Page 10 - Eagle Eye Spring 2021

2020 – A TALE OF THREE UNIFORMS FROM CAMBRIDGE TO SOMALIA
For the last 30 years I have worn the RAF Uniform, in 2020 I wore 3 different uniforms in 3 different jobs.
Like many of you I started 2020 with a sense of optimism and expectation, I recall being vaguely aware of reports of a flu outbreak in China but initially gave it no more attention that I would the normal seasonal flu – how wrong was I. For the early part of the year I continued with my RAF duties at Wyton in the Security Accreditation Department with CyDR. As the weeks continued it became obvious that this “flu” was different and I would, very quickly, experience the full impact of COVID-19.
For the past 8 years I have been a member of the RAF Henlow Military Co- Responder Scheme driving an NHS East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) Rapid Response Car. The Henlow scheme primarily responds to 999 calls within the counties of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and occasionally Cambridgeshire, we attend a vast array of calls including RTCs, cardiac arrests, falls, drug overdoses and illness. January to March are traditionally the worst times for seasonal flu. However, very early on we could see a rise in the number of people calling for an ambulance with serious respiratory illnesses. By March the UK had entered a series of lockdowns and the NHS was under severe strain. Following an intensive upskilling course in intermediate life support provided by the EEAS, the RAF Henlow team along with teams from Marham and Honington were seconded, full time, to support the EEAS as the COVID-19 Pandemic took hold. For the next 4 months I wore the Green uniform of the Ambulance Service working with my colleagues on day and night shifts driving a fully equipped ambulance responding to 999 calls wherever required.
The pace was relentless responding to emergencies, assisting paramedics, dealing with incidents and transporting patients to hospital for emergency treatment. There was never a quiet shift and we dealt with many patients with COVID-19 who required urgent care. The team responded exceptionally well throughout the entire deployment, we never missed an allocated shift, indeed we delivered far in excess of what we were asked and on numerous occasions members volunteered
to undertake additional shifts and staff the Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) as well. The team responded to over 1500 calls during this period delivering vital support of the NHS and EEAS. In mid-July it appeared that the Pandemic had reached its peak and was receding, so we ended our secondment, and all returned to normal duties, although now working from home. At this point I reverted to my RAF Uniform and began to prepare for another deployment and my third uniform of the year.
For many years I had applied, without success, to undertake a tour with the United Nations. I have worked alongside them on many occasions – Bosnia, Cyprus and Afghanistan and always wondered what it would be like, what is their mission and how do they operate? It’s now my turn!
The role of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is very complicated to say the least and it has operated throughout Somalia for several years, but in effect: the UN is there to help Somalia achieve peace and assist them with state-building, not an easy task given the ever present terrorist threat from Al Shabab and Al Qaeda and the numerous inter-clan rivalries that persist.
In October 2020 I left my desk working within the ISS - CyDR team in Bazalgette Pavilion donned my Light Blue Beret and deployed to Somalia on a 9- month UN tour as the Chief of Staff (COS) within the Defence Sector Reform (DSR) team based
in Mogadishu. The DSR team provide one element within the wider UN in Somalia.
Although I am only 3 months into a 9 month tour the activity has been frenetic. Somalia is at a crucial point in its future development; elections that were due to be held in December 2020 have been delayed (twice), inter clan rivalries and political disagreements between the Federal Government and Regional Governments continue and there is the ever present threat from Al Shabab throughout the country.
The DSR team comprises of 11 international military staff, I am one of 2 UK Military: myself as COS and a Major who is the Military Advisor located 120km away in Baidoa. The other posts have a mixture of Lieutenant Colonels and Majors from Uganda, Turkey, Sierra Leone and Ghana located in one of the 6 Somali Federal States.
Our mission?
1. To help the Coordination of international military assistance in Somalia to build their Army, police and security institutions
2. The provision of military expertise to assist the Somali Transition Process 3. To act as the UN focal point for
work undertaken by the international partners in developing the Somali Security Forces
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