Page 17 - QARANC Vol 17 No 1 2019

accord officer status to their nurses, who can only hope to attain senior NCO rank as a maximum. My participation on the course was initially met with suspicion and I was under immediate pressure to demonstrate my credentials as an officer. As an ambassador for QARANC and the broader AMS, it was essential to demonstrate the functionality and contribution of nursing officers.
The ‘Medot’ method used by the French to conduct their staff work was very interesting. To work in a co-ordinated and productive fashion with our French allies, it is important to understand their doctrine and the processes that drive their staff work. The multi-national context of the course facilitated an exchange of ideas regarding military methodology, which generated furious, friendly debate. This also highlighted the need for closer ties and training with our allies to promote future interoperability.
The course concluded with a three-night stay at the French Cavalry School in Saumur. Here, we were able to simulate Exercise Beatrix using the latest I.T. to co-ordinate an offensive operation. This was both a test of resilience and the ability to work as a multi-national force, under the pressures (albeit simulated) of ‘real-time ops’ with a reactive, equal enemy.
Cultural appreciation and diplomacy were as much a part of the learning process as the classroom work. During week one, the French students prepared a ‘Gastronomic Tour de France’, where each brought specialities from their region and presented them to the foreign students. This was reciprocated in week two, where for the Brits, good old Marks and Spencer, Paris was an invaluable source of inspiration. English wines, Welsh small-batch sloe gin, Scottish oatcakes with British cheeses and homemade chutney (amongst other delights), were devoured by our comrades. English wine was declared ‘pas mal’ (not bad). High praise indeed from the French!
Having successfully completed the course, we were awarded our diplomas at a ceremony at the École Militaire. We also had the immense honour of participating in the ceremony for the rekindling of the eternal flame and wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe.
This was an excellent opportunity to work in a productive, allied environment. Our NATO colleagues do not approach future operations from an isolated, domestic perspective. This course demonstrated the richness and productivity of international co-operation. It is essential that we continue to support multi-national exercises with parity of opportunity for both regular and reserve staff.
Captain Janet Jordan
208 Liverpool Field Hospital (V)
Working with our allies
Royal Red
Cross
On Tuesday 26 February
2019 Sergeant Colodia
Muzvidziwa ARRC and
myself met at Buckingham
Palace to receive the RRC
and ARRC, having being
awarded them in the New
Year’s Honours list 2019.
On arrival at the Palace,
the Royal Standard was
raised so there was a little
excitement that maybe
the Queen was in today.
At the Palace entrance
we were filtered off into
guests and recipients.
The guests were taken
to the ballroom and we
were moved on into a
very spectacular corridor.
Surrounded by old master
paintings and some very
large ornaments it all felt a
bit surreal. As we waited
for instructions, a bit of a
buzz started going around that the Queen was presenting today and this was confirmed by one of her staff. The atmosphere became electric with a flurry of people suddenly checking their uniforms (us two!) and readjusting their hats and clothing. The Queen now only presents on three occasions in the year, once each at Buckingham Palace, Holyrood Palace and Windsor Castle, so we both felt very honoured that this was one of those occasions.
We were able to watch the previous week’s investiture on the two large TV screens and to be honest it didn’t look too bad, so that settled any last-minute nerves. One of the Queen’s staff came to brief us on how to curtsey and I confided in Sergeant Muzvidizwa that I had been having nightmares about curtseying and saluting at the same time, clearly not something she had thought about until then. As a female keeping your hat on and not saluting in front of the Monarch doesn’t feel right!
Military awards appear to be at the end of the batch, so it felt quite a long wait, even though the whole event was only just over an hour. I’m pleased to report that neither of us tripped up on the sumptuous carpet, we didn’t miss our cue to move forward to the Queen and we didn’t salute whilst curtseying. Both of us had a chat with the Queen; it’s about 30 seconds each, but that feels like a long time when she is trying to pin a medal to your chest.
We got to see the last few awards being presented and then it was time to meet back up with friends and family and have lots of photos taken. Over all it was a fantastic event and we both feel truly honoured that colleagues took time out of their busy working lives to recommend us for these awards.
Lieutenant Colonel Jayne Cumming RRC SO1 Clinical, HQ 2 Med Bde
THE GAZETTE QARANC 15
Lieutenant Colonel Cumming and Sergeant Muzvidziwa proudly displaying their RRC and ARRC decorations outside Buckingham Palace following presentation by HM Queen