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NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2007 35
The Royal Navy writes on the issues affecting you
Bulwark
basks in
Landlocked sailors
publicity
spotlight
A SEVEN-MONTH tour of duty help fight the Taleban
Retention
initiative
in the Gulf in the full glare of
publicity helped to win assault
ship HMS Bulwark a coveted
AFGHANISTAN is a landlocked
targets
award.
Ships, units and squadrons
country of snow topped mountains
in the RN and RM compete for
and high desert plains, writes Major
the Desmond Wettern Media Mark Woosey RM.
Royals
Award each year, presented to
Helmand, the southernmost province of
the one which has done most
Afghanistan and base for Britain’s Helmand
THE lowest-paid Service personnel
to promote a positive image of
have been handed a pay rise of over
the Senior Service in the press,
Task Force (HTF), is 400 miles from the
nine per cent – which amounts to
TV and in public.
sea – hardly the environment in which you
more than £100 a month.
The Devonport-based assault
would expect to fi nd many sailors. Some 13,000 personnel on the
ship was deemed worthy
But the men and women of the Royal Navy lowest level have been awarded
winner, having featured heavily
are here in large numbers. 9.2 per cent by the Armed Forces
in local and national media in
Plentiful media coverage ensures that most Pay Review Body, a rise which
2006 during her first operational
people know that 3 Commando Brigade has comes into force on April 1.
deployment, initially in the Gulf,
been leading NATO’s fi ght against the Taleban The 6,000 on the next-lowest
then in the Mediterranean as
in order to provide security in Afghanistan. pay level will see their pay rise by
she evacuated civilians from
Fewer realise that the dark blue Navy is
6.2 per cent, while all other ranks
the Lebanon when the Israeli-
here too, with more than 220 men and women
and offi cers, regulars and reserves,
Hezbollah conflict reached
providing vital support to Britain’s component.
will receive a 3.3 per cent rise.
crisis point.
The largest single contribution is probably
Senior offi cers – Rear Admiral
Apart from the typical media
from the medical branch in the Force Medical
and Major-General and above –
outlets, Bulwark was praised
Group.
have been given two per cent rise,
for her work in her affiliated
This consists of a Role 2 (Enhanced) Field
in line with overall increases in the
district, the County of Durham.
Hospital, based in the heart of Helmand at
public sector.
The award is named in
Camp Bastion, and the Close Support Squadron
Defence Secretary Des Browne
honour of reservist and Daily
which has blue and green beret MAs providing
said: “I am delighted to be able
Telegraph reporter Desmond
medical assistance all over the task force.
to announce this signifi cant pay
Wettern, who was the last
The Group is commanded by Surg Cdr Rob
rise for our Armed Forces, which
Naval correspondent in Fleet
Ross, who said: “Leading the Op Herrick V UK
is thoroughly deserved after what
Street.
Joint Force Medical Group has been a unique
has been a challenging year.
It was presented to
privilege.
“It refl ects my ongoing
Bulwark’s Commanding
“We have deployed more than 270 personnel
commitment to make sure they get
Officer, Cdr Andy Aspden, by
throughout Afghanistan, the majority of who
the support and recognition they
Desmond’s widow Gillian and
are Royal Navy.
deserve for the tremendous work
CINCFLEET, Admiral Sir James “We believe this is the fi rst time the
they do.”
Burnell-Nugent. RN has been allowed to command an
Although the MOD says
“The trophy reinforces the
Army fi eld hospital, but we have had
recruitment is better than at this
importance of the relationship
excellent support from our Army and
time last year, specific groups have
between the Royal Navy and
RAF colleagues.
been targeted with new Financial
the media in communicating
Retention Incentives (FRIs).
“Many of the hospital staff work in district
the excellent work the Senior
hospitals in the UK.
The additional sum of £17
Service does around the
“All my staff have displayed the highest levels
million has been allotted to this
world,” said Cdr Aspden.
of professionalism, testament to their excellent
group of 2,300 extra personnel,
“I’m delighted that the
training.”
among them are Royal Marines,
ship’s hard work has been
One of his team is LNN Helen Osler, of
infantry and aircrew.
recognised by the award of
Plymouth, who normally works on a vascular
FRIs and changes to
this prestigious trophy.”
ward in Derriford Hospital.
Commitment Bonuses for the
Type 22 frigate HMS
On Op Herrick she has been a ward staff
Corps – General Service and
Cumberland received a
nurse within the hospital, which has dealt with
SBS only – are deemed necessary
runner-up prize in the frigate/
nearly 1,000 cases in the past fi ve months,
because of a shortfall in RM Other
destroyer category.
treating Afghan civilian and military patients
Ranks at a time when the Corps is
Commodore Devonport
alongside the men and women of HTF.
in great demand, and junior Royals
Flotilla Cdre Peter Walpole
“It’s been a fantastic experience; working in
have found themselves coping with
said: “It is great to see so
the hospital itself has been very similar to my
an increased drafting ‘churn’.
many of the Devonport Flotilla
experience back home – it’s well-equipped and
Essentially, while the scheme
units featuring in this year’s
the staff available are just what I would expect,”
is in operation, eligible Royals
awards, and it reflects the
said Helen.
will be rewarded for remaining in
high priority we all place in
“What’s made it different is the camaraderie
service at an earlier point in their
● MEM Richard Coleman at work on the Royal Marines’ Pinzgauers in Helmand
highlighting and explaining the
that comes with being away from home, and Picture: LA(Phot) Gaz Faulkner
careers – four years, rather than
role of our men and women
working with Afghan patients.
the present five and eight years.
in support of UK national
“I’ve had to learn some Pashtu so I can
“My training as an MEM has allowed me to and adapt.”
For those approaching the
objectives overseas and the
communicate with the Afghan patients as well
easily adapt to work out here and its been a For those of you old enough to remember
four-year point, combined
community here in the UK.” as learning something about their culture.
great experience”. The Goon Show on BBC Radio, they wanted to Commitment Bonuses and the
Accepting a certificate from “It has been an excellent six months and a
Lt Ben Morton is a warfare offi cer and was send a battleship to solve the fi ctional ‘Nasty FRI could bring a one-off windfall
the Commodore, Cumberland’s great experience.”
last on board HMS Portland. For the past Affair at the Burami Oasis’: payment of £10,000 – though it
PRO Lt Cdr Andy Wildin There are also 21 stokers working in
fi ve months he has been working in the Joint “The oasis is only ten feet long, they’ll never get is taxable.
said: “We are delighted to Commando Logistics Regiment.
Operations Centre (JOC) at Camp Bastion a battleship in it!” And those who are approaching
receive this award, which There are no marine engines to repair here
providing command and control for UK “They could stand it up on one end!” the five and six-year marks will
recognises the effort the but the MEMs have quickly adapted to their
forces. Well, we’re not standing a battleship on end, also benefit to a lesser extent.
whole ship’s team have made new role helping to maintain Brigade vehicles.
On working long shifts as a watchkeeper, he but the Royal Navy Support in Afghanistan The scheme is designed to last
in demonstrating to the public MEM Richard Coleman, from Newcastle,
said: “It’s been a steep learning curve here, but is vital nonetheless, and is evidence of the for four years from the first of
the capabilities of the modern is normally a stoker in HMS Southampton,
very rewarding. fl exibility of our men and women. this month, and is also payable to
Royal Navy. but for the past two months he has been fi xing
“Working in an operational environment with There are just over 400 additional operational junior NCOs.
Cumberland has been in Pinzgauers, a vital vehicle in Royal’s MT.
the Royal Marines is real life – the decisions we augmentation posts – 220 in Afghanistan, 100 The scheme will target around
maintenance with DML in “It’s been hard work – they are heavy
make here affect people’s lives. in Iraq and 90 in Bosnia, and this requirement 400 personnel in each of the
Plymouth since last November, equipment to work on and it’s a totally different
“As a warfare offi cer I’m trained to be will stay with the Navy for at least another six next four financial years, but
and is currently in dry dock. job to being on board,” said Richard.
situationally aware, to make decisions quickly months. the existing commitment bonus
scheme continues for those who
Signal opportunity to support Special Forces
do not opt into the new scheme.
The current Aircrew FRI will
also continue.
Web of week
TO PROVIDE sufficient, The current rank structure preparation for the 23-week SFC
appropriately trained for the sub-specialisation is as selection course, conducted by 18
THE slave trade abolition pages
communicators to support the
Assignment Corner
follows: (UKSF) Signals Regiment. on the RN website have been
United Kingdom Special Forces Warrant Officer (2): 3 (includes As with the development of any
chosen as a Website of the Week by
marina
(UKSF), the Royal Marines one Yeoman of Signals) new specialisation there will have
the 24-Hour Museum website.
Special Forces Communicators Colour Sergeants: 5 (includes to be a period of transition during
www.24hourmuseum.org.
marina
(RM SFCs) sub-specialisation
different training. environment.
four Yeoman of Signals) which the Royal Marines Signals
uk features news, features and
was formed on April 1 2007.
Once selected and trained, the Promotion for successful
Sergeants: 8 Branch will continue to support
highlights from more than 3,000
marina
This reflects the increased size
SFCs will be employed within DSF applicants will be within the RM Corporals: 14 the UKSF requirement whilst museums, galleries and heritage
marina
of the SBS Signals Squadron and
units, only infrequently returning SFC sub-specialisation. Marines: 45 it grows to its fully-established sites around the UK, and deemed
marina
recognises the diverging skill-sets
to the mainstream Corps. Therefore candidates for All volunteers need to be strength.
www.royal-navy.mod.uk/
required by those signallers who
Although it is anticipated that promotion will no longer compete physically robust and well This period will also ensure
server/show/nav.3938 worth
support Special Forces and those most volunteers will be drawn from
with other members of the Royal
motivated, as the nature of the that the transfer of those from
highighting.
who are employed within the the Royal Marines Signals Branch,
Marines Signals Branch, but work with UKSF is naturally within the Royal Marines Signals
wider Royal Marines Corps. the SFC qualification will be open
will compete against themselves arduous and challenging. Branch is regulated so as not to
3 Commando Brigade Royal to all Royal Marines, regardless of under the Merit Based promotion All volunteers will be required deplete their numbers before there
Marines is now fully equipped their existing specialisation. system. to attend the SFC aptitude, which is a chance to train additional
with the Bowman communication This is an ideal opportunity It is intended that in future the is conducted at RM Poole. signals specialists to take their
system, whilst the Special Forces for those who have marginally Yeoman of Signals requirement Successful students will be places filling positions within
rely on a variety of bespoke failed to achieve UKSF selection, will be grown from those within assigned to SBS Signals Squadron 3 Commando Brigade Royal
equipment, which requires very but still wish to serve in that the SFC community. to conduct pre-training in Marines.
The Royal Navy writes on the issues affecting you
034-035_NN_apr.indd 2 21/3/07 11:39:01
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