Page 43 - AGC Journal 2018
P. 43

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.


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