Chinook ‘One Team’ visit to RAF Odiham

19 April 2023

Personnel from Defence Equipment and Support’s, Chinook Delivery Team and Army HQ’s Combat Aviation Department, recently visited Odiham for a ‘Collaborative Teams’ building event.

The Chinook “One Team” participated in a range of activities, including an aircraft walkaround and equipment demonstrations, briefings from the Front Line crews on Chinook Force activity and a social event to cap the day, all to enhance their teamwork skills and develop their problem-solving abilities, while building better relationships. The visit also included the opportunity of a flight on board the Chinook through London’s Helicopter lanes. Flying down the River Thames, the sortie provided a unique perspective of some of

London’s most iconic landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, and the London Eye.

“Training sorties like these are essential for our crews who have recently returned from operational deployments and to maintain their skills and readiness,” said Officer Commanding 27 Squadron, Wing Commander Paul Butler, “But it’s also a great opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the Chinook first hand to those DE&S personnel that work so hard to deliver the capability while giving them a unique perspective of London from the sky.”

The visit to Odiham was a unique experience for the participants, many of whom only view the Chinook through technical drawings, as they had the opportunity to interact with members of the RAF and learn more about the military’s teamwork and problem-solving strategies. “It was a fantastic opportunity for our team to work together in a different environment and learn from the Chinook crews experiences,” said Mr Darren James, the Chinook Delivery Team’s Head of Capability.

Collaborative teamwork is essential to the success of defence acquisition, and it is important for all stakeholders to work together effectively to achieve the best possible outcomes. The team-building exercise at RAF Odiham was part of a wider effort by DE&S and Army to invest in their employees’ development and enhance their teamwork skills.