Page 5 - Chiron Issue 2 2014

On 11 November 2013, Lt Col Robert Huey was promoted to the post of Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland. Lt Col Huey is a member of the RAVC Council and he is also currently the Officer Commanding the
RAVC Reserve cadre within 306 Hospital Support Regiment.
In his civilian role, Lt Col Huey qualified from Dublin in 1983, worked in general mixed, ‘Heriott like’ practice for five years before joining the state veterinary service in Northern Ireland as a Veterinary Officer. A period of general field duties was followed by lecturing in Loughry Agricultural College, Official Veterinary Officer duties in meat hygiene, headquarter policy and management roles leading to promotion to Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer in 2009. He has throughout his career developed an interest in meat hygiene and food safety that has led to co-authorship of the textbook on the subject, lecturing and examining and Presidency of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association, the Veterinary Public Health Association, the Union of European Veterinary Hygienists and to currently holding a position as Vice- president of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe.
At the same time as leaving practice, Robert’s military career commenced in order to ensure that he didn’t have to suffer the difficulty of having to deal with ‘spare time’. He joined a RAVC TA Officer Pool that was still in its infancy under the leadership of Lt Col Bleby and then Lt Col Koder. After a few years supporting the regulars with locums in Melton Mowbray, Aldershot and Sennelager and canine health inspections throughout the UK, he joined the recently formed Civil Affairs Group at CVHQ RE, Gibraltar Barracks in 1996. A very active and enjoyable period followed with exercises in Nth Carolina and Nepal before rejoining the cadre with 306.
From 2008, Lt Col Huey became involved in Medical Intelligence, service on various international working groups and in 2010 was promoted to the post of SO1 Medical Intelligence within 306, until being asked in 2010 to take on his current role.
The Chief Veterinary Officer in Northern Ireland is responsible for both policy advice and implementation of animal health and farm animal welfare in the Province. Veterinary Service also delivers meat hygiene official controls in approved slaughter and cutting establishments on behalf of the Food Standards Agency. This structure gives economies of scale but also assists the Department of Agriculture in its objective to support farmers and industry in its drive to increase production and maintain farmer income through export of
agricultural products.
Lt Col Huey has stated that he is sure
that the training and experience he has received throughout his career in the ‘Army Reserves’ has complimented and enhanced his civilian career. Many of the basic principle of ‘fighting power’, mission analysis and mission control are readily applicable to civilian employment in problem solving, decision making, leadership and staff management. Those currently serving should never under– estimate the quality of the training they have received And its potential value to civilian employers.
Robert is married to Jane and has two grown up children, Peter and Emma. They have a small holding on which they keep a menagerie of five horses, two heifers, 13 sheep, two dogs and three cats. Much time during the summer months is spent showing their Irish Draft mares and their progeny at various shows throughout Ireland.
Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Huey RAVC – OC RAVC Reserve Cadre Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland
Farewell to Lieutenant Colonel Chris Ham MBE RAVC
Following 37.5 years service to the RAVC Lt Col Chris Ham MBE has recently retired. After enlisting in 1977 he completed his basic infantry training at Bassingbourne before joining the RAVC Training Centre. Colonel
Chris has seen service in many parts of the world including lengthy periods in Northern Ireland, two postings to Germany and two postings to Hong Kong. As he rose through the ranks from private soldier to Lt Colonel, Chris became a key figure in notable achievements in the Corps. He oversaw the initial stages of the drawdown in Hong Kong; he was instrumental in the re-establishment of Infantry and Patrol and Tracker Dogs into jungle warfare with Training Team Brunei where he completed a successful attachment. He oversaw and had much input to the RAVC Dog Trainer review which led to the first uplifts in man power to meeting the growing operational
need of Military Working Dogs (MWDs). He also oversaw the rerolling of the Defence Animal Support Unit in Sennelager to form 102 Military Working Dog Support Unit. His success in this task saw Chris being selected for a posting to Northern Ireland to close the Army Dog Unit down and then relocate as well as re-role it to form 104 MWD Sp Unit in North Luffenham. His constant championing and promotion of MWD utility and the formation of a successful unit, which had to rapidly deploy to two theatres of war saw him, being awarded the MBE in Jun 2010.
More recently, after his promotion to Lt Col in 2010, he became heavily involved in the Urgent Operational Requirements for MWDs, (within HQ Army’s - Defence EOD and Search Branch), to support UK forces in Afghanistan. He also oversaw the delivery of scores of extra dogs to the busy theatre, ensuring that all related equipment and training was provided on time and in the right place. His final posting to HQ AMD (Army Medical Directorate) as the senior staff officer responsible for Capability Delivery for MWD produced a flurry of activity from him to ensure that
the RAVC is well placed for the future. His work at AMD has included rebasing aspects of 1 MWD Regiment returning from Germany to the East Midlands and he was heavily involved in the future RAVC Reserves initiative as well as driving the production of much needed MWD doctrine.
Behind every man is a good lady. Chris’s wife Susan has endured many postings and lengthy separations. Susan has been a pillar of support to Chris along with their two adult sons, Michael and Jeremy.
A champion of all things MWD, Corps events and RAVC soldiers he will be sorely missed. We wish him and his family well and hope to see him at RAVC functions in the future where he will always be made very welcome.
We will sadly miss Chris as a member of DAVRS’s Staff officers at the base. His enthusiasm, his inimitable approach to any challenge and most of all his ability to maintain the troops motivation is missed by everyone who has worked with such a great character. Good luck to Chris, Susan and the boys from everyone in the Corps.
Chiron Calling 5