38 NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2008
News and information for serving personnel
FOST
tours US
Once upon
training
a time at a
facilities
FLAG Officer Sea Training
base called
(FOST) Rear Admiral Richard
Ibbotson has had a week-long
whistlestop tour of key US training
and experimentation commands
Yeovilton…
on the east coast of America.
At the US Naval College at
Annapolis, the FOST party – which
MOST children enjoy a
also included Commodore BRNC
bedtime story with mum or
Cdre Martin Alabaster and Deputy
dad, but that is not always
FOST Cdre Nick Lambert – was
possible in the world of
hosted by the Superintendent,
Service children.
Vice Admiral Jeffrey Fowler USN
With parents employed on
and College Commandant Capt
overseas detachment or living
Margaret Klein USN.
away from the family home,
One discussion centred on the
there is often something
current American focus on cultural
missing as the little ones
and regional awareness training
snuggle up in bed.
for all officers, an initiative which
● HMS Campbeltown, currently patrolling east of Suez
But now a team based at
recognises that future leaders will
RNAS Yeovilton have been
often need to deploy to unfamiliar
working hard on a project
regions to undertake a wider
that will hopefully make a
range of tasks than has previously
difference to the children who
been needed – the Expeditionary
face periods of separation
Diplomat concept.
from parents.
Admiral Ibbotson then travelled
A recording studio has been
to Norfolk, Virginia, for further
available from the middle of
NETSO gain for briefings at local commands,
last month enabling Service
including a call on Commander
personnel to be recorded
US Second Fleet, Vice Admiral
whilst telling a story with the
Marty Chanik USN.
use of a digital recorder. One key meeting was with
The story is then Rear Admiral Don Quinn,
downloaded to a computer and Commander Strike Force
any mistakes are edited out. Training Atlantic, who is
Music and sound effects are responsible for training
added and the final story is put
deployed ships
and certifi cation of carrier
on to a CD. strike groups and ships
A personal message can be deployed independently.
included and the end product THE RN, as a champion of
all of the procedures and is on top
Admiral Quinn said he hopes
is a very professional-sounding
Investors in People, is eager
of all the latest developments.
to visit the UK soon to explore his
story reading by the parent.
interest in deploying US surface
Children will be able to
to get its people to invest in
“It is useful having a subject-
matter expert to refer to when I
combatants for Operational Sea
hear the voice of their parent
themselves. am unsure.”
Training with FOST, particularly
whenever they want, and So when HMS Campbeltown
Lt Grierson is part of a team
in FOST’s tailored training for
parents feel that they are deployed to the Gulf last
of seven NETSOs, three based in
humanitarian assistance and
doing something tangible for
autumn, the frigate’s Executive
Devonport, three in Portsmouth
disaster relief as well as in the
their children.
Officer, Lt Cdr Colin Williams,
and one in Faslane.
force protection serials.
‘Story Book Parents’ can be
Admiral Ibbotson called in at the
a lifeline for families and could
looked at options to help the
“Over the past year we have
been able to conduct over 60 visits
new Navy Expeditionary Combat
play a key role in helping to
ship’s company do just that.
to various units and interview
“We had had an Education
Command at Little Creek Naval
maintain the family unit during
over 2,000 RN personnel,” said
Officer embarked with us during
Amphibious Base, and visited the
the period of separation. Lt Grierson.
our earlier deployment to the Gulf
Tactical Training Group Atlantic
Anyone going on “This demand is only set to
who was received very well by the
(TACTRAGRULANT) facilities
deployment is encouraged to increase as more and more ships
ship’s company, and was deemed
in Dam Neck, where he was
give the scheme a try. and boats realise what services
to be a very positive aspect of the
shown a student class undertaking
The Yeovilton scheme is we offer and what benefits we can
trip,” said Lt Cdr Williams.
‘Fleet Synthetic Training’ – on
a version of the ‘Story Book bring them.
“Naturally, when we were
● Lt Andy Grierson ● Logs Rebecca Crowder the agenda were opportunities for
Dads’ project that originated in “We’re already getting repeat
tasked to deploy again we were
greater integration of RN ships,
Dartmoor Prison and has been courses I’ve been looking into with all the appropriate information bookings as soon as we leave,
keen to get another Education
submarines and aircraft into US
in action for four years – that recently for people on board include and arrange photography courses sometimes up to a year in advance,
Officer on board to provide the
battle group synthetic training.
project is now a registered kite-surfing and belly-dancing. for me to study whilst I’m as the ship wants to have us back.”
same service.”
Options were also explored
charity. “On HMS Campbeltown I have deployed,” she said. That is something of which the
The request was put in, and
for increased collaboration in
Dartmoor project managers been very busy as everyone has their At the other end of his career is Commanding Officer of HMS
during the first stages of the
the major certification exercises
have been supporting the own personal goal that they’d like LS Oscar Wilde, who has almost Campbeltown, Cdr Gordon
frigate’s Operation Calash tour, Lt
which all US strike groups must
Yeovilton venture and trained information on how to achieve. completed 22 years in the Navy Abernethy, is very much aware.
Andy Grierson, a Naval Education
successfully complete before they
the HMS Heron team last “Another misconception is that and is thinking of life outside. “I was very keen to have a
and Training Services Officer
deploy to the Med and Indian
month. deployments are not the best time “Without the advice of NETSO NETSO on board for part of
(NETSO), was embarked.
Ocean regions in support of
The fact that Yeovilton is to learn or study. I would have missed out on a lot our deployment, just as I can
“As a NETSO my role is to
Op Enduring Freedom, Iraqi
leading the way in the Senior “In fact, deployments are a of my resettlement entitlement,” understand why other units are
support the work of the Education
Freedom and Active Endeavour,
Service is down to Sarah great time to do this. There are he said. keen to get them embarked,” said
and Resettlement Officer on board
and in support of capacity building
Leach, who raised the issue fewer distractions, people do find “Together we have produced a Cdr Abernethy.
front-line units such as HMS
around the African continent.
after seeing an article about themselves with free time and there plan for my resettlement that will “They have been shown to
a similar Army project at
Campbeltown, and to provide a
are lots of resources available. help me in my future career.” raise the ship’s morale, providing
During their visit to Second
Tidworth Garrison called ‘Story
link to the services offered back in
“With increasing access to the Campbeltown’s LRO, Lt more motivated and trainable
Fleet HQ the FOST team
Book Soldiers’.
base port,” said Lt Grierson.
Internet, help is just an email Sweetman, is equally positive sailors, which in turn enhances
was hosted by Cdre Bob
The Heron version has been
“No two days on board are the
away. about the benefits of having a operational capability.”
Mansergh, currently Deputy
funded by the Annington Trust,
same for me.
“As well as the variety of people NETSO embarked. The frigate is on a seven-month
Director of Combined Joint
which paid for the necessary
“I talk individually with up to
that I speak to, from the CO “The NETSO is able to provide deployment which has seen her
Operations from the Sea
equipment.
ten members of the ship’s company
to the youngest sailor, I also me with specialist advice and supporting Operation Calash east
Centre of Excellence.
Big thanks are also due
per day, who take the time out of
get to visit the whole range of support that is necessary for the of Suez and combating piracy in FOST was briefed on the
to Chaplaincy Team Leader
their working day to see me.
Devonport units, from the smaller ship to have a well-run education the Red Sea before heading for cutting-edge work conducted on a
Simon Beveridge, who agreed
“Together we look at ways that
Hydrographic units to the larger department. the Northern Gulf in support of range of key issues including allied
to the project team converting
we can support their personal and
amphibious ships, submarines, “He knows the ins and outs of Operation Telic. integration with the US Maritime
the sacristy room into the Story
professional development goals.
frigates and satellite units. HQ with Maritime Operations
Book Parents recording studio.
“This can vary from conducting
“Anywhere that there are RN Centre (MOC) concept which
Those involved in this
Lantern exams [Literacy and
personnel I am happy to go to rolls out across the USN this year.
project are community worker
Numeracy Testing and Education
offer my services.” This will provide a global
Tracey Hallett, Ruth David of
in the Royal Navy] to get
Among those on board network of MOCs monitoring all
the Education Centre, chaplain
people qualified for promotion,
Campbeltown to have benefited maritime activity and providing
support worker David Garbett
establishing GCSE courses on
from the NETSO’s presence was the backbone of Maritime Domain
and Nicola Davidson, volunteer
board, looking at the various
Logs Rebecca Crowder, for whom Awareness for the Americans.
coordinator for the project.
civilian accreditation options it has opened up the prospect of He was also briefed on
Donations of surplus good-
available to personnel, arranging advancement. development on a range of
quality children’s books are
funding, arranging courses and, “Thanks to the NETSO I am initiatives aimed at assisting
always gratefully received.
equally importantly, helping now educationally-qualified to be NATO’s Allied Command
For more details about this
people to plan their resettlement. promoted to leading hand – and Transformation to exploit the
project contact Tracey Hallett
“I also look to reinvigorate the he also helped arrange and fund agility which maritime forces
on 01935 841686.
educational system on board and, a driving course for me,” said bring to global security operations
by running workshops on coaching, Rebecca. more effectively.
motivation and presentations, I For AB(CIS) Amy Bennett After an exhausting week,
help with the soft skills needed for the objective was a change of FOST returned to the UK armed
divisional work. direction. with a very wide range of things to
“There’s a misconception “I had been looking to branch think about as he and his senior
that Education Officers are only transfer into the photographic staff consider the way ahead for
concerned with academic subjects, specialisation for some time, and individual and collective training
but some of the more interesting the NETSO was able to provide me in the RN.● LS Oscar Wilde – planning for resettlement
News and information for serving personnel
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