It was breakfast in barracks rather than in bed last week for some of the early risers among East Anglia’s Defence-engaged employers.
East Anglia RFCA hosted an early-morning event last week for about 80 local employers in the public, private and charity sectors. They met at the home of 16 Air Assault Brigade—Merville Barracks in Colchester, Essex—for a hearty start to the day in the Officers’ Mess.
The brigade’s Commanding Officer (CO), Brig Ed Cartwright CBE, spoke to all the guests, offering a frank assessment of the current Defence landscape and the state of world affairs. He went on to explain the circumstances and process around any potential call-up for the reservists employed by a number of the organisations represented at the event.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, also gave a speech thanking employers for attending before working hours had even begun. She further articulated the importance of their ongoing engagement with the armed forces community. She then presented Silver and Gold re-validations to several existing Defence Employer Recognition Award holders.
The Lord-Lieutenant praised the commitment they had shown to maintaining support for reservists, veterans, cadet force adult volunteers and their families at least five full years beyond the date they received their award.
Maldon District Council, another of the employers at the breakfast, took their first formal step on the road to greater engagement with Defence as representatives from the local authority signed the Armed Forces Covenant with Colchester Garrison’s CO, Lt Col Ed Rankin DL, also in attendance.
Having applauded the presentations and signings—and enjoyed their breakfast in barracks courtesy of the catering team at the Officers’ Mess—employers who could spare the time took a tour of Merville’s training facilities, watching paratroops practise parachute deployment and landing rolls.
Getting a better idea of how their reservist employees might train, the visitors also watched a demonstration of Merville’s digital laser range and warfare simulator. The “dismounted close combat trainer”, or DCCT, offers soldiers of 16 Air Assault the chance to train in realistic scenarios with genuine weapons adapted for laser target practice.
The employers had a chance to ask questions about the DCCT and handle the converted weapons with professional guidance. All in all it was a very well-attended event offering valuable insight into how modern reservists train and serve.
