Page 71 - RADC 2020

Manager at DMA(W) Dental Phase 2 Training School has been superb. As the role involves all three services, I have been able to learn about the other services, making the job more interesting and fulfilling. However, the main thing I have learnt is that everyone is different, hence we all learn differently. But it gives me great thrills to take the nurses from knowing absolutely nothing about dental nursing to the point where they can pass their national exam and gain their national dental nurse qualification within 18 months. It gives me great satisfaction to know that I am a part of a team that has so much influence on the high-quality dental nurses we train to provide dental care for the Armed Forces. I am very humbled to be a part of such a fantastic training team doing such a rewarding job.
Quartermaster Sergeant
SSgt Atchison
I am the Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant (SQMS) for Defence Medical Services Whittington Barracks DMS(W). This role is accountable to the Quartermaster (QM), Maj M Woodward RAMC and The Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS) WO2 T Morgan RAMC. I am responsible for the logistic supply to DMS(W). This includes the tri-service clothing stores, miscellaneous stores (MSA) and accommodation for all courses and events that pass through DMS(W).
The SQMS role is an out of Corps assignment. To become an SQMS you will need to attend the 3-week SQMS/CQMS course held at the Defence School of Logistics, the Army’s centre of excellence for logistic support training, and is a very intense but very rewarding course. Upon completion, you are awarded a Level 4 Certificate in Supply Chain Management. With some extra modular work, there is
an opportunity to increase this to Level
5 Certificate in Logistics Supply Chain Operations. I completed my Level 5 in June 2020.
I have been in the RADC for 13 years
and have covered many jobs in the RADC over this time, ranging from Dental Nurse
to Practice Manager to Regional Practice Manager. The SQMS assignment is by
far my favourite, stepping away from the RADC and experiencing work in a different environment has developed me and also my knowledge of the wider Army. I have had the opportunity to better my military writing, organise Adventure Training, lots of sporting opportunities as well as presenting at the academy and enjoying the odd visit from celebrities such as Foxy from SAS who dares wins.
I would advise other Staff Sergeants or eligible Sergeants to consider this as a future posting and a natural progression could
be to Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS). There is an RADC RQMS PID at
Royal Centre of Defence Medicine (RCDM) Birmingham and also WO1 PID J4 delivery Coltman House DMS(W) which this job would set you up nicely for.
Training Development wing
Sgt Sugden and Sgt Bell
As Course Designers our responsibilities include:
• Developing new and existing medical courses in line with Defence Strategic Approach to Training (DSAT), Joint Service Publication (JSP 822) and local Course Design SOP’s.
• Complete Training Change Requests (TCR) in order to keep the course content relevant and up to date.
• Manage course reviews to ensure the course is still current/fit for purpose.
• Liaise with all arms on possible training implications of new technology and equipment.
• Work closely with training support organisations to ensure validity in training practice.
• Readily provide assistance to Training Plans and Support Division as required.
Since March 2020 COVID-19 became our main priority and we have produced
a number of courses to train/aid service personnel, both clinical and non-clinical, while assigned to COVID related taskings.
We both came to be at DMS Whittington by selecting the position on our PPP. As
the assignment is outside of the RADC it gives us the opportunity to show we are able to operate in roles outside of the clinical environment. As SNCOs in this role, we also have the potential to gain extra qualifications in order to develop our portfolios for future employability.
Being a Course Designer is challenging as it is completely different from any other RADC role. So much time and research are involved in the process, sometimes having to work extended weeks and evenings
in order to produce quality work on tight deadlines. Course Design is extremely rewarding, all the hard work and dedication is worth it when you see the quality/skillset of personnel turning out of DMA. The unique feeling of pride and satisfaction that you get when a course you help design is published is indescribable, you just get this overwhelming sense of achievement and think to yourself, “We produced this and this is paving the future of the AMS”.
If anyone has the opportunity to apply themselves to a role external to the RADC, they should take it! Being out of your comfort zone helps develop you personally and professionally. The ability shown by our RADC colleagues to fill ‘AMS Any’ roles shows just how versatile we are as a Corps “Ex Dentibus Ensis”.
RADC BULLETIN 2020 69