Excellence in REME
SSgt Patrick making the most of being deployed in Egypt
SSgt Keith Patrick SSgt Keith Patrick is an Equipment Auditor for the Land Equipment Audit Team (Midlands) and was selected for the Kenshin Karate Organisation (KKO) Great Britain squad in 2019. He competed in the World Union of KarateDo Federations (WUKF) World Championships in Slovakia, winning a Bronze in Senior Male Team Kumite (Fighting) while the KKO team came third out of 83 teams and first from the UK. In 2020 (pre-COVID), SSgt Patrick then added to this with three Gold medals, a Silver medal and a Bronze medal, and was made Army Team Champion, alongside two other competitors. In this month’s Excellence in REME, he talks about the twin impacts of his family and martial arts on his career.
Why was joining the Army, and REME, the right decision? When I went for the interview at the careers office it was a Green Howards recruiting Sergeant who was ‘spinning dits’ about how good life would be with me in the Infantry and the prospects that a career with his Battalion would provide. When I told my parents, I got a ‘nope!’ from Dad and was taken to the Careers Office the following day for them to be told ‘He’s gonna get a trade!’ Although my dad served with the Royal Signals, he initially wanted to enlist into REME as a VM; looking back I suppose I can thank him for steering me into the Corps. However, I chose the better route and became an Armourer, a decision I haven’t regretted!
What have been the highlights of your career so far? Why did you choose to join the Army? My dad served with the Royal Signals and later with the Civil Service, which saw me moving to Germany and Cyprus. Although I grew up in a military environment, joining the military was never at the top of the list of career options. When I finished school and upon moving from Cyprus back to Scarborough, it was difficult to find a job and I tried college but didn’t enjoy it, so dropped out. My parents gave me the ultimatum of getting a job or going back to education. With limited options available I decided to have a look at the Army Careers Office and the rest is history.
The variation of postings I have been fortunate to have. I have worked in Germany with 1 Black Watch LAD in Fallingbostel, which saw me complete tours of Kosovo and Iraq, and 3 Bn REME in Paderborn for a deployment to Afghanistan, as well as Omagh Station LAD and NI GSU in Lisburn. My last posting was to the Export Support Team based in Larkhill. It involved working with the UK civilian defence industry and I managed to deploy to America, Egypt and Bangladesh, as well as supporting industry in Defence Shows in the UK like DSEI and DVD.
How does SSgt Patrick differ from Mr Patrick who first came to the Army and the Corps?
SSgt Patrick’s deployment with the Export Support Team to Bangladesh
14 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
I joined pretty much straight from school, I had no real aspirations or drive and I had no idea what I would be able to achieve. With guidance I have been able to have a decent career in the Corps, which has provided me opportunities that I doubt would have been offered in civilian life, like gaining engineering qualifications and being accredited through the Engineering Council. I have also used the enhanced learning credits to help me study towards a degree. Looking back at the 16-yearold me, with his lack of focus or ambition, I doubt that would be something he would have been able to achieve.
