Ask the ASM

WO1 (CASM) Daniel McNeill Each month the Corps ASM answers your most pertinant questions from Twitter.

Sir, I am a Vehicle Mechanic Class 1 Cpl currently employed in a Phase 2 Training Regiment away from Regimental Duty and have been for 2 years. I’m not sure that I want to become an Artificer and was wondering if this means I can’t get any more qualifications? I have spoken to my RCMO but she hasn’t been able to help too much. She isn’t REME. Firstly, thanks for getting in touch and good to hear you’re accredited as an EngTech; I checked with the Manning Brick and I know that you received the £3000 EPRA that goes with achieving this status. This is good news because something that has surprised me since becoming Corps ASM is that the uptake from eligible Class 1 soldiers for the EPRA has been less than 70% –shocking given the little effort required to receive. To get back to your question, there are already qualifications that you can get now that you do not have yet. As a starter for ten, you are able to apply now for an Engineering Level 4 Licentiateship award from City & Guilds via a partnership agreement with the REME Arms School. It’s the equivalent of a Certificate of Higher Education and you’ll receive the postnominals LCGI after your name. The REME pathway involves zero additional work and it is a simple application process – no harder than the work you did to apply for EngTech status. It costs £82 but this is well worth it in my opinion. I have asked the Editor to advertise in this month’s Magazine for greater awareness. Have a look and see what you think.

As an aside, the team here at RHQ REME has been reviewing the current accreditation and career pipeline and we are updating our policy. It’s clear that we need to provide direction for everyone irrespective of CEG. A new Corps Instruction – E8: Whole Life Development – is being developed now and it will be live on RHQ REME SharePoint before 30 June. Moving forward, we’ll advertise this information on REME Connect and Defence Connect in the future.

Sir, My question is about beards. Why can’t we have them? We need to move and as an organisation, we are behind the times. As you probably know, beards can only be worn with the Commanding Officers’ authority and usually this will only be given for medical, religious or traditional reasons. Most of us are not allowed to wear a beard because Army policy dictates so. This policy was discussed recently by some as a barrier to recruitment at the Field Army Conference so I know it’s on people’s radar at Command level but, as it stands right now, AGAI 59 provides statute guidance to Soldiers and Commanders. I don’t see any change coming in the near future. Sir, Really like the Corps’ ‘Lifting the Decks’ initiative. It’s great stuff and as someone who has suffered with poor mental health in the past, it’s long overdue. I liked the Mental Health Self Help QR Code Poster displayed on the REME Facebook page last month. I’d be keen to get it up on our noticeboards. Where can I find it?

Thanks for your engagement on Twitter and glad to hear you think the Mental Health Plan is useful. You can get a highresolution copy by going to the RHQ REME SharePoint page. Under the Corps Welfare tab you’ll find a ‘Lifting the Decks’ tile and the poster is contained in the ‘Products’ folder. I have also asked the Editor to make sure it is displayed again in this month’s Crafty Mag so find it in here. Thank you for helping us support ‘Lifting the Decks’.

Sir, I’ve seen that you’ve been selecting Military Training Instructor (MTI) posts recently on Twitter. I’m an Armourer Class 1 who thinks she would be a good instructor. I’ve already done BCDT and I’m really keen to give it a go. I’ve spoken to my Tiff and he thinks it will affect my progression at trade and I really want to be an Artificer. Can I ask what the Corps outlook is please? Thanks for your question and it’s something I get asked quite a lot. The very short answer is that you can be an MTI and an Artificer. In my opinion, being an MTI will make you a better commander and a more rounded leader; these are traits that we are after in our Artificers and shine through when reading the SJARs of a good instructor. If this year’s Artificer Selection Course Loading Board is anything to go by, becoming an MTI at Phase 1 or Phase 2 is only career enhancing and, statistically, you actually have an increased chance of being loaded onto an Artificer Course as a result. We have 81 MTI posts at ATR Winchester, ATC Pirbright, AFC Harrogate, DSEME Lyneham, DST Leconsfield, RACTR Bovington and ATG Grantham. I have an MTI Champion who will talk you through the process and give you a bit more information. From there, you can decide what’s best for you.