5 minute read
Guest Editorial: Colonel Paul Johnson
Light Forces Transformation
Colonel Paul Johnson, Commander ES, 1st (UK) Division
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Ilast provided a Guest Editorial a year ago, at which time we were starting to understand the Army’s transformation plan, known as Future Soldier, which had just been published. Then, in November, CGS updated the Field Army on the supporting detail behind that plan, which confirmed the overall numbers for REME, where our Battalions would sit in the structure, and what their roles would be. Now we are at the point of starting to receive Implementation Orders, directing how units will change, where they will move to, and what size and shape the REME supporting them will take. For the Light Forces in 1st (UK) Division, our ES roles and structures are both familiar, and novel at the same time.
1 PWRR: Not every day you get to stand on the Equator, in Kenya
1 Welsh Guards: LCpl Rai conducting a CAV repair on Op SHADER 2 SCOTS: Members of 2 SCOTS LAD deployed in support of Task Force Hannibal on Ex WESSEX STORM
There is not enough space in this article to cover all aspects of this, so I will focus on a few key areas. The most significant changes – from a REME perspective at least – are perhaps in our two Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). 7th Light Mechanised BCT is arguably the most conventional in shape. The BCT will have a role in support of Warfighting, much as the Light Brigade does today, but it will now have organic RE, Artillery and CSS under command, increasing the range of equipment to be supported. Its Regular units all retain their LADs, albeit some will have fewer people than now. The big ES change comes with the arrival of 1 Close Support Battalion REME. This means that the BCT now has its own 2nd line ES and will have a vested interest in ensuring the Battalion has the workforce, training and equipment to do its job. Furthermore, the BCT will train and operate with the same 2nd line REME personnel throughout, rather than chopping and changing every 12 months, as is the practice now. 4th Light BCT has a loosely similar structure, but its Light Role LADs, like today, are smaller than their Light Mechanised
2 MERC: LCpl Nixon replacing a clutch on Ex ASKARI STORM
3 SCOTS: Cfn Buadromo maintaining Foxhound 6 RLC: FMST and military partnered repair activity testing the Central Tyre Inflation System seals)
29 EOD&S Gp: Cfn McEnroe carrying out piston replacement on an EOD Wedgewood vehicle
28 Engr: LCpl Callard (Falcon Sqn) taking part in the Army’s ‘A Soldier is a Soldier’ campaign
counterparts, and the BCT will rely extensively on Army Reserve enablers, including 102 Close Support Battalion REME. This means that REME Reserve soldiers will be far more routinely involved in Light Forces training and operating activity than today, and will have a greater range of equipment to get to grips with. Maintaining competence, and ensuring that the right people, in the right quantities, and with the right skills are available when required will be a significant, but exciting challenge. The REME Battalion will need to pair with its Regular counterpart in 7th Light Mechanised BCT, to ensure that operating concepts and good practice are shared, and this is already happening now. And of course, because of the geographical spread of the Battalion, links will also need to be fostered with other units, located nearby, to take advantage of the most convenient and sensible ES training opportunities.
Light Forces development stretches further than just the BCTs though. 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) will deploy
32 Engr: Cfn Duncan at Grassroots horse trial 5 Engr Regt AT in Bavaria (75 Engr Regt LAD: just about to summit Läuferspitze on Ex DIAMOND YPRES BAVARIA 21)
36 Engr: Soldier First
around the world, building the capacity of allied and partner nations in permissive environments. The SFAB’s units will be much smaller than conventional Infantry Battalions today, but how they will operate, with what equipment, and hence what skills they will need from their REME personnel, is still developing. REME soldiers in the SFAB will not only have to be good at their core trade, and confident to work in small groups, but prepared to tackle new kit they have never seen before, and with the intelligence, professionalism and soft skills to work effectively with other nation’s soldiers, many of whom will not speak English.
Light Forces development will evidently also have ES implications for 19 Brigade, the new home for Army Reserve Combat Light Forces, as well as for 102 Operational Sustainment Brigade, and 8 Engineer Brigade…but perhaps this needs to be the subject of a future Guest Editorial.
Finally, as I reach the end of my tenure as Commander ES in the First Division, I would reiterate my pride in what our people continue to achieve in the name of engineering excellence. The challenges over the past 3 years have been immense, and implementation of Future Soldier will doubtless throw up new ones for our Light Forces, but I know that the Division’s REME personnel will step up with confidence and good humour. Good luck to you all.
QDG LAD preparing for Op NEWCOMBE
SCOTS DG, B Sqn Fitter Section on EX KHANJAR OMAN 29 EOD&S Gp: LCpl Stevenson attending a real-time recovery job on the public highway
