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RSM Sitrep as at 15th Dec 07
(Archive)
Regimental Sergeant Major’s Update
WO1(RSM) Andy Johnson
HEADLINE ISSUES
- Bn Outline Forecast of Events for 2008
- Vacancies for Gdsm in the Sgts’ Mess
- Children’s clothing appeal
- No.7 Coy new numbers
- More Photos below
REVERSE SITREP
Firstly, for those back home, can I just say that I understand
your frustration at the long periods between some updates. There
are two key problems that hold up the information flow. The
first is that, often, the Coys are out on operations with no
other contact but radio and so it is sometimes difficult to
collate information as often as we would like. The second reason
is that of distance. Information sent back on disc takes up to
two weeks. We have been e-mailing stuff but the last batch ended
up hovering around in cyberspace for 10 days before arriving.
Rest assured, we will send as much and as often as possible.
The big news of late is the liberation of Musa Qa’leh which you
will have seen in the news. A number of Coldstreamers have been
involved in the operation directly whilst all of those based in
the Sangin, Kajaki and Gereshk areas have had to cope with much
of the fall out from this operation, which has been
considerable. Suffice to say that everyone played their part
brilliantly and the stabilisation phase of the operation is
ongoing.
The first R and R has now kicked in, so some of you will have
seen your loved ones already. Others among you will still be
waiting and ticking the days off your calendars. We are now into
the middle third of our tour – a good sign, and the pace of
operations has accelerated recently. Security reasons prevent me
from going into details but many members of the Bn have been
very active recently and will continue to be kept busy for the
foreseeable future.
The Commanding Officer recently followed in my footsteps to
visit the boys at KEENAN and like me, ended up staying for
nearly six days. No.3 Coy are still on excellent form you will
be glad to hear and thanks to the sterling efforts of the
Quartermaster (Maj Hall), the TQMS (WO2 John Sheard) and CQMS
Douglas, their quality of life has improved markedly in recent
weeks. I had intended to visit No.1 Coy in Kabul last week but
was defeated by several twists of fate, those being, no spare
helicopters, my fellow S03 in the Influence Cell being bedded
down (so I got all his work), and I have now been given a
nightly speaking-part at the Brigade Commander’s back-brief.
Fame costs, and I am now paying!
I have rung CSM Gibson and I am assured that the ‘Fighting
First’ are all in good nick. The Recce have finally got off to
re-form as a Manoeuvre Group with BG(S) although Sgt Smith and
LSgt Broomfield appear to have been left behind! I see them most
mornings by the heli-pad trying to thumb a lift (see photo
below!) I’m sure they’ll get there eventually. Captain Pepper
has developed the unnerving habit of dressing in a very
unorthodox and un-Guardsman-like fashion, namely, wearing his
softie jacket over the top of his combat shirt (I can hear
George Monck turning in his grave already!) In his defence,
virtually every Commissioned Officer in Lashkar Gah is doing the
same, but at the end of the day, it’s a bit like putting
pineapple rings on top of gammon steaks isn’t it…Everyone does
it, but it still doesn’t make it right!
LSgt Toganivalu was sent off to escort three Afghan Policemen to
Kabul on a 48 hour task. Eight days later he finally returned.
He said it was all something to do with flights, but he’s got no
money left, has put on about three stone in weight and smells of
burgers and doughnuts! Hmmm…..Anyway; to business…
BN OUTLINE FORECAST OF EVENTS 2008
*ShinyCapstar Note: dates
have been removed but can be seen in full on the ArmyNet Site
The dates of the Brigade relief in place are being revised and
full details will be posted in due course once the plan is
confirmed, please note dates are subject to change at short
notice so DON'T book any holidays!
May/June 08
Post Tour Leave
May 08
Black Weekend, Wellington Bks
Coldstream Cup
York Races - My mum lives next to the racecourse – see you
there!
June 08
Col’s Review QBP - Street Lining
QBP - Street Lining
Garter Service - Windsor - Commitment TBC
June/August 08
Adventure Training rotations – Capel Curig - 6 x 5 day packages
August 08
Summer Leave
September 08
Bn Battle Camp - Warcop. .
CAST - BG HQ
November 08
Wessex Warrior & Druids Dance - SPTA
Dates for Blue-Line Duties to follow, plus much more, such as
possible Driver Training Camp.
SERGEANTS MESS FORECAST
*ShinyCapstar Note: dates
have been removed but can be seen in full on the ArmyNet Site
For those who missed it on the last update, you can see it on
the 17 Nov archive. I will update it again and publish it once
more in January. However, here are some more Sgts’ Mess
forecasts by way of warning order:
Caterers for 2008
20 Apr – 02 May: Right Flank/No.2 Coy/Rear Party – TBN by DSgt
Jones
Jun – No.1 Coy
Jul – No.3 Coy
Late Aug – Sep – No.2 Coy
Oct – Sp Coy
Nov – HQ Coy
Dec – No.1 Coy
Sgts’ Mess Vacancies from June 08
1 x Gdsm : Barman
2 x Gdsm : Mess Waiters
All volunteers with pen pictures through CSMs to RSM.
SPORT
There is an aspiration to engage in more sport next year with
every member of the Bn not on essential duty, taking part in
organised sport of their choice during sports afternoons.
Personally, I expect us to really makean impact on the Army
Sports Results next year and I’ve already got my sights set on
the District and Divisional Cross Country Championships along
with the Army Marathon from the Running Club’s side of life, but
I would like to see all sportsmen in the Bn seizing silverware
Army-wide in all disciplines. We can only do this by taking a
serious, joined up approach to promoting sport in the Bn and it
goes without saying that it must be ‘sport for all’, not just
for the talented few. All Officers and NCOs need to start
thinking about what they could help out with on the sporting
front – whether you are a qualified climbing instructor or rugby
coach. Even if you are just interested in acting as a point of
focus for a sport, that will be a start. Thinking caps on. The
Comd Offr and Bn 2i/c will issue further direction in due
course.
ASSOCIATION / SGTS PAST AND PRESENT
Due to re-turfing of the Knavesmire in York, the Coldstream Cup
will be run in May 08 instead of the traditional October meet.
Rather usefully, my mum lives just next to the racecourse so I
will probably see some of you there (At the racecourse – NOT my
mum’s house!)
I am keen to get more serving member involvement with the
Association Branches when we return. The initial step is for
each Gdsm to state his preferred local branch to his CSM. The
CSMs will then submit Coy nominal rolls through me, to RHQ. Each
man will then be formally affiliated to the branch of his
choice. This means that the branches will obtain extra income
from RHQ as a result of the new members, and we can ensure a
more regular attendance of serving members at meetings.
If you are a serving Sgts’ Mess Member and are not a member of
the Coldstream Sergeants Past and Present, then you are missing
a trick! I will circulate membership forms on our return to
Windsor. The Annual Dinner is one of the best nights of the
year.
Black Weekend 2008 will be held in May 08 at Wellington Barracks
due to Bn Leave.. I would encourage any Mess Member who is in
the area to stop by for a drink or to attend the parade on the
Sunday. The Recruiters will all be there and it would be nice to
see as many ERE as possible. I am going to put the cat amongst
the pigeons now and will probably get into enormous trouble, but
here goes anyway…
On the Sunday Memorial Parade of Black Weekend, Officers wear
their medals on their suits, as do the past members. Currently,
serving Sergeants’ Mess Members don’t. Should we? Most of the
civilians watching probably think that we are the sons or
grandsons of old soldiers, merely escorting them, and probably
don’t realise that we are all operational combat troops. Most
Sgts’ Mess Members have now accrued a vast amount of combat
experience, with the medals to prove it. Should we be wearing
our medals with pride along with everyone else? I am happy to
hear peoples thoughts on the matter, and if there is a strong
feeling that the answer is ‘YES’, then I will write to the
Regimental Lieutenant Colonel to make the case. If people are
not bothered then we can continue normal jogging.
No.7 COMPANY HAVE MOVED!
Their new address is:
No.7 Company Coldstream Guards
Napier Barracks
RA Barracks
Woolwich
LONDON
SE18-4BB
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
No.3 Coy are based in a very poor area of Helmand, where peoples
lives have been ruined by war. Their housing and possessions are
basic to say the least. The Coy has done great work already
amongst the local community and due to the increased consent
amongst the locals, the Taliban have been kept at bay. By
assisting the locals, the boys of No.3 Coy assist themselves, as
their ‘neighbourhood’ becomes more stable and secure. The
biggest drama facing the locals at the moment is winter.
Although the days are generally sunny and warm, from early
evening, through the night, until about 0900 hrs in the morning,
the temperatures drop considerably; often well below freezing.
The local children dress in nothing much more than rags. If any
of you have any warm children’s clothing that you no longer
need, rather than giving it to Oxfam or such like, it can be
used for immediate effect in Helmand Province.
The locals have a very strict perception of decency, so short
skirts and tiny tops for girls are no use, but jumpers, vests,
trousers, socks, gloves, hats, coats, etc will be of life-saving
value to the locals who live close to Patrol Base KEENAN. You
can send them in parcels to:
LSgt Hutchings
NKET NCO
No.3 Coy Coldstream Guards
PB KEENAN
BFPO 792
Although anything you can spare will be much appreciated,
anything too ‘showy’ could potentially be a danger to the locals
as it will be quite obvious from a distance that it has not been
obtained locally.
More details on the
'Hearts & Minds' Appeal can be found by clicking here.
CHRISTMAS PARCELS
A big thank you to all those, including the Coldstream
Association, who have sent countless parcels out to the boys
here in theatre. All have been gratefully received. We all
appreciate the effort that people have made to support us and it
is great to know that there are people back in the UK doing
there bit.
IN SUMMARY
The pace here in Afghanistan at the moment is intense, with lots
going on for all of us, regardless of rank, role or location.
There are many challenges facing us at the moment but as I have
already seen, the men of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards are
more than up to those challenges. I must ask our loved ones at
home to continue to stay strong and support us publicly. Our
morale is high, but it will be even stronger if we know that the
British Public are behind us all the way. WE ARE WINNING AND WE
ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE BETTER – FACT. Don’t let anybody
else tell you any different.
While I remember – congratulations to WO2 Nige Hicks, our
Recruiting Warrant Officer, on selection for promotion to WO1.
Well done mate – well deserved. Also congratulations to Gdsm,
now LCpl Dixon of the LKG Platoon and LSgt, now Sgt Wall of the
Corps of Drums on their recent promotion.
Hopefully, next month, I will have even more details of next
years programme on our return from Helmand. Stay strong, work
hard.
ONE TEAM – ONE
FIGHT
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