Page 41 - QARANC Vol 20 No 1 2022

The Gazette QARANC Association 41
no career beyond Major I returned again to 205 Fd Hosp in 2009 as CO. This was a year prior to the unit deploying on OP HERRICK 11b and a lot of work had to be done, there was a long way to go.
This was the first time a QA had commanded 205 Fd Hosp and only the second time a Reservist had led the unit on deployment, the last time being Gulf 1.
I wasn’t surprised at the positive response from the Reserve and Regular components (others were), the key was to make sure that everyone knew what their contribution to the deployment was. Everyone involved, whether deploying or in support were fully engaged and the vital nature of their role was explained.
I managed to visit all the attached personnel from across
issue was dealing with those to whom I had to say no! In the end however we were all able to recover at the same time, if slightly delayed.
Overall, the tour went well and the contacts with the US Navy honorary members of 205 Fd Hosp remain strong.
Brigadier Head AMS Reserves was my final job within the Reserve. Because of my age this was a shortened tenure. I take great pride in being the first QA Reservist to be appointed to the role in the rank of Brigadier, and it shows how far the Corps and the AMS has come in achieving greater openness. I also took great satisfaction in handing the role over to another QA, Brig Steve Archer.
The role allowed me to set the conditions on issues like the Reserve laydown and Officers Career structures to be picked up by my successor. Steve
for the Passing Out Parade of the Professionally Qualified Officers (PQO) Commissioning Course 192 and I had the privilege of presenting the Sword of Honour to Lt R Smyth QARANC and for me this was representative of how the Army had moved forward.
A Brigadier L/QARANC was the Inspecting Officer for the PQO Reserves course at Sandhurst and a QARANC Officer was the recipient of the Sword of Honour. The lesson here is that not too long ago the AMS Reserves didn’t attend Sandhurst, certainly not QARANC Reservists and the 1* Head of AMS Reserves was, until my appointment in 2017, filled only by RAMC officers.
On reflection I didn’t do too badly, the Reserves gave me a lot and contributed to my civilian career. I even managed a Masters together with some unforgettable experiences mostly good but like the rest of us some rather sad, and also some downright bizarre! I made very good friends whom I have come to regard as family.
If I can leave any advice for others, it is that don’t accept being told “no” if the only reason is that “we don’t do it like that” or it hasn’t been done before. Do the right thing for the right reasons and don’t worry about your OJAR, hard work, honesty and integrity will sort that for you.
That might sound patronising or career destruction but in the long term it works. I do believe that all things can change however change sometimes needs help in the right direction, don’t be afraid to push. I hope that along with many others that I have helped change to happen, it has been an eventful time and for the Corps and the AMS I am sure the best is yet to come.
Brigadier (Retd) David J McArthur OBE TD
the UK and Germany, the training events were creative and ambitious and pulled people in. The unit had to run to catch up with the training cycle and they did so brilliantly. Part of the formula for success was to bring everyone into the ‘205’ fold including our US Navy personnel and to support this we issued ‘205’ Tam O Shanter headdress to those who deployed.
Everyone involved, whether deploying or in support were fully engaged and the vital nature of their role was explained
has done a brilliant job in progressing both these topics, I am sure even better than I could have done. I also managed to make visits to units, supported the establishment of the Medical Staff Corps and spent time at MOD on Reserve issues and Veterans as well as supporting the PQO’s who were attending the RMAS course. I was also a QHN for the duration of
This simple but effective action, along with other initiatives quickly pulled the unit together.
During the deployment we were visited by Sir Jock Stirrup who was Chief of the Defence Staff. One of his actions during the visit was to change the Command status of the Hospital from OC to CO which was the first time an operational Role 3 Hospital had a QARANC Reservist as the Commanding Officer rather than OC.
Because of the Icelandic ash cloud that year, we almost had an OP HERRICK 11c as we were tasked by PJHQ to be prepared to open a holding facility in the event that the transfer of casualties back to the UK was delayed. This presented a considerable leadership challenge as this occurred at the end of our tour and meant that some of us would need to extend out tour.
The response to the request for volunteers was overwhelming and a real tribute to the enthusiasm and spirit across the entire team. I didn’t have any problem getting people to stay my
my tenure and thoroughly enjoyed the investitures and duties at the Palace.
The policy role was very demanding, and I hope that my contributions has set the scene for a healthier and more deployable Reserve.
However, I missed being a commander and I found at times the political (with a small p) posturing and tribalism across the Army at that higher level distasteful especially when it impeded real progress. That said there we have many superb people who rise above that mediocrity.
The other elements that give me satisfaction are my surprise OBE which together with the MBE that was awarded to my OC Nursing Col Helen Singh and the three GOC commendations following OP HERRICK 11b, probably places 205 Fd Hosp high in terms of post operational awards. Following the deployment, I was awarded an Honorary Fellowship to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow and was the first Nurse recipient.
On 22 June 2019 I had the pleasure of being the Inspecting Officer