Op NEWCOMBE ROTO 3

Op NEWCOMBE ROTO 3 – The story so far,

There are some things that no matter how much you hear them described can only be understood by experiencing them. Dec 21 – Feb 22 Long Range The Mali Desert is one of those things. The dry baking heat, the Reconnaissance Group LADcoating of dust on the back of your throat, the buzz of endless Malaria Foreword: Capt A Selka OC LRRG LAD ridden mosquitos as the sky turns bright red as the sun dips below the horizon. It’s an experience like no other… and it’s absolutely brilliant. This is the most challenging environment in the world to deliver Equipment Support; grease runs like water, coolant tanks burst, anything electronic goes haywire in the heat and dust, and yet the LAD has kept the Task Group rolling. A VM drove an SV(R) 150km through the desert with a FOXHOUND on the hook, repairs have been conducted under small arms fire, and Fitter Sections have assisted in detaining terrorists – the LAD have been living and breathing ‘Arte et Marte’.

The LAD works extremely hard to achieve the results they do, doing themselves, their home units, and wider Corps proud. If you ever bump into a friend who’s been part of the Long Range Reconnaissance Group (LRRG) LAD, make sure you buy them a drink – they bloody deserve it.

The EME passing the real engineers some bolts

SSgt Shinn’s glorious steed in the TG

A Sqn Ftr Sect – LCpl Nimmo

Being deployed in Mali as Vehicle Mechanic is certainly a challenge, from the scorching sun to the long drives and extensive hours turning spanners. I have been lucky to be embedded within 2nd Troop as the sole VM; but also as a Driver/Gunner. This gave me the opportunity to drive over challenging terrain; then repair the faults caused by driving over said terrain and burning my pale skin whilst sat in the gun ring. Op MEERKAT 2 was to test the Ftr Sect as the Squadron covered around 1,200km, engaging with locals in numerous towns and villages as well as Cpl Downey conducting ES under small arms fire. Through the hard work of the Section, despite the faults starting to immerge, all of the High Mobility Terrain Vehicles successfully drove back to Camp Bagnold where the real work begins.

Cfn Smith enjoys a few minutes rest When Christmas comes early

Cpl Brown conducting some Recy Mech surgery to salvage a push rod

Cpl Cooper and Sgt Gregson work on the Fitter Section COYOTE Chinook flares during a medical drill

A Coy Ftr Section – Cfn Selby

A small team of 6 had landed on Mali soil from 1 Royal Irish LAD, all trained on the Foxhound platform we were keen to get amongst the kit and expand our knowledge further. Op ELWAN 7 was to be our first outing, Op NEWCOMBE basic training. A place to learn, particularly that tyres are as reliable as balloons and avoiding any kind of bush becomes second nature with thorns that put Freddy Krueger to shame. Op MEERKAT 2 was our first proper Op West of the river Niger. Same tyre problems; same bush avoidance drills only this time the FOXHOUNDS were developing larger and more complicated faults. Thanks to the Primary Equipment Pack (PEP) and Cpl Cooper’s e-metal skills - skills which he has acquired over a long career- we managed to get all the FOXHOUNDS back to Gao with only one SVR hook required.

Cpl Brown prepares to move his favourite FEPS Cpl Brown recovers a Ridgeback after it was driven off a small cliff at night…

Cpl Quant glad to see the LAD again

Foxhounds don’t like the desert

It’s all go in the TG Leaguer

A1 Ftr Sect – Cfn Smith

As a mixture of trades from both QDG and 1 Royal Irish, A1 Ftr Sect quickly set to work on arrival in Mali to rehab the SV fleet. The main effort was the SV(R)s, which were showing the strains of a year on Op NEWCOMBE; particularly with the loud bang of a hook block falling out of the sky the first time one was used. Op MEERKAT 2 was by design ambitious and started with a ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ entrance to a wadi snapping an SV axle in half. Soft sand, large boulders and a recreation of the game lemmings meant that the Recovery Mechanics remained busy, or at least one was whilst the other went pot-holing in the dark and earnt an early trip home. The Section continued to be busy for the rest of the Op, a central hub for all things ES within the task group but also for morale with drinking bottles of water just before bed proving a popular forfeit when there was time for a game of cards.

LCpl Hardy with the troops he was embedded within

LCpl Askey steps into the SVR for the 150km off-road journey back to camp

Repairing a leaking FOXHOUND

National Support Element (NSE)

– Sgt McIntyre

The night falls, the work continues

Supporting the Task Group, The NSE have been heavily involved with supporting the task group both in and out of camp. Despite losing a Class 1 VM to command an SV(R), we have gained a Vehicle Mechanic from the RAF who is an excellent addition in terms of ES but also an SME on the F/MT 3 paperwork (Accident Reporting Form). The biggest jobs the NSE have had is the replacement of a Mastiff 3 gearbox and the replacement of what seems like Michelin’s entire tyre stockholdings. Equally important, our Metalsmith has been making everything from braces for bar armour and component mounting brackets, to creating trophies for the numerous social and sporting events. He also improved the tallest flagpole in Camp Bagnold (and possible the wider UN Super Camp) by adding a pulley system and increasing its height by attaching a REME inspired topper. Lastly, the NSE are the bridge between the LRRG and our UN partners; particularly the German and Swedish Army Mechanics. In line with the finest British Army traditions, our relationship is that we borrow everything from them and they borrow nothing from us.

LCpl Hardy at the wheel of his wagon The post mission inspection lanes in full swing

All hands-on deck on the LMI Manoeuvre Support Group COYOTE

The importance of Professional Registration in the Armed Forces

By incoming IET President, Air Marshal Sir Julian Young KBE CB FREng CEng FIET

Professional Registration is increasingly important in the Armed Forces and plays a signifi cant part in creating a competent and skilled work force across the UK. Qualifi cations and associated Continued Professional Development should help bridge the gap between military and civilian trades. Although simply being registered doesn’t guarantee ex-military engineers a job, it could level the playing fi eld and get someone an interview.

After a 40-year career in the Royal Air Force (RAF), I’ve always supported people developing themselves further through additional qualifi cations. The route often is through distance learning, which is hard work in a busy job. However, when you’re dipping into academia and then back into the workplace, the fi rst time you answer a question or write an essay, you are better in your role because you are instantly applying that new knowledge and thinking.

I led the team with the MOD and HM Treasury that helped the roll out of the Defence Engineer Registration Scheme (DERS) across diff erent branches within the Armed Forces; the scheme demonstrates clear value in people. The streamlined application process is excellent, and the Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) that step forward and take on the work to translate military skills and experience into qualifi cations will benefi t greatly from doing so. I’m proud to be a member of the IET, because when I started campaigning on professionalisation within the RAF some 15 years ago, it was the fi rst PEI to off er a streamlined route to Chartered Engineer (CEng). The IET for me was the RAF’s PEI of choice. Anything that can help streamline both the route of people into a PEI and the payment of fees is a positive.

As well as the DERS agreements, the IET is working hard to implement Central Payment Schemes in the Armed Forces. Having been successful with the RAF, with over 1,000 members Professionally Registered, we should be looking to roll Central Payment Schemes out for the other Services as widely as we can, including more companies in industry that already have had a lot of success with it. The IET welcomes engineers and technicians from all backgrounds; if you care about engineering in any or multiple sectors, the IET can be your professional home and has a unique position to fi ll. We need to be engaging with seniors and Fellows in all engineering organisations to promote the value in their people being Professionally Registered.

I’m looking forward to my term as IET President (2021-2022) and follow in the successful steps of all past Presidents. My specifi c area of focus will be to champion technicians and seek to facilitate the continued growth in their membership. I believe the majority of the ‘missing 3 million’ mentioned in Professor Uff ’s 2017 review of our engineering profession are technicians. We need to understand better what technicians are, what it means to be a technician and then off er them more through membership of the IET.

Find out more about becoming professionally registered by attending our latest webinar:

What you will learn:

– Benefi ts of membership and professional registration – Professional registration categories and application process – Our guidance and support

Eat, sleep, engineer, repeat

Julian’s President’s Address will be broadcast live on 14 October 2021 at 1pm BST