Page 93 - QDG 2022

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
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Sustaining in the Defence School of Transport
Firstly, most of you may be wondering exactly why an Royal Armoured Corps Late Entry Officer has found himself as Deputy Chief of Staff at the Defence School of Transport (DST), and I must admit, that after 6 short months in post I am wondering the same. A lesson to learn for all from this; be careful what you put on your PPP to APC!
Anyway, with currently over 60,000 wheeled vehicles in service, DST delivers the Tri-Service vehicle and transport training required in support of frontline operations in theatres around the world. Although most will automatically assume that this is primarily RLC focussed, this is far from reality. With most of our
students receiving secondary trade training or indeed completing career courses towards promotion. This ranges from RLC Master Driver to RE Class 1 and everything in between. Additionally, DST has found itself delivering driver training to Ukrainian students and we are currently working up packages to deliver more structured driver training for elements of the Army Reserve (#RY).
Like Swanton Morley, the infrastructure in DST is tired and held together with good will. The similarities are uncanny though, with as an example the Officers Mess being a mirror image of what we call home. Well apart from the lack of decent silver on display and good craic.
That said, I have worked in worse places and although the RCMO will undoubt- edly look to hang me for this, don’t be shy to explore employment outside of Regi- mental Duty. It will undoubtedly offer you an opportunity to assess yourself against your wider peers, but more importantly, allow you to grow your wider under- standing of defence.
Although unlikely, if any of you are in the area or down to complete a course at DST, please look me up. With only 3 RAC out of routinely 2,000 on site, your presence would be appreciated, and the kettle is always on.
CLH
Waterloo Ride
Thanks to the gallant and diligent way in which the Kings Dragoon Guards conducted themselves in 1815, the Officers of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards still get invited to attend the bi-annual Waterloo Ride, organised by the Dutch but hosted by the Belgians. It is a collection of British, German, Dutch, and Belgian Officers who conduct a battlefield tour both on foot and horseback.
This was the first one that had been run since the pandemic and the QDG sent five junior Officers, with even the attached RAMC liaison getting to go! With such a large presence, it was hard for us to not be the charming, entertaining, and lovable cavalry-people that we naturally are in the QDG. In
fact, we were so well received that the Dutch Officer Training Academy delivered us a plaque of thanks, and we were also invited to their equivalent of the State Opening of Parliament! Which no one could attend due to operational commitments, unfortunately.
Though our social qualities had been praised, our riding left some to be desired, with a couple of tumbles and horses going the wrong way. Poor 2Lt Clark had such a small horse, that he had to get it to trot in order to keep up, which was highly amusing!
A thoroughly enjoyable trip, and yet another reason why 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards are the envy of all.