Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Inside this issue:
Time has really flown and it is hard to believe that we have already reached the 2 month point in our tour. Work continues apace and the Regiment finds itself at the forefront of most of the ongoing operations. The preparation of the many bases for winter is occupying much of our time at present as we steel ourselves for the bad weather that starts in late November and goes all the way through to February. You will get a feel from the attached articles just what we have been up to - and to be honest, it will only get busier over the coming months. The boys and girls have done me proud and have built up a creaking reputation amongst the remainder of Task Force Helmand - long may it continue. We have also seen the first people going back to the UK and Germany on their Rest & Recuperation (R&R). Please be gentle with them - they really do need the rest! I hope you enjoy the Newsletter & continue to follow us on the Regiment's Facebook site. Please look after yourselves and it won't be long before we are on the way home! Best wishes,
Importance of Transi- 16 tion A month into Helmand Maintenance of Morale A day in life of SSgt Hill Work hard, play hard Glossary 17
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Colonel Jack
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Welcome
Welcome to the Bear Necessities, the monthly Newsletter from 21 Engineer Regiment and 42 Field Squadron (28 Engineer Regiment). While the Regiment is deployed the Newsletter will give you the news from all over Helmand province to tell you what your husband, wife, brother, sister, son or daughter is up to. It will be broken down by squadron so you will get an idea of what type of tasks each of the sub-units are up to. The Bear Necessities will be used in conjunction with other media sources such as Facebook and hopefully regional newspapers. The Bear Necessities will be published around the first of each month. If its late, bear with us as IT out here is unreliable. If there is anything in particular you think should be included in the newsletter let the Welfare Office know and we will see what we can do. There will also be a section called Ask the Sapper. If there are questions that you have about the tour, pass them to the Welfare Office and if we can answer them you will see the answers in the next edition. Make sure you like our Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/21engineerregiment
Christmas Post
To ensure that your post gets to your loved ones in time for Christmas, please be aware of the following dates for this coming festive season: 19 Nov 12 Latest date recommended for post from UK to reach CPs/PBs. 03 Dec 12 Latest date recommended for post from UK to reach MOBs and Camp Bastion. The maximum weight of parcels eligible for free postage is 2kg. All parcels and letters must be addressed to named service personnel. To ensure that your post gets to your friends/ family out in Afghanistan, please ensure you address it correctly with the service persons Army number, rank, name and sub unit details.
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Spr Mustart in action with Abacota remote control IED clearing piece of machinery
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ATTACHED ARMS Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Light Aid Detachment
Another week of fun and frolics - Cfn Yeomans
Another week down in Camp Bastion which has again been very productive for the LAD, was it a coincidence LCpl Millray spent the week on guard? I think not! We even managed to find time to paint the production office in REME colours to make Sgt Pirlo Francis happy. The week started with the LAD hosting a games night with teams from 7 HQ & Sp Sqn taking part. The games consisted of soldiers and officer from the Sqn completing various challenges, some of which included the surprise sandwich (filled with hot chilli sauce), drinking a bottle of cold coffee with a hint of salt, as well as a few physical challenges. The combination of these activities led to many Engineers feeling ill and served as just revenge for cheating us out of the quiz and football! The event was ably hosted by LCpl ISI Collier covering for Cpl Cancal Pat Redmond who got on the first flight to anywhere when he found out he had to speak in public. Cfn Handsome Gregson finally deployed forward this week on his third attempt after finding some confidence and overcoming his fear of helicopters. Also this week LCpl Why am I not a Cpl Millray got quite a sweat on after eating a plate of about 50 mildly hot meatballs, with thanks Capt Holdsworth to Cfn Irlam who added a full bottle of hot sauce to the meal. Cfn Dan The Fridge Yeomans decided to run a game of footy for PT Thursday morning between the juniors and seniors to decide bragging rights. From the start Sgt Pirlo Francis dominated proceedings with Capt Tom he scores when he likes Holdsworth bagging a fine brace. The match was to take a controversial turn when for a no apparent reason the scores level at 2-2 and JNCOs on their knees, the referee decided to score the winning goal.
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Joking aside, each man digs deep to work for his mates and his Troop. We are in fine morale and our spirits are high although we miss our loved ones. We take great pride in the job we are doing and our role is an important one. When we are deployed we are extremely busy on the ground with some long days already under our belts, however, in camp the facilities are good, the food is spot on and there is plenty to keep us entertained. Thanks for reading and sleep soundly knowing that DOG SQN are steering this ship and we never come off course.
The day of deployment was soon upon us. The journey to theatre was long, but the lads never lost focus. While awaiting our flight in Teesside airport Bastion was attacked. This really got the lads raring to go but there were 48 long hours of delay due to the damage to Bastions main airstrip (Little Heathrow). We got to spend a day in RAF Brize Nortons finest hotel, the Gateway, which had a great families day event happening on camp. Even Robbie Williams (or the best sound-a-like this side of Stoke) was singing! We finally landed in Bastion and progressed straight onto RSOI (Reception, Staging and Onward Integration) which adapted us to the true life of Afghanistan Page 8
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Unfortunately, as the task stores had been stored outside for the last few months, the pins needed to fit the actual barrier bar to the posts had gone walkies, so the Section Commander is currently on stand by to go and fit them as soon as they have been made in the Deployable Engineer Workshop in Bastion. Cpl Strickland All done and it was time to head back to PB Attal for a proper shower and some time to reset ready for the next tasking....
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Fiji Day reminds us what the country has been through and what it has achieved, making us proud of our country. We learn from the past, reflect on the present and plan for the future. Always striving to try and build a stronger and better Fiji. Happy Fiji Day.
Spr Lees
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The complexity of handing over check points combined with local politics meant that Cpl Scotts section stayed at the Check Point (CP) for eight days. But after an infantry led re -assurance shura and further negotiations the CP has now been passed over to the local AUP commander and will be an essential node in the AUPs domination of the ground. The HESCO has turned to concrete!
LCpl Caniogo
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Sgt Woodhall, SSgt Graham, Capt Sharrock and Lt Graham enjoying non Also the significance of mail, correspondence and the ability to communi-alcoholic Becksall the rage in Helcate with love ones at Patrol Base Two should not be underestimated with mand welfare telephones to the United Kingdom, slow but manageable internet and an excellent e-bluey-fax system. Combine these small luxuries with the new very competent Royal Marine chefs and the lads general standard of living is very good, directly contributing to their high spirits, strong morale and excellent work ethic. With well over five months left of Op Herrick 17 ensuring this morale and thus momentum is maintained will be very high on my agenda.
7 Sqns Camp
LCpl Haynes overseeing the HESCO build with Spr Chapmand and Spr Farndon Lt Eadie
4 Tp, Naiadullah
SSgt McKee
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Glossary
Ranks
CfnCraftsman Spr - Sapper LCpl - Lance Corporal Cpl - Corporal Sgt - Sergeant SSgt - Staff Sergeant WO2 - Warrant Officer Second Class WO1 - Warrant Officer First Class Lt - Lieutenant Capt - Captain Maj - Major Lt Col - Lieutenant Colonel
Formations
AES - Armoured Engineer Squadron Fd Engr Sqn - Field Engineer Squadron Hq & Sp Sqn - Headquarters and Support Squadron LADLight Aid Detachment REMERoyal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Sect - Section SqnSquadron Tp - Troop
Jobs
OCOfficer Commanding SSMSquadron Sergeant Major
Equipment
Apache - Attack helicopter Chinook - Troop carrying helicopter HUSKY - Large armoured vehicle MASTIFF - Large armoured vehicle with a with a heavy machine gun for protection Merlin - Medium Royal Air Force and Navy helicopter used to move Troops around from base to base MWT - Medium wheeled tractor SLDT(P) - Self Loading Dump Truck (Protected) Sea-king - Royal Navy helicopter used as search and rescue in the UK TALISMAN - A series of vehicles used to clear a route of improvised explosive devices
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