9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0052
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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52 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) Master of Defence Administration - RMCS Back to school with a bit of a bump, is perhaps the best way to describe my return to academia. I have begun a year’s Master’s degree in Defence Administration at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham. The course is made up of a minority, including myself, who will go on to “big boys’ school” (JSCSC) next year and the majority, who are more mature members of the RN, Army and RAF, who won’t. Our lectures takes place in the new buildings of the Vincent Centre, in the furthest flung corner of the RMCS campus. The new Staff College peers down on us from the far side of camp like some great ponderous ship. The design of it, I believe, was based much upon the ideas of a senior naval officer, hence the watertight (excuse the pun) security and all encompassing nature of the place: students can live, work and take exercise without even having to step ashore...(oops) I mean outside. My course, accredited by the Association of Master of Business Administration, is one of Cranfield University’s flagships here at RMCS. It is also becoming more widely recognised by the Military Secretary as a very worthwhile course for future staff appointments and (it has to be said) employment generally. However, the potential payback for the MoD, of having someone with a little business acumen, might explain why it is willing to invest so much in the students on this course. This term is the foundation phase, giving us the rudimentary skills in economics, marketing and accounting amongst other things. Next term we develop our knowledge with a more obvious defence-orientation. In the summer we are let loose on the wider world to write a dis- sertation on some topical subject (any ideas, on a postcard please!). But it is not all work here (or per- “ haps I’m missing something). Since RMCS has a sizeable student population of both under- and post-graduates there is an annual “freshers’ fair” where all manner of sports and outdoor pursuits are offered. For my part and in between musing over such weighty _ matters as Keynesian and mone- ' tary economic theory (Que?!), Mrs Fooks and I have joined the local - ‘ r a - . RMCS shoot, or should I say “the The RMCS shoorand bag, Shrivenham branch of the 3327 00“” WWFOOKS Ramblers Society”. The “bag” “Nd ME/WFOOKS varies between three pheasant, one blackbird and two hares to 42 assorted birds and a domestic cat; undergraduate students, when we shoot inside the wire of RMCS, are unfortunately not fair game. Finally, it is good to see the Regiment so well represented down here what with Lt Col Stafford, Major Charrington, Capt Jones and Capt Gasson-Hargreaves (although he left recently on com- pletion of his junior staff college course) in residence too. “All’s”, as they say, “well.” W70F Armoured Trials and Development Unit he Armoured trials and Development Unit (ATDU), based down in Bovington, continues to be responsible for the tri- alling of the many types of equipment that eventually end up with- in the RAC. Having been generously employed for a few months post-AJD prior to my move to the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, it has proved to be a fascinating insight to the world of development and procurement within the Armoured Corps. ATDU is made up of three main departments, not withstanding the Trials Troops and the RE and REME elements. One is centred on Heavy Armour, one on Light Armour and one on Combat Vehicle Systems (CVS). It has been to the latter that I have been attached to and where one also finds the "sonic" existence of WOl Rhodes, one of the three RSMIs employed here. 2001 has been an extremely busy twelve months with a plethora of trials throughout the year, the majority of which have either had a "Rhodes" hand in, or have been instigated by him. He and the CVS SOZ initially ventured out to Hohne to oversee the fitting of Tactical Navigation Target Location System (TNTLS) to the CVR(T) fleet in January, and to train up the Regimental Gunnery instructors. Following this, attentions turned towards Ex SAIF SAREAA 2 and the recommendations towards the production of desert camouflage nets and their stowage on CR2. This led to the production of the ”Rhodes Tube", a piece of equipment now infa- mous within the RAC world and one destined to make the inven- tor an overnight millionaire! On top of these key projects, work has also gone into CR 2 fire extinguishers (now a highly tactical red colour in line with European Directives), the test equipment for AN R, and the BATUS safety system. One rather interesting trial involved the HITEC Combat Boot, which Mr Rhodes man- aged to procure a number of sets from the manufacturer. Ironically, it coincided with his taking a team on the Three Peaks Challenge, which was a lucky coincidence! Meanwhile, whilst all this hard work has been going on I have busied ., myself organising the Garrison Fireworks Display, getting married and attempting to help write a variety of trial pro- grammes and schedules. I” 'n ' HEEL;- As the New Year approaches _ the CVS office is currently heavily involved in a variety of projects far too numerous to detail on these pages. Key - issues, however, include work on the Multi Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), BOWMAN, RGSR, Regen NBC, the RAC Lifejacket and the Combat Survival Waistcoat, projects that in the main all kick in next year. The Combat Survival Waistcoat (another Rhodes instigation and design!) will be initially procured for RAC vehicle crews late next year and will provide a flame retardant personal stowage system far more suitable than the infantry webbing system when it comes to climbing in and out of AFVs! /t’s 3 dogs Me for Capt 08 Life within the ATDU thus continues to be busy, challenging and filll of variety. 2002 is destined to be even busier with the stowage and reliability trials of the Future Command and Liaison vehicle (FCLV) in January and the BOWMAN trials commencing later in the year amongst many others. Mr Rhodes leaves around April, which will undoubtedly be a loss to the unit when a lot of pies start missing his fingers! jRC-B |
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