage right once the trophies were handed over and as the photograph shows I soon understood why.
My husband Mike was with me and really appreciated the welcome he had when we joined 243 (The Wessex)
Field Hospital and then 306 Hospital Support Regiment in their respective chalets for dinner over a couple of nights of spectacular feasts produced when everyone could have been forgiven for simply going to sleep rather than cooking up a storm. Another example of the energy and teamwork that we have in the Corps and across the AMS.
Exercise Proton Serpent is very much an AMS event and that is critical to its success but I was keen to spend some time with the QARANC in particular. Major Chris Jordan kindly organised
Prizegiving: Calm before the bombardment