Op Courage

Scribe: David Powell

Col Andy Rogers ADC in June’s edition of The Craftsman highlighted the sad reality that more REME personnel had died by their own hand over the past year than we had lost in 14 years of conflict in Afghanistan. WO1 (CASM) Daniel McNeill then highlighted the excellent initiative within OPSMART, and how it is our responsibility as individuals to work together as a team in order to tackle this emotive issue. I am the Regional Lead for the NHS Transition Intervention and Liaison Service (TILS) in East Anglia. TILS is a core part of OP COURAGE which provides, through the NHS, ongoing mental health support for our veterans community and their families. TILS has been in operation since April 2017 and we have seen over 14500 individuals who have needed mental health support either as veterans or as personnel in transition through DCMH. The service offers a full mental health assessment, usually within your own home and will provide you with ongoing therapy and support. We are in partnership with Walking with the Wounded in East Anglia and the Midlands to provide counselling and therapy to enable you to recover from your difficulties. 1 in 4 of us will suffer from a mental health difficulty. As an ex REME Craftsman I am acutely aware of the importance of the team in ensuring we meet our goals and objectives. This is acutely true once we leave the Corps. Within East Anglia we have a full team of Counsellors, Mental Health Nurses and Occupational therapy, plus an employment advisor to support you. We operate a 24 hour support line and are also available to see individuals during weekends. You can self-refer to a single point of access and we will see you within ten days of your referral. We do not operate a waiting list. The team are accredited as Veterans Aware and are as designated military and Veterans team, with the ability to fully understand the culture and language that we use as military personnel. For many the first step is the hardest and we are here to ensure that you are supported not only in your transition to civvy-street but beyond. As part of the NHS we ensure the Military Covenant is applied and individuals are treated as a priority for service attributable conditions. During my military service, I saw at first hand the difficulties associated with service life. One of my enduring memories was being a young Craftsman attached to the Welsh Guards post the Falklands campaign. My passion for military mental health started there and led me to become a Mental Health Nurse after leaving the service. For the past 12 years I have worked within the NHS as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Military and Veterans, and now leading a service. When I assess individuals it is always about team work, we work in partnership, we support each other. Please reach out, please get in touch. As CASM McNeill stated “Let’s get after this now as a team”.

Extracts from the London Gazette

13 July 2021

REGULAR ARMY The following have been awarded the 2nd Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military) MAJ, R. W. GISBY, REME, 24725050 LT COL, G. INNES, REME, 561257 MAJ, T. A. McCLUSKEY, REME, 24678952 LT COL, J. M. MURLEY, MBE, REME, 24725022 LT COL, R. K. NAIVALURUA, REME, 559463 LT COL, A. D. SHELLARD, REME, 24725017 The following have been awarded the 1st Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military) WO1, G. M. AIRD, REME, 25050919 LT COL, L. G. FOSTER, REME, 553276 CAPT, W. SHAW, REME, 25039207 The following have incorrectly been entered on April Gazette list as rescinding their 1st Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal These entries are for the award of the 1st Clasp to the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal WO2, C. P. DODDS, REME, 25049770 SSGT, A. J. MACPHERSON, REME, 25050812 The following have been awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Military) CPL, D. J. CUSTY, REME, 25222244 SSGT, C. R. FLETCHER, REME, 25159158 SSGT, A. J. HUNTER, REME, 25217541 MAJ, I. C. RAE, REME, 25166179 CPL, G. SHELDON, REME, 25217718 MAJ, J. D. STOKES, REME, 25221737 The following have been awarded the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal CPL, R. D. HANCOCK, REME, 30148841

03 AUGUST 2021

PROMOTIONS The undermentioned Captains to be Majors 31 July 2021 with seniority 31 July 2021 N. G. E. AITKEN 30134864 Y. ANGBO 30077366 J. D. AUBREY 30088935 O. J. CARTWRIGHT 30088944 R. G. CIESIELCZUK 30088938 S. J. CLENCH 25230352 C. J. CORNES 30088947 C. B. COWARD 30028250 A. R. DEACON 30145756 J. S. HUNJAN 30014017 J. A. KENNY 30076268 J. S. LAWSON 30055851 S. P. MALONEY 30089172 A. D. MUIRHEAD 25200062 M. D. B. PEAK 30152146 M. B. ROBERTS 30036628 A. T. STARR 30157472 P. R. WOOSTER 30086472 A. L. ALLEN 24848497 P. I. BELL 25043819 G. E. CASWELL-TREEN W1033393 C. G. J. COMBER 24781284 A. G. DESROCHES 24781172 C. J. HANKS 25022298 P. C. D. HEMBERY 25104444 D. M. IRVINE 25025446 T. A. ISSAC 25009930