1 CS Bn REME
A Turbulent Year
2020 was a turbulent year for the world. However, despite a global pandemic, the need to provide ES support to 1(UK) Division resulted in yet another busy year for 1 CS Battalion REME. Quickly adjusting to the new way of life, the unit managed to conduct multiple challenging exercises, continued to support overseas operations and even found time to run some excellent Adventurous Training.
Ex WESSEX STORM
O
n 27 January 2020, thirteen personnel from 4 CS Company deployed to Salisbury Plain Training Area to bolster 2 R ANGLIAN LAD in aid of Wessex Storm 1/20. The team established themselves in a small workshop in Knook Camp and began work on Foxhounds, Jackals and Coyotes in the lead up to the first tactical phase. For some, it was their first time working with Protected Mobility vehicles, which provided an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with new equipment. The difficult terrain, paired with Storm Ciara, proved to be a problem and caused issues for vehicles that resulted in some interesting jobs for the Recovery Mechanics. Jobs varying from broken convoy lights to full engine changes kept everyone busy and helped some of the junior Craftsmen tick off the majority of their Class 3 to 2 books. After a few late nights (and a lot of brews) the LAD managed to achieve 93% availability in preparation for Exercise Archer, the Commanding Officer’s two day run out. On 17 January, seven of the thirteen tradesmen pushed forward to The Rookery to establish an Equipment Collection Point, with the remainder moving to A2 to help 2 Bn REME in Barton Stacey. With a new location came another storm. The ground was deteriorating and the problem became less about repairing the vehicles and more about how they would get to the vehicles in the first place. When spares weren’t available, other ways of repair had to be quickly thought of. For instance, the use of green string in place of a wiper motor to ensure a vital piece of equipment was back in the battle as quick as possible. Overall, this was an extremely successful exercise
for the members of 4 CS Coy. Taking into account the adverse conditions and maintaining such a high availability shows they epitomised what it is to be a REME Soldier.
Ex SCORPION STING As part of Exercise SCORPION STING, members from 4 Company took part in an AT package prior to deploying to Cottesmore on a four-day BCS exercise. As was a common theme throughout much of the year, COVID-19 tried its utmost to throw a spanner in the works, with a
Coy REHAB Orders
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