Guest Editorial
Colonel Nick Doyle CEng FIMechE Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff Equipment, Field Army Headquarters
A
s DACOS Equipment I have found myself in the centre of the greatest structural change the Fd Army has seen in a decade as the Integrated Review (IR) realigns Defence aspirations while the Army Operating Model (AOM) rebalances the Headquarters to support its delivery. Much has been done and there remains much to do, but I believe these changes genuinely present opportunities for the Corps as we look to the future.
The Army Operating Model The AOM has not only changed our structure but also the way we operate, providing greater coherence, clarity of command and influence. In Sep 20, Phase One saw the Fd Army’s Operational Support department divide into its CSS functions. This merged the equipment-facing elements of the Land Operations Command with that of the Fd Army, forming a single pillar under DACOS Equipment (me) working alongside DACOS Log, Med and Pers. Phase two, in Sep 21, has seen the Fd Army re-enforced by the Equipment Through Life Support team from Army Headquarters to form the Fd Army Equipment Team under the newly appointed ACOS Equipment, Brigadier Phil Prosser CBE; a single point of contact for all Fd Army equipment. It also aligns responsibility for demand and supply, improves situational awareness and communication, and provides a direct link into the Project Teams of DE&S. Wider coherence across the CSS functions is provided from the newly established DCOS Fd Army, Maj Gen Neil Thorpe CBE, who now sits next to COS Fd Army, providing us with a 2* equipment (and Corps) champion into CFA. Col Doyle
Operations
Our Corps’ primary purpose remains delivering ‘success on operations’ and I can confirm that our stock remains very high across the Fd Army. While our routine operational commitments of Op CABRIT and Op SHADER remain, they are joined by the deployment of Op NEWCOMBE, the UK’s contribution to the UN mission to deliver integrated stabilisation in Mali. Deploying a Long Range Reconnaissance Group capable of operating across Mali, at reach, for prolonged periods of time has presented a number of ES challenges which the deployed LAD continue to successfully manage with support from the wider ES community. Our withdrawal from Afghanistan showcased the diversity of our soldiers. The small element who deployed with 2 PARA on Op PITTING proved their Soldier-Trade credentials, operating in JACKAL repair on Op NEWCOMBE in Mali
4 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
