Page 37 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) 35 The Quartermaster’s Department
 How time flies when you are having fun. The Quartermaster’s Department has continued to provide day-to-day support to the Regiment both in camp and in the field. Yes, busy is the new normal, but the Quartermaster’s Department of seven person- nel has punched well above their weight in 2017. The Magnifi- cent Seven have deployed to support live firing at Castlemartin ranges, collective training on Salisbury Plain (more than once), simulated training in Warminster, the behemoth that was Exer- cise NORTHERN LANCER and a final six weeks providing Real Life Support at Westdown Camp for everyone on 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade’s user trial for the new BOWMAN upgrade – Exercise LIGHTNING ACE. This resulted in the accumulation of NOOB (nights out of bed, not aliens) and the team split to 50% manning in camp (for the majority of the year), which even saw Lionel, the Quartermaster’s clerk, rolling up his sleeves. If sup- porting the Regiment were not enough, we would not be in the Army if there were not another assurance visit (née inspection). The Regiment was subject to over 19. We gained outstanding results due to the hard work of RQMS Hollis and the team.
During the year we have said farewell to the now Regimental Seg- ment Major, Mr Hough, after a quality handover. RQMS Hollis arrived in the Quartermaster’s team and quickly embraced the in- ventory and equipment nightmare that is VIRTUS (the new hel- met and webbing system comprises of over 66 items per person). Sergeant Markwell also competed numerous Health and Safety courses and is now a subject matter expert. He has reveled in ex- plaining, in laborious detail, the particulars of Risk Assessments, Personal Appliance Testing and Energy Management; I have spared you deciphering the many abbreviations and have saved many trees in doing so. Corporal Brooks has continued to work hard providing support and offering help to anyone, as well as finding the time to act as an Army Football Association Referee.
Lance Corporal Garner completed his ammunition course and now manages the ammunition bunker; he has risen to the chal- lenge, problem solving the myriad of last-minute requests from the squadrons and managing the frustration of the modern Or- derly Officers’ lack of mental arithmetic – he deserves a well- done. Lance Corporal Bradshaw has excelled in the clothing store having dealt with numerous, last minute requests for wa- terproofs, sleeping bags, boots and combats prior to every major exercise from, quite literally, every rank at the Regiment. See- ing the shelves stripped bare would result in her driving around the garrison to hunt down clothing for our soldiers. Trooper Highton has worked hard to prove himself, providing fork-lift enviable squatting capabilities to the department.
Finally, a special mention goes to the RQMS and team for their roll-out of VIRTUS equipment to the Regiment. When five large containers arrived carrying all the VIRTUS components for every soldier in the Regiment, it soon become apparent that this would be a large task for such a small team. It was only down to the herculean efforts of RQMS Hollis and his team that the Regiment was correctly equipped for the major training event that was Exercise NORTHERN LANCER. Normally, the Regiment would have received it at the beginning of the Readi- ness Year, but the prospect of breaking it in and testing it before could not be missed. That said, it is certainly the most un-CO2 friendly VIRTUS in the UK having been delivered to the Regi- ment in Yorkshire, delivered to the troops in Warminster and then returned to Catterick (in the most part) as troops returned from the simulators on the same day we broke for summer leave. Despite not being our ‘greenest’ moment, the herculean effort by the team led by RQMS Hollis saw our people get to put the new load carrying system, the first in over 25 years, to the test on a major recce exercise. On Exercise NORTHERN LANCER, the team bounced all over the North, not only delivering clothes and kit, but also overseeing the delivery of well-over 120 porta- loos; those residents in Kelso who were shocked to see Sergeant Younger’s troop with a GPMG going into the chippy were more surprised when a portaloo turned up in the town-centre.
The year ended on a high. Clear direction was given from the CO: “Quartermaster, you are to provide Real Life Support and Welfare Support for Exercise LIGHTING ACE.” This turned out to not just be for the Regiment, but the entire gamut of exercising troops. Headquarters’ SQMS ‘fricky’ stand for the Germans in the Scots Guards’ leaguer raised an eyebrow in the blue-red-blue fraternity. And, outside of frickies on the gate of West Down Camp and stickies in Block 18, the department did everything to collecting spares, sorting laundry and, of course, keeping the new Detachment Commander out of his office chair and away from the chocolate night-tray.
It has been a whirlwind two years in the Department and rounds- off an amazing time at Regimental Duty. I am now posted to Bo- vington as Officer Commanding Waterloo Squadron and Captain Matt Jones takes the reigns of both Quartermaster positions – lucky him. Well, until Captain John Ryan turns up that is. I wish Matt and the team all the best as they begin the next chapter.
JR
   Corporal Brooks issues the most The Royal Lancer Recce Group consider six months in Cyprus CO2 inefficient VIRTUS ever
The Quartermaster storing all the Chapkas

























































































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