NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2008 35
News and information for serving personnel
Bavarian success is
no great surprise
An early
taste for
adventure
THE NEW Naval Outdoor
● WO1 Andy Rainey
Centre, nestling in the Allgau
STRONG links between the Royal
Three
region of Bavaria, is already
Navy and the Royal Geographical
taking bookings for 2009.
Society which stretch back to the
academic body’s foundation in
The centre, in Southern
1830 are still nurtured in the 21st
Germany, offers activities for all
wishes
century.
levels, good weather, fantastic
In 1827 the Thatched House
scenery and is within a day’s drive
tavern in the St James area of
from all UK base port areas.
London became a meeting place
for the
In its initial guise as Exercise
for a number of figures who, as
Bavarian Surprise (Ex BS) the
was common at the time, met for
scheme grew from an eight-week
dinner to debate the scientific and
adventurous training (AT) and
future
academic issues of the day.
challenging activities (CA) affair
Among them were Rear Admiral
in 2005, and within two years it
Sir Francis Beaufort – generally
had grown to a 30-week package
accepted as the founder of modern
from April to October attracting
ALMOST a year into his tenure,
hydrography – and Arctic explorer
1,385 participants.
the Second Sea Lord’s Command
Rear Admiral Sir John Franklin.
Ex BS gave RN and RM
Warrant Officer (CWO) has a
In the same year that this
personnel the opportunity to fulfil
clear view of where he wants to
informal ‘club’ became the RGS
2SL’s PFS of five-day AT/CA,
see improvements by the time he
a child was born in Yorkshire
providing valuable skills which are
hands over his cane.
who would become a passionate
transferable to other areas and
The man who sits at the top of
supporter of both the RN and
thereby enhancing operational
the ratings’ tree, and provides a
RGS.
capability.
crucial link between the lower deck
Clements Robert Markham
Ex BS’s enormous popularity,
● It’s all downhill from here
and his boss, said: “I am there to
– RN and RM personnel
entered the Navy at 14 and spent
and the fact that AT has been
listen, and to make sure that the
will soon get the chance
four years on an 83,000-mile
recognised as helping with
voices of the ratings are heard.
to test themselves in
voyage to the Pacific. He later
retention, led to the opening
“But I am also there to make
Bavaria all year round
sailed in the Arctic Squadron.
of the Naval Outdoor Centre
sure that the ratings don’t shrug
On leaving the Navy he joined
(Germany).
off as management speak the news
the East India Company, but
In 2009, skiing will take place
briefing and then get a chance to maintained his affinity for the
that they need to hear.”
from January 15 until May, with
explore the local area. Senior Service.
With the CWO and Executive
a variety of five-day courses, Instructors take over on Tuesday
At the age of 63 Markham
Warrant Officer system in place
including basic ski proficiency with a programme tailored for
was elected President of the
to channel information back and
(from complete novice to blue each individual’s needs.
RGS, dominating its affairs for
forth through the Navy, WO1 Andy
runs, or improved novices as far as Possibilities for the evening
an unprecedented 12 years, and it
Rainey says there is now a much
red runs) and advance proficiency include swimming at a local pool,
was his drive which saw funding
better system for understanding
for intermediate skiers. BBQs and quizzes and water-
for Scott’s expedition to the
how the people feel about issues –
There will also be the chance to skiing on the lake in summer.
Antarctic in the first years of the
and the people of the Royal Navy
sample the delights of ski touring. Bespoke packages can be
20th Century.
are its greatest asset.
The tried and tested multi- arranged for groups of around
The same spirit of endeavour
But WO1 Rainey said there
activity package will run from May eight to 12 concentrating on one
and self-fulfilment is engendered
were three particular areas
to October, offering a round-robin of the activities provided, for
through the Royal Navy’s
where he would still like to see
of activities including kayaking which there may be a charge.
Adventurous Training programme,
improvements.
or open boating, climbing, The centre will support the of which Bavarian Surprise is a
“The first is the relationship
Alpine mountain walking or Navy’s Battle Back initiative for would like to pursue a career as an a period of time. prime example (see left).
between officers and ratings,
Klettersteiging and mountain wounded personnel with specialist AT instructor. marina To take up your five days of For those in the Navy who
helping the Officer Corps has
biking, with an opportunity to do weeks in March and July. Whether just setting out AT/CA entitlement, your first take adventure and geography
a greater understanding of the
white-water rafting or canyoning And RN and RM families will and wanting to gain further point of contact should be the seriously – and there are a number
ratings,” he said.
on the final day. benefit from dedicated time over qualifications and experience, or PT Office or ship’s PTI, who can of Fellows of the RGS who have
“By virtue of my position, it is
Packages will last a week, Easter, allowing them to stay at developing qualifications to enable provide more information and an gone to work in a dark blue suit –
much easier for me to go speak to
running from Sunday to Sunday, the centre at heavily-discounted you to work at a level 4 centre in application form. the Society runs its annual Explore
a whole raft of officers. and begin at the ferry terminal
rates – provided they are members the future, this place is ideal. Or you could go online at www.marina expedition and fieldwork planning
“It’s as important to me to be in Dover.
of the Sports Lottery. The offer to work as an instructor englishguesthouse.com and weekend from November 21-23
able to ensure that there is a flow A luxury German coach will
If the initiative is successful, goes to anyone holding relevant follow links to Bavaria Surprise; in London.
of easily-understood language up whisk passengers overnight to further family time will be qualifications who would like the marina Or call 07900 443128 or 0049
For more details about Explore
and down the command chain.” Bavaria to the Haus Schwaben – allocated in the first three weeks opportunity to get involved with 8324 2290; 2008 see www.rgs.org/Explore
The second area is of openness an English-run hotel with great of August and at Christmas. teaching; providing you can be marina Or email FLEET-N1 NLM marina See next month’s Navy News
within and outside the RN, and food – where participants will The centre will also provide a spared from your place of work it is PERS PAT SO3 (mil) or paul. for an article by PO Stephen
a chance for junior ratings to be allocated a room, receive a great opportunity for any PTI who possible to come out and assist for gellender267@mod.uk Paris-Hunter FRGS
aspire to high positions within the
ratings cadre – including the role
of Command Warrant Officer.
“The final thing is very much
Royals launch campaign with 007
more basic,” said WO1 Rainey.
“I would like to see far more of
a structured career progression to
A NEW 50-second Royal Marines
the Senior Rate cadre.
recruiting film, Swamp Ambush,
“I say that because, if you
will be launched on November 7
are good enough, you could be
with the new Bond film Quantum
promoted to WO1 at age 32, which
of Solace.
essentially means that you have got
Over the weekends of November
an 18-year career as a WO1 ahead
8 and 22, RM personnel will be
of you, and that is all there is.
present in some 20 key cinema
“My goal would be to help
foyers around the UK with
create something better.
supporting displays and trialing
“I am keen that WO1s, once they
a new facility that allows visitors
reach the top of their profession,
with Bluetooth phones to receive
aren’t left hanging on, doing the
other new RM video material.
same job until boredom drives
Following its launch alongside
them from the Service.
the new Bond, the RM film will
“There are over 800 WO1s in
run to the end of March 2009
the Naval Service. They should
alongside other new films that will
be able to work across a range
attract the target recruit audience
of jobs.
of 16-24 year old men – Australia,
“Essentially, WO1s are
Changeling, Seven Pounds, Defiance,
promoted for their leadership,
and Watchmen.
management and administrative
The film will be shown
skills, and an awful lot get tied
throughout UK but budget
back into branch.”
constraints do not allow coverage
● A shot from the new RM recruiting fi lm Swamp Ambush
WO1 Rainey said his role was
of the London area.
not to act as an individual’s hotline
A 30-second version of the film
The popular range of posters The cinema film, Wo r s t of the campaign a representative This new second phase of the
to 2SL, and as such he believes
will also run on PubTV from
will appear in over 300 leisure Nightmare, was seen by more than sample of 16-24 year old UK men campaign plans to build on this
the Divisional system is one of the
November to March.
and fitness centres in January and 24 million people; the PubTV film was interviewed before and after the successful start.
Navy’s successes – one which can A series of ‘RM Challenge’ ads is
February 2009. by more than 3 million; whilst first phase. This was supplemented
deal with most circumstances. also planned to appear on Setanta,
The award-winning RM website online advertising was seen by by an online survey.
“The divisional system has Dave and Virgin TV during the
www.royalmarines.mod.uk will over 25 million. This revealed that awareness
looked after me for 30 years, and breaks in selected programmes
carry further new material on RM Over the course of this first of RM rose by six per cent to 57
I actually think one of the best watched by the target audience.
‘States of Mind’. phase of the campaign, the RM per cent of our target audience,
initiatives in recent years is the A further series of digital ads The previous RM recruiting website received over half a million with an encouraging six per cent
reinvigoration of the divisional will also be appearing on selected campaign was launched in October unique visitors to the homepage. increase in interest in a career with
system,” he said. websites throughout the period. 2007 and ran to March this year. To measure the effectiveness the Royal Marines.
News and information for serving personnel
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