COMMANDING OFFICERS DAY 30 Sep 09  (with loads of images)

As the Battalion are soon to depart to Afghanistan, the Welfare Office organised the gates of Planet Coldstream to be open for everyone to get an idea of what everyone will be doing, why we're doing it and what kit & equipment we'll be using.

The day saw groups rotate through various stands, each of which held valuable information and tips that will be essential for the forthcoming months away from home. It was also beneficial for all those attending that the personnel running the stands were teaching ‘best practice’ as they have used these methods on previous tours of Iraq and Afghanistan .

There were many stands being ran, some of which are below:

· Improvised ovens: A demonstration on how to make one from materials available in theatre, the safety controls required using it and how to maintain it.

· Improvised heaters: A demonstration on how to make one and more importantly how to use it to warm both you and wet clothes.

· Cooking 10 man ration boxes & how to improve: A demonstration on how to get the most out of the 10 man ration boxes. More often than not 10 man ration boxes are issued rather than individual boxes and instead of having the infamous Catering Corp to cook all the food, there are often small locations that must ‘fend for themselves’. The chefs show how to get the most from these rations with little or no extras.

· Making bread and other handy recipes: Again, the secret of happiness ………… fresh bread not made in a comfortable kitchen but on a makeshift stove and field kitchen equipment. Shown by the experts themselves on how to prepare and cook the food of the Gods.

· Hygiene in a location: A very important demonstration from the Medical Staff on health and Hygiene in Theatre from solar showers to personal hygiene.

· How to construct a gym from materials on hand: Surprisingly there is enough equipment on site to construct and use equipment to maintain fitness levels. This demonstration shows what and how it’s used for best effect.

· Making furniture: With the bare basics it comes in handy to know how to construct chairs, tables and other useful bits of furniture from pallets and other materials on site.

· Equipment husbandry: Being based in barracks allows soldiers to exchange equipment when and where required; in theatre there will be certain locations that the facility is not available. This demonstration shows how to look after, maintain and repair clothing kit and equipment.

· Vehicle Maintenance: Looking after vehicles in Theatre are essential and knowing how to carry out quick repairs on site is ‘life saving’.

After the stands, all personnel deploying to Afghanistan paraded on the square for some ‘Battalion Aerobics’.  SSgt Allen (the Scottish Gym Bloke) had previously booked some aoerobithians (ladies that know how to dance/exercise to music), and the event was even films by SKY TV (see below).  Images from this event are below!

The day was finished with an all ranks function, held in the Sergeants’ Mess, with entertainment provided by the Regimental Band.

 

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