102 Bn REME
“You’re On Mute” The Ups and Downs of Running a Training Camp via Zoom Scribes: 102 Bn REME Trg Team
T
he aim for Exercise IRON SPROCKET was to conduct technical and tactical training as well as wider professional development by virtual means, integrating ‘Soldier first, Tradesman always’ skills, IOT set conditions for CT Level Charlie in TY 21/22 and Ex IRON VIPER 21. With lockdown re-imposed, post-Christmas 102 Bn REME switched from a physical camp in Catterick, which originally without COVID would have been four weeks in BATUS Canada, to two two-week exercises that were fully virtual. The training was delivered over Zoom, also utilising a Defence Connect project group for administration and coordination. It included virtual technical and tactical training, ES planning, unit, career and trade updates, Empowerment Projects and bespoke trade development training. The exercise included two VIP visits, from HQ 101 Log Bde and RHQ REME (Corps Colonel (Res))
Ex IRON SPROCKET 1, Wk 1 Scribe: LCpl Lenton. 146 Div Sp Coy, 102 Bn REME After logging into Zoom for parade, the usual scenario of mouths moving but no sound being heard had the common phrase of the week being ‘You’re on mute’. The virtual tours of people’s houses as they chase the Wi-Fi from room to room looking for the strongest signal was an amusing sight. The term “charge cups” was often a frequent saying as we’d get a small break away from the screens. Being able to get outside in the fresh air for indirectly supervised PT was a welcome break and for me one I looked forward to each day. The first week began with ‘ice-breaker’ sessions; then we were split into small groups of two to three for the group tasks set for us. This helped for our discussions and tasks as fewer people could talk at once or be interrupted, due to the all-powerful ‘Mute Button’. One of the main tasks of the week was the re-design of the 102 Bn Defence Connect page as part of the Empowerment initiative. Over the period of the first week it slowly developed until it came to fruition and we presented to the Battalion. I personally found this was a big sense of achievement and very much enjoyed doing the activity. It made me feel we had made a difference and had been able to add
LCpl Lenton’s contributions to the CO’s PT picture challenge 30 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
value to the Battalion profile. The Commanding Officer’s picture challenge added a bit of competition into the first week. We were challenged, whilst out for PT, to take pictures of specific subjects. This included pubs, bus stops, lorries, bridges, post boxes to name but a few.
Ex BRASS SPROCKET 5 Scribe: 2Lt Wells, 146 Div Sp Coy, 102 Bn REME Ex BRASS SPROCKET 5 encompassed the end of Ex IRON SPROCKET 1 and the start of Ex IRON SPROCKET 2 so, along with those joining just for the weekend, it made for a very well attended event, with up to 163 participants on the call at once. At times these were concurrently split across up to 16 syndicate ‘breakout groups’, which is a feat that would have been daunting 12 months ago; having had nearly a year of remote training, it ran smoothly. The Saturday was split with Officers and SNCOs carrying out SADCHAP planning and back briefs while the junior ranks had lessons on driver skills and briefs on operational experiences. Alongside this we also ran a Development Day for Potential Officers and Artificers. This opened with briefs from the CO and RHQ REME. We then gave a lesson on completing a Planning Exercise (Tiffy Dilemma) before they had a go for themselves. The Battalion joined together for PT and after lunch there were discussion groups on current affairs followed by a Q&A. It was a great chance to prepare them for what to expect at AOSB and the Tiffy course, with the opportunity to ask questions to SMEs afterwards. The Sunday was focused on MATT 6 - Behaviours. Our unit has identified Challenging Behaviours as the Behaviours Pt 2 topic of choice for this training year. We delivered that lesson before spending the rest of the day’s lesson periods in ‘breakout rooms’, with the Defence Gateway application Dilemma. This is a brilliant application that I would thoroughly recommend as a fun way to teach MATT 6 and prompt discussions. It involves a team of up to eight players and they are asked a Values and Standards themed question in turn - the dilemma - and they must choose from four answers which they believe to be the correct response. After each question the DS, acting as question master, encourages discussion
