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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           OP SWIFT COVID Response – Winter Period
by Pte Colwell 102 MWD SQN
During December 2020, I deployed from 102 MWD Sqn to 1 RSME (Royal
School of Military Engineering) Regiment in Chatham, Kent.
This was to assist the various
Royal Engineer Regiments with
OP SWIFT COVID Response.
This operation was put in place
for military personnel to aid and support the COVID testing facilities across the UK. The team I was
with during this operation was supporting the COVID testing facilities in the Kent region for several weeks. We did not only support the Testing facilities but also assisted the NHS who were attempting to decrease the numbers of people with COVID-19 in that region.
The testing centres that we were situated at were to test people that were asymptomatic in order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 during this pandemic.
My main role during this time, was to provide logistical support for the soldiers and officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers. This included many days and nights driving from one facility to the next. Though I spent most of the time driving the Engineer teams, I also aided the teams by completing essential tasks such as bringing COVID supplies and screens to the testing facilities as well as transporting meals for the
soldiers. When I wasn’t driving, I was helping the soldiers who were coaching the civilian volunteers on how to manage the testing facilities that the MOD provided once we leave. Although I was not part of
the testing, I played a vital role in keeping the centres running as efficiently as possible, thus enabling my team who were conducting the testing, to carry out their jobs as effectively as they could.
As this occurred during the Christmas stand down period, the Royal Engineer Officers gave us all food hampers and pizzas which helped my moral massively. This was a little something that they
‘These facilities have helped with the National effort of decreasing the spread of COVID and have helped allow for accurate and essential data to be recorded’
gave back to us as a thank you for the hard work and effort we had put in. They were especially grateful to us for being away from our families during the pandemic and Christmas period.
My time helping with the COVID response gave me a chance to do
something different away from camp and my normal role as a
Dog Handler. It also allowed me
to understand the wider picture of what we do as soldiers, to protect and support the UK. I have realised how vital these testing facilities
are to us. These facilities have helped with the National effort of decreasing the spread of COVID and have helped allow for accurate and essential data to be recorded
to help with building the current picture of how the virus is affecting the country. I have enjoyed my time helping and supporting the team and hope everyone stays safe and well as we start to emerge out of this pandemic.
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