Guest Editorial
Lt Col Rebecca Macklin, SO1 Diversity and Inclusion: Op TEAMWORK
Lt Col Rebecca Macklin
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hat I love the most about being in the REME are the incredible individuals that we have and the amazing things that they do. The highs of my career have always been about the people and the team achieving together. I believe passionately in trying to make the Army the best possible place for all our people, and consequently, making the team better – ultimately, improving combat effectiveness, which is what we are all here for. Unfortunately, in my role as SO1 Diversity and Inclusion at Army Headquarters, I often see the darker side of our organisation; when things have gone wrong for our teammates. This might be through the deliberate acts of some – the enemy within (sadly, they are among all areas of society) – or through the accidental, unintentional actions and attitudes that damage our team spirit – the blue-on-blues – and undermine our Values and Standards.
Op TEAMWORK Early February saw the start of Op TEAMWORK with an ‘all-stop’ moment for the Army. This historic day, the 8th February, was the first of its kind in Defence (likely with our international partners too) and demonstrated our commitment to making our teams better. It was the Army’s opportunity to have a long, hard look in the mirror, to give us time to consider that each individual experience of being in the Army is not the same for everyone, and to acknowledge that for some of our teammates things are less than OK. Crucially, the day was about planning what we will do to make things better; now we need to put those plans into action.
What does #TEAMWORK mean for the REME? Op TEAMWORK is part of a wider campaign called #TEAMWORK - I like to think of it as that spirit that is the internal side of our recruiting campaign, #BELONGING. It will therefore mean something different to each and every one of us, but, whether in a Fitter Section, a project team, a REME Battalion or employed anywhere else in the Corps, #TEAMWORK is about your contribution: What are you doing to make the team better? Your team could be Regulars, Reservists, Civil Servants, contractors – whatever the make-up, it will be full of individuals with different backgrounds, different experiences, and 4 craftsmaneditor@reme-rhq.org.uk
