9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2005 - Page 0056
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2005 |
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S4 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) Chief of Staff Directorate of Command and Battlespace (Army) his has been a busy year both professionally and personally. DCBM(A) has continued its rationalisation as an MoD Directorate, beginning with the transfer of Capability Integration Branch (who dealt with such exciting issues as data management, interoperability and message formatting) from the Directorate, to the Offices of the Signal Officer in Chief (Army), this gives a single focus for network infrastructures and applica- tions. In July the Directorate will hand over its Army Information Systems Branch (dealing with such matters as ArmyNET and UNISOFT) to HQ LAND, meaning the delivery of all information services for LAND forces will be from one place. Several of our staff have now migrated across to DCI(A) to provide a second customer core leadership function within that Directorate. At the time of writing I am busy moving the Directorate from our ‘temporary’ home in Wellington Barracks to Main Building where the streamlined Directorate will support the Assistant Chief of General Staffin all matters to do with Network Enabled Capability. As well as being the principal liaison officer to the National Audit Office (who are soon to publish a report on BOWMAN and NEC), as COS, I have had the enjoyment of managing the Branch changes to the General Staff Plan (risk, missions and tasks etc) and overseeing the number crunchers and briefing up our Short Term Plan (financial requirements for the next 4 years) to the Director and ACGS. One of the highlights of the year was an opportunity to visit Fort Monmouth and be briefed on such matters as ‘Command Post of the Future’ (CPOF) and blue force tracker (FBCBZ) where clear- ly the Americans are having the same issues in managing new technology as we are. There was also an opportunity for a very useful set of briefings and discussions at the Marine Corps Warfighting laboratory. Life at home has been kept me equally busy. In March 05 Nicola and I were married on a crisp cold day at Sandhurst. Nine and a half months later Phoebe arrived, bringing us a great deal of joy but also seemingly destroying any future possibility of a full nights sleep. In April 06 I ran the Flora London Marathon to raise money for Children with Leukaemia, on a very soggy day coming in at 4.28. In general workload has meant sport has suf- fered, though I did manage to sail the length of the Caribbean from Antigua to the Windward Islands, there has been no other sailing and a single seat aerobatic biplane I co-own at RAF Benson has remained unflown this year. With a return to Regimental duty due in the Autumn Nicola, Phoebe and I are looking forward very much to rejoining the regiment, and enjoying all aspects of regimental life. T SDL AFV Gunnery School In my infinite wisdom I mentioned to the Colonel that I would- n’t mind jotting down a few words for the Journal, to let you chaps back at RD know how things are going down here, and he took me up on it, DAMN. As you are all aware Sgt Matty Noone has now returned back to his comfort zone of regimental life, leaving his wife and children cosseted in deepest Dorset until his return from hotter climates. Whilst at the School however, he indulged himself with all aspects of Gunnery life and was, on many an occasion in the Mess, seen to be staggeringly filll of life and enjoying a drink or two, liv- ing up to the rules of work hard and play hard. We wish him all the best and hope he finds his feet at RD as quickly as possible. Sgt Mac McKay, having gotten my feet firmly under the table have lodged myself there and show no sign of moving on. Having been at the School for three years now the McKay family have managed to purchase most of Dorset, what remains is being bought up by the Colonel’s family, so anybody interested in a house give us a ring!!! Tattooing is going from strength to strength and we also have a prosperous garden design and horticulture business so things out- side of work are as the say ‘cushty.’ Lt. Col Bennett continues to watch over the school with his paternal nature and is always happy to indulge in chat whether it be light hearted or purely professional, he always reflects his humour and intellect with a good spattering of sarcasm, especial- ly to me!!!! By the time this article has made it to press he will have moved on so I take this opportunity to wish him and his family all the best in the filture and I promise I will leave a few houses available to him on his return. WOZ Emery, well what can we say about him, he runs. He runs everywhere, for miles, round and round in circles. Buy a car and decide where you’re going, that’s what I say. Finally, I must say that it is always a joy to see friends and col- leagues coming down on courses and if they come my way being given good guidance in their chosen field. This job is something I have always wanted and I am passionate about. Some of you, and you know who you are, should grab the opportunity to return back to the School; it’s a great place to work and job satisfaction is second to none. Some of you should concentrate on D&M mentioning no names, Mr. Short, Cpl Simmons. Only joking! All the best to everyone at RD and keep safe wherever you find yourselves. a, Sgt McKay, Lt 00/ Bennett and W02 Emeryr The Gunnery Gurus, |
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