ASK THE ASM WO1 (CASM) Daniel McNeill Each month the Corps ASM answers your most pertinant questions from Twitter.
“Corps ASM Sir, the latest amendment to Corps instruction E5 means that I may now no longer be eligible for Artificer selection. I know I was before it was amended by the REME Arms School so I’m disappointed and pretty confused. I am an Aircraft Technician with a reckonable service start date of the 7 Sep 2006 (18th Birthday) and I have an end of service date (with V Eng FC) of 6 Sep 2030. Firstly, can you tell me why the 6 Year Residual Service Rule has changed? Secondly, can I ask you to find out if I will or will not be able to run to the 2022 Artificer Selection & Course Loading Board (ASCLB)?” Firstly, thanks for coming to me with this question. I’ve been inundated recently with similar queries from many other Soldiers. You are right in saying that there has indeed been an update to the way the residual service requirement is written into Corps Instruction E5 but it is really important to state that there is no change to the residual service required at the end of the Tiffy Course - it is still 6 years on completion. What the amendments to E5 do for you, your commanders and your career managers, is confirm the amount of years and months of residual service required at the time that you (and other Soldiers) will actually presents to ASCLB. As an Aircraft Technician, you will require 8 years residual service as at 1 May 22 to present to the next ASCLB. This is because the first Aircraft Course that the board loads starts the following May (12 months after the board), the Aircraft Artificer course length is 12 months long (so you’ll finish 24 months after loading) and you’ll need 6 years residual service on course completion (which you can see adds up to the 8 years needed at ASCLB Loading). This means that you will run to the 2022 board and I have confirmed this with the 2IC of REME Soldiers Wing at APC Glasgow. For clarification, the amount of residual service required for each trade and the breakdown as to why is as follows: • VM & Armr – 8 years 6 months required as at 1 May to present to the board. The first course the board loads starts the following May (12 months out), the course length is 18 months, and the addition of the required 6 years residual service on course completion equates to 8 years 6 months required to present to the board. • Tech Elec – 8 years 8 months required as at 1 May to present to the board. The first course the board loads starts the following July (14 months out), the course length is 18 months, and the addition of the required 6 years residual service on course completion equates to 8 years 8 months required to present to the board. • Tech Av – 8 years 11 months required as at 1 May to present to the board. The first course the board loads starts the following October (17 months out), the course length is 18 months, and the addition of the required 6 years residual service on course completion equates to 8 years 11 months required to present to the board. • Tech Ac – 8 years required as at 01 May to present to the board. The first course the board loads starts the following May (12 months out), the course length is 12 months, and the addition of the required 6 years residual service on course completion equates to 8 years required to present to the board. Hopefully this answers your question buddy and good luck for next year’s board.
“Sir, My Tiff say’s that we’ll be amalgamated with the RLC and form Combat Service Support Regiments soon as part of the Integrated Review. Do you know anything about this?” Hi mate, thanks for the question. I’ve got to start by answering firmly that the REME will not be amalgamating with anybody. We will remain as a Corps and retain our own Cap-badge - as will the RLC. I think your Tiff may be talking about a statement made in a Defence Command Paper titled ‘Defence in a Competitive Age’ which was released earlier this year. That paper states that ‘the Army’s new Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) will contain Combat Service Support Battalions and these will include logisticians, electrical and mechanical engineers, and medics’. This intimates that we may well end up working closer with other Corps and Cap-Badges but, really importantly, this has not been confirmed at all and it won’t be until the end of this year. There is no point dealing in rumour and hearsay.
“Sir, I saw your Tweet on the importance of Adventure Training. Can you please let me know what the process is for me to apply for funding from RHQ to take some Soldiers from my Battalion out to Stubai on Ex SUPREME GLACIER later this year? I’m trying to put some plans in place and gather provisional funding.” Firstly thank you for putting one foot forward and endeavouring to get your fellow REME Soldiers away on an expedition to Austria. It always takes someone to co-ordinate and organise Adventure Training or an Overseas Sports Tour. For me, both are reasons that we join and stay in the Army. For clarity, RHQ does not have any money itself but the REME Adventurous and Enterprising Activities Committee (RAEAC) has been allocated funding by the REME Charity to help support requests like this because it helps us to develop character in our Soldiers and allow them to get away and enjoy themselves. Details of how to apply can be found in Corps Instruction A10 on RHQ’s share-point page but you can apply really easily now via the Adventurous Training Page on REME Connect. It’s intuitive and easy to follow. If you have any issues at all, pick up the phone and I can talk you through it. I also note you are from a unit in 3UKXX. They also have a fund you can tap into. I’ll put you in contact.
“Sir, Inclusivity and diversity are important to the Corps and the Army: what do you see as being the remaining barriers we must seek to overcome as a Corps?” Mate, great question and probably the most challenging one I’ve had to answer to date. For me, the Army is a great place to work because it is made up of such a diverse workforce. Any Commander worth his salt will embrace diversity in their team because it brings different ideas, opinions and outlooks to fore. I’ve certainly benefited from this as a Leader. The Army is actively trying to ensure that we are an attractive proposition to everybody across the spectrum of society and are representative of it. Our Corps Engagement Team is established to provide support to recruitment, ensuring we meet our inflow targets whilst actively targeting current areas of under representation. A question back if I may, what barriers to Diversity and Inclusion do you feel exist in the Corps? I’d be keen to discuss these with you.
Ask the ASM on Twitter
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