Page 42 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

23 Parachute Private Alena Detachment of

the Year 2018
Gurung at the
Mohnesee
Engineer Regiment

By Captain Henry Owens
As a detachment, this past year has been a
very enjoyable and rewarding one.

The Commitment also about learning a bit of history, experiencing Pegasus Challenge

different culture, appreciating the opportunity 2018 winning Team
The Air Assault Task Force commitment has now been to travel and making new friends. It was my first

reinforced with the Temperer London Augmentation adventure training activity and I absolutely enjoyed
Battalion, and we now have more people at short it.
notice to move. Units in 16 Air Assault Brigade have

a full schedule, but we manage to find the balance Detachment of the Year
between the demands of the Brigade and our social
life. The face and tempo of the Squadrons are constantly
changing depending on what the two Parachute
Battalions are doing during their respective
Pegasus Challenge
Operations cycles. Last year the Staff and Personnel

Part of the Brigade team mission is to promote team Support Branch started its yearly seminar followed

cohesion and an environment of belonging. To drive by a dinner night for all Officers and Senior Non

this concept, the detachments have been competing Commissioned Officers. The program includes the Captain Henry Owens continues with his
in a series of sporting activities generally called the recognition and presentation of the Soldier of the commitment to Corps and Army Basketball as
Annual Round Robin Sports Event. Detachments take Year and Detachment of the Year. This year, the a Coach. Sergeant Aisake Nukutabu has been
it in turn to organise events in a competitive spirit. prestigious accolade of Detachment of the Year was selected to represent the Corps and Army team
One exception is an enhanced event that takes place presented to 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment. in Volleyball. Sergeant Fred Charway represents
every two years called the ‘Pegasus Challenge’. This the Corps in Cricket. Lance Corporal Peter Fiu
year, it was organised and hosted by our regiment. Great Place to Work represents the Corps in Volleyball. Lance Corporal
There was a record turnout of just over 100 personnel Reflecting on the continued commitment of the Amy Crouch represents the Corps and Army in

from 11 detachments. The events were: A gruesome Unit and the detachment as a part of the Unit, Equestrian. Private Georgia Foster represents
‘Throw-down’ Challenge, in crossfit style, a four mile the Chain of Command of the Royal Engineers the Corps in Sailing and the Army in Fencing. For

military skills task which involved some mental cohort makes it a fantastic place to work in. As a myself, I represent the Corps, Army and United
activities completed under duress through fatigue, detachment, employee engagement is at the heart Kingdom Armed Forces in Netball and I have been

and the final event of the day was a Naval Gun Run of our dynamic people strategy because we believe offered a professional contract with the Celtic

race. The replica gun used was borrowed from the that great customer service starts with great internal Dragon Netball team in Cardiff.

Royal Hospital School in Ipswich. It was overseen and engagement. What makes any institution the

conducted by Lieutenant Commander Nigel Grifiths, best, is its people and its output above and beyond Also, we have had some members of the
the head of ceremonial at the said school. We won the delivery of its core skills. In today’s changing detachment represent the unit in various sporting
the overall event by winning the Throw-down and the and often uncertain environment and workforce, activities. Private Sajan Thapa has constantly
Gun Run and came fourth in the military skills test. It engaging your team is arguably more important than been called upon to represent the unit in cross
was a day where the competitors exercised grit and ever before. An engaged team don’t just enjoy their country events. The detachment also represented

determination whilst at the same time displaying jobs and their workplace, they are willing to go above the unit at the first ever Army Inter Unit Mix
some fantastic team work. Netball Championship at Aldershot in May 2018
and beyond to help their team succeed. This storyline and they were the runner up. A fantastic sporting
is also reflective of the supportive environment

Adventure Training provided by the Unit chain of command. achievement from a diverse team.
Over the last year, many members of the team had Sport and Triple Crown The Military Skills team for this year’s Triple Crown,
the opportunity to get away on adventure training. consisted of Sergeant Michelle Heath, Private
Private Alena Gurung who was recently assigned By Sergeant Ellie Nawele Kat Cummins, Private Alena Gurung and myself,
to the unit had the opportunity to go on her first As a detachment, the management team believes The team, through sheer determination were

adventure to Mohneese Germany where she engaged taking part in sports should be part of Corps business. Triple Crown Military Skills female winning team. the overall female winners of the Military Skills
Left to right: Sergeant Michelle Heath, Private
in a number of water sports. When asked how she As a result of this mindset, various members of the Alena Gurung, Private Kat Cummins and Sergeant discipline. A well deserved victory from a group of
found the whole experienced, she replied, “This trip team have been successful in representing the Corps, Ellie Nawele determined young ladies whose infectious work
was not just about adventure training for me, it was Army and United Kingdom Armed Forces. ethic resonates around the unit.

42 43