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T H E J H C d e l i v e r i n g j o i n t s u cce s s o n o p e r a t i o n s

JHSS Celebrate

35 Years
with
Royal Visit

Ex NORTHERN
LANCER

Benson sporting
superstars
Exercise
Dogu
announced

Lessons Corner

Akdeniz

j o u r n a l o f the j o i n t he l i c o p te r c o m m a n d
 Contents

Contents Issue 1, 2018

Cover story
CHF participates in the
NATO amphibious
Exercise Dogu Akdeniz............. 28

SPORTS
Royal Marine wins Bronze
medal in the Field Target
World Championships................. 6

AWARDS
30
Team Benson wins Top Award.... 8
RAF Benson’s heroes nominated
in The Sun Military Awards......... 9 18
New Years Honours
and Awards 2018....................... 10

Capability Begins
PEOPLE
DComd visit to
Tactical Supply Wing..................11
Benson sporting

With Training…
superstars announced............... 12
JHSS celebrate
35 years with Royal visit............ 13
RAF Benson celebrates
26
award winning personnel.......... 14
Aviation Training International Limited (ATIL) is a 50:50 joint venture Comd visit to
between AgustaWestland Limited and The Boeing Company. Tactical Supply Wing................. 15

OPERATIONS
It was formed in 1998 as a special purpose vehicle to deliver
Ex Gryphus Trail....................17
the Attack Helicopter Training Service contract for the UK Army. 847 Naval Air Squadron return home
The contract was financed under a PFI arrangement. following participation in Caribbean
disaster relief operations.............. 18
ATIL holds a unique position as a training organisation in being able Puma Force delivers
to provide total synthetic training solutions in the areas of Aircrew, on Op RUMAN.......................... 20

Groundcrew and Maintenance training. A range of equipment is

AIR SAFETY
employed to represent the sophisticated systems that reside within an “What part do I play?”.............. 23
aircraft of the complexity of the Apache.
LESSONS CORNER
From weapons to avionics, each device allows students to familiarise An insight to the
themselves with some of the most advanced technology in the world. The Defence Organisational
Learning Strategy...................... 24
equipment is based on full size aircraft systems and provides a high degree
of fidelity offering the necessary tactile and visual cues, greatly reducing the CAPABILITY
need to use operational aircraft for training purposes. Constant investment RAF Benson’s Puma Force marks
by the MoD and ATIL in technology insertions has ensured that the training it’s 20,000 hours with Puma 2... 26
20
system remains one of the most up to date in the world.

Aviation Training International Limited Editorial Submission Date…

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Email: enquiries@atil.co.uk This publication is copyright Lance Publishing Limited and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without prior written permission of Lance Publishing Limited.
While every care has been taken during the preparation of this magazine, Lance Publishing Limited cannot be held responsible for accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence
arising from it. Views Expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Royal Air Force or the Ministr y of Defence. All images © Crown Copyright unless other wise stated.

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visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1 2018 3
Foreword Copyright: alphaspirit

Foreword
www.forcesrecruiting.com

MeettheTeam Leaving the armed forces?

Looking for training?
Editorial Need a Job?
Editor: Lt Col Al Bambridge
E: Allan.Bambridge507@mod.gov.uk
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Designer: Rowena Wilson
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A Happy New Year to you all. our people and capitalise on the full potential T: 01536 526 673
I hope those who were able of their ideas and ability. More to follow… –
enjoyed their festive break and The past 4 months has seen JHC support Publisher
return reinvigorated and ready over 200 HELTASKS, several VIP tasks and Lance Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor,
for what will be an exciting fly over 4000 troops. It’s vital we continue to Tailby House, Bath Road, Kettering,
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F
or those JHC personnel who were on
duty around the world, my sincere
thanks to you and your loved ones.
New Year is naturally a time to
look forward, however for 657 Sqn and
everyone associated with the Lynx, 2018
began with a proud moment of reflection. The
own training. As I write, elements from RAF E: mike@lancepublishing.co.uk
Odiham and the Commando Helicopter W: www.lancepublishing.co.uk Visit www.forcesrecruiting.com for a smoother transition whilst going through your resettlement!
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accomplishments and service of all associated
with the aircraft for over the last 40 years were
brilliantly brought to the nation’s attention by
the final commemorative flight, fittingly flown
by 657 Sqn. As people take up their new roles,
Finally, I cannot finish without mentioning T: 01733 390 564
the on-going NSCR. For many the process E: lanceprint@lanceprint.co.uk
is unsettling and I understand how easy it is W: www.lanceprint.co.uk
to become fixated on rumours; however, it –
has become clear in the past few days that Further Information

I am certain the 657 Sqn spirit, experience
and ethos will endure and be carried forward
into the next exciting chapters of the AAC.
2018 will be the year of Back to Basics
and the Battlecraft Syllabus, a year of RAF
Centenary celebrations, and of course the year
of Engineering. I also want this to be the year
of delegation and empowerment. I’m a firm
Online at www.easyresettlement.co.uk
the Defence element of the NSCR has been W: w ww.mod.uk/defenceinternet/
delayed and will report separately later in the aboutdefence/whatwedo/
year. Recent events and current operations
continue to demonstrate the enormous utility
airsafetyandaviation/jhc
for latest news, training and employment opportunities
of our helicopters and people to Defence,
as does the way we do our job today in
preparation for “tonight’s” fight. This must
be our focus and is without doubt the best R e c r u i t m e n t • Tr a i n i n g • E d u c a t i o n • Fr a n c h i s e s • N e w s R e c r u i t m e n t • Tr a i n i n g • E d u c a t i o n • Fr a n c h i s e s • N e w s R e s e t t l e m e n t • Tr a i n i n g • E d u c a t i o n • Fr a n c h i s e s • N e w s

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E a s y R e s e t t l e m e n t E a s y R e s e t t l e m e n t E a s y R e s e t t l e m e n t E a s y R e s e t t l e m e n t

freedom to make decisions they are best placed possible, both at home and when deployed
…is proudly …is proudly …is proudly …is proudly
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w E a RE a l S o o Nl iNE: w w w. E a s Y R E s E t t l E m E n t.c o m w E A RE A l S O O Nl iNE: w w w. E a S y R E S E t t l E m E n t.C o m w E A RE A l s O O Nl iNE: w w w. E A S y R E S E t t l E m E n t.c o m W E A R E A L S O O NL INE: W W W. E A S Y R E S E T T L E M E N T.C O M

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4 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
SPORTS
Royal Marine
wins Bronze Medal in
The Field Target
World Championships
M
arine John Costello
from Spennymoor,
County Durham,
currently serving
with the Commando Helicopter
Force, recently won the Bronze
Medal in the Field Target World
Championships, which took place
in Glanusk, Wales; it makes him
the third best air rifle shot in
the world. However, the story is
better than that, far, far better!
John previously won Gold in
the Field Target Junior World
Championship in Poland in 2006
and prior to enlisting he won the
Gold medal in the adult Field
Target World Championships
in Ebern, Germany in 2013.
For good measure he also
won the Silver medal in the
2009 adult Field Target World
Championships in South Africa!
The Field Target competitions
that John enters are for air
rifles. He shoots with a Steyer
LG1110 .177 calibre single shot
air rifle, which weighs about
12 pounds. Using a Sightron
6 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
LRIRMH 10x50x60 he is required
to shoot at targets that vary from
15mm to 40mm at distances
from 10 to 50 metres.
Having attended Tudhoe
Comprehensive School in
Spennymoor and Queen
Elizabeth Sixth Form College,
Darlington John began his
working career in sales marketing
before he and his brother set
up and ran their own sales
marketing company. Aged
23 John decided he wanted
challenges and a career that was
demanding. He enlisted into the
Royal Marines in 2014 and passed
out from the Commando Training
Centre at Lympstone, Devon in
2015. Joining 45 Commando he
had his first taste of excitement
as he was involved in ship’s
protection in the Mediterranean.
Having completed an Armourers
Course at Lyneham, John was
assigned to join the Commando
Helicopter Force (the Junglies)
at the Royal Naval Air Station
Yeovilton in Somerset. As an
Armourer in the Combat Service
Support Squadron, John had
only been in post for just about
two months when he entered
and won his bronze medal
in Wales, in the most heavily
entered World Championships
to date with over 300 entrants.
Not being satisfied
with everything that he is
undertaking, learning and
achieving John has now taken
up “Target Sprint”. What’s that
you say! Well, competitors run
3 x 400 metre laps without
a weapon, stop at after 100
metres at a firing point where
their weapon is waiting, a and has been devised to give the in November. But as a Royal
standing shoot at 5 x “knock sport of competition shooting Marine in CHF he also has a job
down” targets is followed by something less of a sedentary to do and he is also scheduled to
the second 100 metres run image as it can be held pretty head for Norway to attend Cold
(without weapon). Returning well anywhere, including in a Weather Survival Training! Such
once again to the firing point the city centre. There is a distinct dilemmas…wonder what his old
competitor repeats the shoot possibility that it could be a school friends are doing.
at another 5 x “knock down” Demonstration Sport in the 2020
targets before running (without Tokyo Olympics. John has just
rifle) the final 100 metres. Scores been selected to participate in
are based on times and targets the GB Target Sprint team, which
hit. Target Sprint is a new sport meets for the first time this year
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 7
awards
Team Benson receives
Top Award
The prestigious Stainforth Trophy has been
presented to RAF Benson by the Chief of the Air
Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, in a
special honours and awards ceremony today.
T
he Stainforth Trophy
is presented annually
to the Station deemed
to have contributed
the most to the delivery of air
power, while maintaining a high
level of community engagement,
honouring and protecting heritage,
charitable fundraising and sporting
activity. The hotly contested
Trophy sees Stations submit a
report detailing their activities
for the previous year through
the chain of command, where it
is subject to rigorous scrutiny.
During 2016, RAF Benson was
heavily committed to operations
and exercises across the world,
including the ongoing Puma
8 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ
deployment in Afghanistan.
Several squadrons also marked
significant anniversaries with
associated parades while numerous
personnel were commended for
their personal and professional
achievements. Community
engagement continued throughout
the year with many well-received
events and activities such as
the refurbishment of the war
memorial at Berinsfield, the Cadet
Muster where over 700 cadets
experienced helicopter flights,
Armed Forces Week where a
Chinook visited Wallingford
and the Puma Force delivering
Santa to the John Radcliffe
Children’s Hospital with gifts.
Speaking at RAF Benson,
Air Chief Marshal Hillier said,
“It is a real pleasure and
privilege for me to be here
to make sure we properly
recognise some fantastic
achievements. The Stainforth
Trophy is a combination of
the awards presented today
and the achievements of RAF
Benson as a whole, at home and
overseas. My congratulations
to the whole station.”
Group Captain Hamish
Cormack, Station Commander of
RAF Benson, said: “It is a genuine
honour to command RAF Benson
and I am truly delighted that the
quiet professionalism consistently
shown by the men and women
here has been recognised by this
award.  The Benson team can
feel justifiably proud of the part
they have played, and continue to
play, in our many achievements.”
Air Chief Marshal Hillier also
took the opportunity to present
medals and commendations
to personnel from across the
Station in recognition of their
individual achievements.
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
The Long Service and Good
Conduct medal, which is
awarded for 15 years’ service
with irreproachable character,
was presented to Wing
Commander Marty Lock,
Squadron Leaders Andrew
Bucknell, Tom Dobbing and Tom
Holgate and Corporal Jacqueline
Edwards. The Clasp to the Long
Service and Good Conduct
Medal, awarded for a further 10
years’ service, was presented to
Squadron Leader Stan Wilkinson
and Warrant Officer Stevie Joy.
The Air Officer Commanding
No 2 Group’s personal
commendation was
presented to:
•S
 quadron Leader James
Sweatman for his unerring
commitment to the
delivery of Puma training,
including numerous
operational deployments.
•F
 light Sergeant Tony
Knight in recognition of his
extraordinary commitment he
has demonstrated to charitable
work throughout 2016.
The Air Officer Commanding
No 22 Group’s personal
commendation was presented to:
• Flight Lieutenant Steven Mills for
his tireless efforts in supporting
the RAF Spitfire Rugby 7s.
• Sergeant Fiona Rotherham
for her outstanding support
to recruiting and training
over several years.
The Air Officer Commanding
No 38 Group’s personal
commendation was presented
to Cpl Natasha Broomfield for
her excellent administrative
support to the Chief of the
Air Staff’s Warrant officer and
Senior Leadership team.
The Deputy Commander
Operations personal
commendation was presented
to Squadron Leader Andrew
Green for his commitment
and perseverance throughout
Exercise EASTERN VORTEX
in Japan and Korea.
The Joint Commander’s
personal commendation
was presented to:
• Squadron Leader Tom Dobbing
for commitment and selflessness
toward his operational duties.
• Squadron Leader Sian English
for inspirational leadership of
her operational support team.
The Commander Joint
Helicopter Command’s personal
commendation was presented to:
• Corporal Stephen Arthur
for operating beyond his
rank during a period of
transformational change.
• Corporal Lewis Brownhill for
delivering excellence on the Puma
Force throughout the past year.
• Corporal Aaron Dellay for
his professionalism and
determination in all that he
does in his role with the Joint
Helicopter Support Squadron.
• The Puma Training Flight team,
comprising Squadron Leaders
Tom Holgate and James
Sweatman, Flight Lieutenants
Dave Green and Kevin Hare
and Master Aircrew Jon Stone,
for the development, delivery
and management of capability
and advanced flying techniques
on the Puma mk2 helicopter.
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
Twenty personal commendations
were also presented by the
Chief during the ceremony.
The Station Commander’s
Commendation was presented to:
•M
 rs Eiry Baggott for her
outstanding loyalty to the
Station as Accommodation
Manager, going above
and beyond to provide
an outstanding service
to Junior Ranks.
•M
 r Roger Bending for providing
the Station with the highest
level of service and selfless
support to the Station.
•F
 light Lieutenant Pete Smiley
for his selfless commitment
to the Co-Responder team
and their achievements in
providing lifesaving care to the
Station and local community.
•W
 arrant Officer Stevie Joy for
his professional excellence and
invaluable assistance to the Joint
Helicopter Support Squadron.
•F
 light Sergeant Crystal Potter for
continuing to provide a valuable
contribution to the Station.
•S
 ergeant Kevin Bell for
his loyalty and services
to the Fire Section.
•C
 orporal Michael Wilson for
his attitude to Airworthiness
and Air Safety through his
professional excellence.
•S
 AC Emma Gillies for her pivotal
development of a successful and
fully functioning modifications
store in the Logistics Squadron.
The United States Air Force
Meritorious Service Medal was
presented to Squadron Leader
Mark Whitty for exceptionally
meritorious service, dedication
to duty and professionalism.
The Royal Warrant, which
is presented to those who
achieve promotion to Warrant
Officer, was awarded to:
•W arrant Officer Stevie Joy
•M aster Aircrew Mark Hamer
•M aster Aircrew Jon Stone
•W arrant Officer Sherryl Walters
RAF Sports Colours were also
presented to Corporal Lewis
Brownhill for representing the
Royal Air Force at Football and
SAC Alex Cherry for representing
the Under 23 Royal Air Force
Rugby Union Team.
RAF Benson’s
Heroes nominated in
The Sun
Military Awards
Three personnel from
RAF Benson have been
nominated for the
prestigious Sun Military
Awards in the ‘Hero
at Home’ category.
A
fter returning from an
exercise in Norway,
Corporal Vicki Keats
and duty driver
Lance Corporal Lindsay Clarke
were travelling home to Benson
from Gatwick Airport when
they were flagged down to the
side of the road to the site of an
accident. Arriving at the scene,
they phoned for an ambulance
and quickly realised that the
driver was still unconscious in
the upturned vehicle. Despite
several onlookers unwilling to
help and the car quickly engulfing
in flames, Vicki and Lindsay
worked together to pull the man
from the vehicle to safety.
Cpl Vicki Keats said: ’I went
over to the car and saw that
the driver was still in there, so
I shouted to Lindsay and she
came over as well. The car was
smoking and was starting to have
an electrical fire. The vehicle was
partly on its roof and partly on its
side in the trees. The driver was
a young man in a carer’s uniform
who was completely unconscious.
We shouted to him but he wasn’t
responding. I’d like to think
that anyone would do what we
did, we were just lucky that we
were there on time to help.’
LCpl Lindsay Clarke said: ‘I
finally got the door open, jumped
over the top of the guy to get
underneath him and got his belt
off. I managed to get him on to
my shoulder and boost him up
towards the top of the car and
Vicki had got hold of his arm and
was pulling him up. I then had to
get around him and climb on top of
the car so we could work together
and pull him up out of the car.’
Lindsay believes that her
training in the Army had been
vital to the whole incident and
has been very humble about
being nominated. She said: ‘It
was my Army training kicking
in – getting that guy out of there.
I don’t think anything really
sunk in until that night when I
thought about what could have
gone wrong for us. When we
were told we were nominated
for a Millie I was gobsmacked.’
Vicki and Lindsay have also
since received a commendation
from the Station Commander
at RAF Benson, Group Captain
Hamish Cormack. Fearless in
their ability, the determination
to save a man’s life despite
the risk to their own shows
how heroic they really are.
Also attending will be
Flight Lieutenant Pete Smiley,
a team leader for the Military
Co-Responders and the South
Central Ambulance Service,
who have also been nominated
for the same award.
LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 9
 AWARDS PEOPLE

Visit to
Tactical Supply Wing
by Brigadier Mike Keating,
Deputy Commander Joint
Helicopter Command on 25 Oct 17

D
eputy Commander personnel, such as improved

New Years
JHC visited Tactical tool control methods for the

Awards
Supply Wing (TSW) at Joint Operational Fuel System

Honours &
MoD Stafford on 25
Oct 17 and received a number
of unit briefs and capability
demonstrations providing him
with a key insight into what TSW
is able to provide. The visit gave
equipment, which will enhance
flight safety. In order to provide
the Brigadier with a somewhat
different experience to his aircrew
background, the training section
was able to arrange for him to

2018
the Brigadier an opportunity to
meet a number of TSW personnel
of varying ranks and trades such
as Logistic suppliers, drivers
and engineers. Additionally, the
State, MSMs and Commendations Brigadier could see some of the
Award Rank Name Force initiatives being taken by TSW
carry out a live supervised rotors
turning refuel on a visiting Wildcat.
Cpl Dan Davidson of the training
section said that the Brigadier
performed the refuel task to an
exceptionally high standard and
was obviously a natural.

Member of the British Empire (MBE)

MBE Lt Col Gillies AHF
MBE Maj Carter WKF
Meritorious Service Medals (MSM)
MSM WO Fenner RAF Benson
MSM MACr Dunkerley RAF Odiham
MSM MACr Mann R & S Wing
MSM MACr Hunt RAF Benson
Comd JHC Commendations
Vice Chief of the Defence Staff Commendation (VCDS)
Rank Name Force
VCDS Wg Cdr McPhaden RAF Benson
SSgt Trott AACen
Chief of the General Staff Commendation (CGS)
Sgt Millard AACen
CGS Maj (Retd) Dennis Formally AHF
Mr Cruickshanks AACen
CGS WO1 Rae ARF
Capt Lindley AHF
CGS WO2 Neenan ARF
Capt Warhurst AHF
CGS LCpl Radford RAF Odiham Top
Mr Rappolt AHF Dep Comd
Deputy Commanders’ Commendation (DCOMs’) carries out
Lt (RN) Gayson CHF the hose in
DCOM’s Maj (USAF) Donaldson RAF Benson
CPO (RN) Hart CHF preparation
DCOM’s Sgt Jolly RAF Odiham for refuel
CSgt (RM) Jones CHF
DCOM’s Mrs Williams RAF Benson
Sgt (RM) Lodge CHF MIDDLE
Air Officer Commanding 2 Group Commendation (AOC 2 Gp) Photo 120036 –
Flt Lt Wilson RAF Odiham Wildcat ZZ404
AOC 2 Gp Flt Lt Bibby RAF Benson
Sgt Lee RAF Odiham approaches
AOC 2 Gp Sgt Pratt RAF Odiham the Alternate
Sgt Taylor RAF Odiham Helicopter
AOC 2 Gp A/SAC(T) Bates RAF Benson
Landing Site
Sgt Wilson RAF Odiham
AOC 2 Gp Mrs Fawdry RAF Benson
Comd JHC Team Commendations Bottom
AOC 2 Gp Mr Hyde RAF Odiham Tactical Aircraft
Team 7 Squadron Training Flight RAF Odiham Refueller (TAR)
AOC 2 Gp Mr Prendergast RAF Benson
Team Henderson Room Project Team RAF Odiham operator stood
AOC 2 Gp Team Force RAF Benson by to commence
Protection Team Quality Assurance & RAF Benson refuel
Training Flight Standards Team

10 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 11
people
Benson
Sporting Superstars
The winners of the coveted RAF Benson Sports
Personality of the Year Awards have been announced.
N
ominees were
honoured to be joined
by the Air Officer
Commanding No 2
Group, Air Vice-Marshal David
Cooper, as well as Paralympic table
tennis player Mr Dave Wetherill
and former RAF adventurous
training instructor and director
of High Low, Mr Ali Glendinning,
who all presented awards along
with the Station Commander.
The Sports Personality of
the Year award was presented
to Senior Aircraftman Gavin
Davies; who is Brazilian Jui
Jitsu champion on 3 continents
in his weight category and
has won an incredible 13 gold
medals over the past year.
The Most Valued Person
award was presented to
Sergeant Jason Roberts; who
has contributed significantly
to both Service and civilian
rugby as a performance analyst
12 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ
coach and was headhunted
by Henley Hawks to conduct
post-game analysis.
The Best Newcomer award was
presented to Senior Aircraftman
Olivia Duckworth; who has
made a massive impact in the
netball, rowing and swimming
teams at RAF Benson in such
a short space of time.
The Coach of the Year award was
presented to Flight Sergeant
Al Sharp; who has coached the
Clay Pigeon Shooting Team
to numerous successes.
Announced
The Long Service to Sport
award was presented to Senior
Aircraftman Lucy Roper;
who has spent 25 years at
the forefront of open water
swimming and has a staggering
18 world records to her name.
The Team of the Year award
was presented to the Football
Team; which completed the
treble, including winning
the London League, for the
first time in their history
this year despite numerous
operational deployments
for key team members.
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
JHSS celebrate
35 Years
© Senior Aircraftman Amy Lupton RAF
with Royal Visit
2017 marks the year of Joint Helicopter Support
Squadron’s 35 Year Anniversary and on 31 October,
the Squadron were honoured to welcome Her Royal
Highness Princess Anne who visited in her role as the
Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC).
H
er Royal Highness was
joined by the Corps
Colonel of the RLC,
Colonel Colin Francis,
and the Corps Adjutant, Major
Mark Pasalk, who were welcomed
by Officer Commanding JHSS,
Group Captain Hamish Major Tom Shaw and Station
Cormack, Station Commander Commander, Group Captain
RAF Benson, said: Hamish Cormack. Following
a Squadron photo and short
“Our sports awards are one overview of the Station, the
of the highlights of the year. It 90 minute visit incorporated a
is important that we formally walkthrough of 3 capability stands
recognise the achievements manned by Officers, Soldiers
of those who go above and and Airmen, as well as role
beyond to excel in their chosen demonstration. Ably supported
sport. Regardless of their role in by a Chinook and Puma, the
sport, the teamwork, discipline, demonstration displayed the basic
professionalism and tenacity soldiering skills needed in order to
required directly transfers to secure and prepare the Helicopter
their day jobs. All our award Landing Site for the rigging of a
winners should be rightly proud selection of underslung loads.
of their fantastic achievements.  Her Royal Highness seemed
Those who did not win but suitably impressed and ensured
were nominated should also the team were kept on their toes
take satisfaction from the fact by asking copious questions.
that someone recognised their She was particularly interested
dedication and commitment, in the support the team gave
and therefore took the time to helicopter operations in the
and effort to write them up for Caribbean during Operation
consideration. Selecting the RUMAN. During the visit,
winners was a tremendously squadron personnel and their
hard choice, and a genuine families were lucky enough to
pleasure not a chore.” spend some time with the
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
Princess, who was very interested
in meeting everyone involved.
HRH left by Royal Flight S76
to her next engagement at
Buckingham Palace with a smile
on her face and a bouquet of
flowers presented by MACr
Gareth Attridge’s 6 year old
twins, Harry and Sophie.
Officer Commanding JHSS,
Major Tom Shaw said: “The
visit went extremely well. Her
Royal Highness left with a firm
understanding of the support
that JHSS provides and the
different levels of readiness
that we operate at, not only
in the UK but worldwide.”
JHSS was initially formed in July
1982 for one purpose; to support
Mk 1 Chinook helicopters in
Falkland’s war to support Ground
Troops. They continue to support
the British Forces in the South
Atlantic Islands, with Helicopter
Handling Teams being front and
centre in the Falkland Islands.
On 1 July this year, past and
present members of the Squadron
reunited in celebration of the
anniversary. Staff Sergeant Rob
Punchard from the RLC flawlessly
people
executed the event which included
stands showing the capabilities
of the Squadron along with a Mk
6 Chinook and a Formula 1 race
car. The anniversary also included
talks from previous members of
JHSS, in particular a member of
the then Joint Helicopter Support
Unit and his experiences whilst
deployed to the Falklands War.
Over the 35 years the Squadron
has been established it has
supported the UK Armed Forces
across the globe and as such
has been integral to operations
and exercises alike. JHSS have
continued to have a busy time since
their move to RAF Benson. The
Squadron has supported exercises
and operations across the UK,
Norway, Germany, Afghanistan,
Canada and the USA, not to
mention support to the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office in
Pakistan and Op RUMAN.
LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 13
people people

Visit to Tactical
Supply Wing
by Rear Admiral J Pentreath OBE,
Commander Joint Helicopter
Command on 15 Nov 17
Commander JHC visited Tactical conduct a formal Awards and
RAF Benson celebrates dedication to the welfare and Supply Wing at MoD Stafford on Medal Ceremony. After the

Award Winning
support of station personnel and
the Air Cadet organisation.  Rob
consistently thinks of what he can
do to make a difference to others
and his immeasurable impact
the 15 Nov 17 and in a short but
busy visit he received a number
of Unit briefs and capability
demonstrations. He was also
afforded the opportunity to be
presentation of 3 Long Service
and Good Conduct Medals
and 2 JHC Commendations,
lunch was taken in the Mess
and the Admiral took the

Outstanding members of
Team Benson have been
formally recognised in our
annual awards dinner.
Personnel
The Loyalty Award is awarded
to the individual who has best
demonstrated commitment, self-
sacrifice, example and courage to
work in or support military life and
who have demonstrated innate
ingenuity and resourcefulness
in the finest traditions of the
British Military. This year it was
presented to Corporals Alex
improvement and who has striven
for excellence. This year the award
was presented to Mrs Debbie
Wise, the SSAFA Caseworker
that is an integral member of the
to Corporal Lee Simpson, the
deputy manager of the Warrant
Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess
who displayed exceptional
leadership and operated with a
on the morale and reputation of driven in an Oshkosh Tactical time to speak to the families
RAF Benson is a shining example Aircraft Refueller before moving of the award recipients
of the very best of the Station. on to the WOs’ & Sgts’ Mess to and invited guests.
In a change from the usual
events of the evening, the
Station Commander, Group
Captain Hamish Cormack, also
acknowledged another of the
nominees as the category was so
hard fought.  Flight Sergeant Rob

T
he event was named the
Benson 78 in honour
of the number of years
the Station has been
open and is one of the many
ways in which personnel from
across the station are rewarded
for their hard work throughout
the year. The evening is
attended by nominees from the
whole team, including military
personnel, Civil Servants and
contractors who support the
station.  Each are competing
for 5 categories of awards, the
winners of which are chosen
by the Station Executives.
output. This year the award was
presented to Mrs Janine Ansty-
Bridges who has worked tirelessly
in Accounts Flight for many years
through numerous challenges. Her
loyalty to the Station meant that
Janine willingly and voluntarily took
on many additional duties during
a period of significant manning
reductions, completing her own
job and that of up to 3 other
people to the highest of standards
to ensure the flight continued to
deliver an outstanding service.
The Resourcefulness and
Innovation Award is presented
to the individual or individuals
Clements and Gavin Colbourne.  Station’s welfare and community
Alex and Gavin completed
outstanding work in delivering
a unique and challenging road
safety project that is already
having a great impact.  The fully
immersive driving simulator
provides safe exposure to driving
distractions. They brought
together bespoke modules from
a range of pioneering companies
into one high developed,
effective and mobile package.
The Professional Excellence
Award is awarded to the individual
that has demonstrated an
outstanding desire for continuous
committees. She has been
invaluable in supporting personnel
and their families through the
complex issues that can often
arise, both in everyday life and in
dealing with the unique challenges
of the military environment.  as he retires from the Service
The Teamwork Award is
awarded to the individual
who has best demonstrated
teamwork through building
and maintaining good working
relationships with every member
of our Services, Civil Servants
and contractors to deliver Air
Power. The award was presented
quiet professionalism during a
period of significant change for
his team.  An extremely modest
individual, Lee demonstrated
his ability to motivate and
encourage all who worked for
him and will be greatly missed
in just a short period of time.
The Spirit of Benson Award
was donated to the Station by a
former Station Commander and
is awarded to an individual who
has achieved both personal and
professional excellence.  This year it
was presented to Flight Lieutenant
Rob Causer for his selfless
Calverley narrowly missed out on
the Spirit of Benson Award but
it was such a close competition
that his utter professionalism
and personal fortitude were
given special mention. Rob’s
skill, positive attitude and
ability to motivate his shift have
been exceptional, especially
considering he has been battling
against anti-social shift patterns
and constant deployments,
including a rapid deployment
to the Caribbean in support
of Operation RUMAN shortly
after returning from Operation
TORAL in Afghanistan.

14 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 15
 OPERATIONS
Top
The view out from
the Lazy Lizard Bar
on Caye Caulker,
perfect to enjoy
another sunny day

Gryphus
EX MIDDLE
Lynx coming in
to land for a Hot
Refuel from the
Tactical Bowser

Bottom

Trail
TSW refuelling
area on the British
Army Training
Support Unit
Belize Helicopter
Landing Site
Written By: SAC Kerry House

Tactical Supply Wing
(TSW) recently deployed
a small team to Belize
consisting of 1 JNCO
Supplier, 1 JNCO
Engineer and 2 MT
Drivers equipped with
2 Tactical Bowsers.
suited the veteran tactical fuel
bowsers with their smaller size.
Due to the FRP tasks, all
the TSW personnel undertook
a Jungle SERE package to
ensure everyone knew the
risks and problems associated
with operating in such an
environment. The package
to be the part where you get
to eat all the harvested food
and all the cooked meats of the
animals found in the jungle.
Throughout the deployment
personnel took opportunities
during down time to get out
and explore the former British
territory. Trips to ancient Maya

T
hey were tasked to
support 3 Army Lynx
helicopters who were
conducting jungle
training and provide casualty
evacuation cover for troops
exercising in the vast jungle
training areas. Once the guys
eventually made it there they
spent 8 weeks in Belize, during
this time they conducted in
excess of 200 refuels and issued
over 90,000Ltrs of fuel to the 3
aircraft. Additionally, the team
had to occasionally deploy away
from the Helicopter Landing Site
(HLS) at British Army Training
Support Unit Belize (BATSUB)
and provide a Forward Refuelling
Point (FRP) in the less dense areas
of the jungle, a task that perfectly
consisted of basic jungle
awareness, survival shelters,
locating and cooking food
sources. The course is made up
of 2 parts; a Unit SERE Instructor
delivers a PowerPoint brief
prior to deployment into the
trees, and once there, Locally
Employed Civilian trackers deliver
all the practical demonstrations
and training. The TSW guys
undertook the course with the
ground troops which meant a
30 minute helicopter journey
to the camp location as there
is no land route available to
vehicles. Due to the terrain, the
short 200m walk from the jungle
HLS to the troop’s camp would
take 20 minutes. The highlight
of the course was always going
ruins of Lamanai in the North
of the country were frequently
planned, interestingly, the
journey there involved passing
through an Amish village.
Others organised scuba diving
or snorkelling in the Caribbean
Sea so they could see the giant
sink hole called the Great Blue
Hole, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. Personnel also booked
overnight stays to sample some
of the culture (local nightlife), in
the tourist hotspots of Belize like
Caye Caulker & San Pedro. Both
places very popular with North
Americans and back packers, one
back packer even suggested San
Pedro is the Americans version
of Brits going to Benidorm. One
of the lesser visited places was
the Central Belize Prison Gift
Shop where a few bought hand
carvings made by the prisoners.
The weather for the duration of
the exercise was ideal to provide
you with the usual uniform tan
lines, so towards the end of the
time in Belize, guys would make
their way down to Old Belize
Waterpark and spend some
time to even out the not so all
over sunburn whilst enjoying a
well-earned beer or two.

BOTTOM LEFT
Temple of the
Masonry Altars
at Altun Ha
Ruins, one of
the many Mayan
temples spread
out across Belize

BOTTOM RIGHT
Hammock
setup ready
for night deep
in the Jungle
Training Area

16 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 17
OPERATIONS
847 Naval Air Squadron return
home following participation in
Caribbean Disaster
Relief Operations
Photos By: Petty
Officer Si Ethell RN
I
n August three Wildcat
helicopters from 847 Naval
Air Squadron (NAS) from the
Commando Helicopter Force
based at Yeovilton deployed on
HMS OCEAN to participate in the
Standing NATO Maritime Group
No 2’s multinational maritime
and amphibious exercises off
the coasts of France, Crete and
Turkey. During the transit to
the eastern Mediterranean a
number of Caribbean islands
were hit by a series of devastating
hurricanes, and the ship was
18 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ
diverted to the disaster area
to assist with vital relief work.
Once in the Caribbean the
847 NAS Wildcat helicopters
were particularly effective
in operating and working in
constricted and difficult places.
The manoeuvrable Wildcats
from 847 NAS undertook
numerous day-in and day-out
operations getting urgent
supplies to cut-off islanders
and proved to be an essential
part of relief operations.
Following their relief efforts,
the Squadron returned to the
Mediterranean on HMS OCEAN
and resumed its involvement in
the pre-planned NATO maritime
exercises. Having been away
since August, those three
Wildcat helicopters (ZZ394,
ZZ395 and ZZ527) and their
crews today returned home to
re-join partners and families.
Among the returning crews was
Lieutenant Colonel David Sutton
RM, Commanding Officer 847
NAS. He was accompanied by
five other Squadron members
who had been with him from the
outset: Major O’Sullivan RM,
Lieutenant Commander Plunkett
RN, Lieutenant Burnett RN, The photographs say it all…
Colour Sergeant Gratton RM well done and welcome home.
and Sergeant Leadbeater RM.
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 19
operations
Puma Force delivers on
Op RUMAN
The first Readiness State 2 (R2) contingency
operations deployment for Puma 2 saw the Puma
Force, represented by 33 Squadron A Flight, carrying
out tasking in the wake of hurricane Irma just four
days after being given the green light to deploy.
T
he aircraft, crews,
engineers and support
functions went on to
complete almost 200
flying hours of demanding
tasking across 19 operating
days in locations spanning
hundreds of miles despite
tough conditions and the
onslaught of another hurricane!
20 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ
7 September began as
any other day on the Force
however this soon changed as
direction was given to prepare
for an R2 deployment to an
as yet unconfirmed part of
the Caribbean. Preparations
began immediately and initial
instructions were for personnel
to be packed and ready to go,
possibly as early as late morning and essential Joint Helicopter
the next day. The support from Force (JHF3) personnel and
sections all around the station support functions. A third
was outstanding with everyone aircraft would be ready just days
involved dropping what they later; an incredible achievement
were doing – along with normal from the engineering team. FS
working hours – to get the Rob Calverley, not long back
detachment prepped to leave. from running the Op TORAL
The Puma Force holds a engineering detachment,
permanent R2 commitment took the role of DEngO for
to Defence. This is a 5 day the det of over 20 Engineers
notice to move requirement and took the advance party
however in 18 hours there were out with the first Puma to get
2 Pumas with 100 flying hours the aircraft rebuilt and ready
available on each cab at Brize to fly in whatever situation
Norton, along with Engineers they might find themselves.
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
Back at Benson the DetCo,
Sqn Ldr Tom Holgate, had
gathered his four crews for the
Op. These were largely made
up of 33 Squadron, A Flight
aircrew who were holding the
R2 commitment following their
return from TORAL two months
previously. Despite traditionally
being known as ‘Arctic’ flight,
Flt Lt Steven Mills, the 2ic was
confident they would be at
home in the warm seas, sandy
beaches and tropical climate of
the Caribbean and the flight even
welcomed a lone tiger in to the
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
detachment in the form of Flt Lt
‘Gus’ Spiers of 230 ‘B’ Flight.
The advance party arrived
at the US Virgin Islands, the
operating base for the Puma
detachment to provide support
to the British Virgin Islands (BVI),
with the engineers working all
hours in austere conditions with
little to none of the equipment
they would normally have at
a well found base and only
a borrowed hangar floor to
sleep on when they could.
Meanwhile the main body of
crews, engineers and support
personnel were held at Benson
on readiness notice to move
until space became available on
the Air Transport. Planning for
various locations, scenarios and
possible tasks was carried out
during the wait. The call forward
came on Saturday 9 September
and the eagerness to get going
was only slightly dampened by
finding out we would be leaving
at 3am on Sunday morning to
go via South Cerney. About 16
hours after leaving Benson, our
Voyager aircraft touched down
at the airport in Barbados and
then it was on to a C17 to take
us to the operating airfield on
St Croix, US Virgin Islands.
The first crews to fly out to
the BVI came back describing
islands that had been completely
devastated. Where St Croix was
lush, green and the vast majority
of buildings were untouched, the
BVI were brown and stark, hardly
a leaf on a tree or anything
green surviving and man-made
structures were destroyed
with debris littering the whole
area. Clearly the people living
on the islands were in a lot of
need; they were without power
and clean water and, prior to
the marines arriving, there had
been looting and the situation
could have quickly destabilized.
Tasking was challenging. In flying
terms, there was nothing that
crews don’t routinely train for,
operating in and out of confined
areas, mountainous terrain and
changeable weather. However
the combination could be tricky
and finding suitable landing sites
on an island where anything
loose had been ripped away
and strewn about the place
was challenging. The last thing
we wanted to do was make
the situation worse or injure
someone. Sqn Ldr Holgate took
the reins on the first sorties
and the crews identified some
safe landing sites, including a
hospital landing site near and
around the main city of Road
Town on the largest of the
islands, Tortola. Comms were
poor all round and it was often a
frustration to try and effectively
task initially – at times the crews
would be handed a tourist map
with a finger pointing or an X
marked on it which marked the
location of a supply drop. On
arrival at the (very approximate)
location it would be a challenge
to find a suitable place to land
on an island where the hills slope
down in to the sea – beaches
often became a go to option!
At St Croix, no sooner
had Rob Calverley got the
Engineering line well set up and
running as best he could in a
borrowed and shared hangar,
than the det was told to move
out to make space for more US
Blackhawks coming in for their
relief effort. An abandoned
hangar at the opposite end of
the airfield was found and the
Eng team decamped to here,
setting up tents outside and
once again making the best of
the situation. Not much more
than a day after this however,
the island was hit by torrential
rain. Those in tents on both
ends of the airfield found
themselves flooded out and
there was a period of an hour
or so where everyone shuttled
back and forth in truly monsoon
like conditions, rescuing what
kit and equipment they could.
Undeterred however, some
made the best of the conditions
by getting an outdoor shower
while the going was good.
The flying task continued
despite the setbacks and
everyone was keen to do as
much as possible. 40 Commando
began to increase the amount
of tasking as they realised what
the aircraft could offer and
the ops team and crews would
actively pursue tasks via the
BVI Main Airfield at Beef Island
and through engaging with
FCO and DFID teams wherever
possible. Typical tasks at this
point were troop movements
for 40 Commando and moving
supplies to sustain them, moving
support equipment, moving aid
and shelters around the islands
for the marines to distribute
and moving government
personnel on recces. With fuel
available at Beef Island airport,
the aircraft could transit to the
BVI in the morning and task
CONTINUED >>>
LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 21
 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23
Heading
OPERATIONS AIR SAFETY

there all day before heading
back to St Croix once the
day was over. It also meant
we could position a Medical
Emergency Response Team at
the APOD and provide cover
for the marines and islanders
if required. This capability was
put in to practice with a patient
transfer between the hospital
and the airport on Tortola in
the early days of tasking.
No sooner had tasking got
in to full swing when the news
broke that hurricane Maria was
headed our way. After some
deliberation, Permanent Joint
HQ confirmed that the aircraft
should be moved away from the
storm track in case of damage
if they were left hangered at St
Croix. Three brave crews and
nine engineers were chosen to
evacuate the aircraft and run
away. Maj Jeff Donaldson USAF
was voluntold to stay as the only
person with experience of winds
above 30kts since he wasn’t born
in the UK. Sgt Caven also stayed
behind although he did actually
volunteer! The remainder of the
engineers and JHF3 remained
at St Croix and prepared as best
they could to ride it out. However,
Maria strengthened as she arrived
in the Caribbean and an nth hour
evacuation was carried out.
As soon as Maria had passed the
three aircraft were flown back from
their place of shelter in St Vincent’s,
to St Croix. The island had been
badly hit by this hurricane and
the airport had not escaped. The
hangar that the aircraft had been
in was damaged and the main door
had blown in on to the vehicles
inside – where the helicopters
would have been had they stayed!
After all the hard work making the
best of the situation on the airfield
and the limited infrastructure, the
det was worse off than back to
square one. There was no power
or water on the airfield now, which
made living conditions difficult
even for the minimal numbers
that had returned at this point.
We were in the unusual position
of operating out of a base that
was, in some ways, temporarily
worse off than the place we
were flying forward to help!
Nevertheless tasking picked up
again with plenty of supply moves,
including carrying over 1.5 tonnes
in an underslung load – a first for
Puma 2 operationally since the
limit on the hook had previously
been just a tonne. Some more out
of the ordinary tasking came up
including providing overwatch for
prisoner transfers on the island
after a break out; a night medevac
in poor weather from one of the
outlying islands; giving a recce of
the affected areas for Commander
Joint Operations on his visit and
landing on the helipad at Sir
Richard Branson’s private island.
The flexibility of the Puma
was again demonstrated in a
rapid deployment to base out
of Guadeloupe, assisting in
evacuating entitled personnel
The fourth world of Air Safety contributes more than most people
out of Dominica until HMS Service personnel rely on Catering would imagine to a safe and efficient aviation environment. Pilots
Ocean could arrive. Services when they are on and fly, Aviation Engineers fix and maintain aircraft, Air Traffic control
A few more days of tasking off duty. Often working unsocial the sky. But the fourth world keeps all worlds fit and ready to deliver.
back in the BVI saw tasking shift patterns or on call.
beginning to wrap up. Roads • I know how important it is to keep
were clear, and the airport was the workers well fed and watered.
reopening along with ferry • Good quality food is essential Service personnel live
services between the islands for keeping people alert and work on station.
beginning to run again. The and working safely. • The decisions I make has a huge
emphasis began to move towards • I know that rigid meal times I do the Catering effect on the moral component.
handing back control to local are not always possible and provide... • I influence the operational
government and focusing on for every worker. • Rations capability of the Armed Forces.
redeploying the considerable • Pack meals • Poor morale erodes Air Safety.
amount of manpower and • Out of hours service • Big issues like infra cannot be
equipment back to the UK. solved overnight (sometimes it
The Op had been an incredible I’m a Contractor can!), but I can show that there is
experience to be a part of, albeit • I am aware that my work can have an a light at the end of the tunnel.
with mixed emotions due to impact on Air Safety; Noise affects crew
the suffering of those hit by the rest, FOD, Dust, rubbish and cleaning
hurricanes contrasting with the • I know aviation needs staff to work
rewarding nature of the tasking unsocial hours and on call out.
to help them out. It had also been • I need to be flexible too and
a great success for Puma 2, both not to disturb rest periods.
in the speed at which the aircraft, • I need to be proactive and act I am a Civil Servant
personnel and equipment was quickly on Air Safety issues. • I Understand Unit Requirements
deployed but also in the flexibility • I need to be Air Aware as • I provide Policy
of the contribution that was
made to the Operation.
Contractors carry out
part of my induction.
Air Safety • I make financial decisions
• I have to prioritise on services
such as heating etc.
essential works on Station.
“What part do I play?” • I also have to make savings.
• I contribute to Air Safety.
• I make the Station a safe
and comfortable place
to live and work.
• The correct environmental
conditions make for I am an Engineer and
happy workers who can Vehicle Mechanic
concentrate better. • I manage plant and vehicles to I work in the Stores
ensure maximum availability. • Timely kit provision.
• I need oversight of • Correct kit and clothing
unit commitments for the environment.
• I maintain machinery critical • Equipment exchange
to the flying programme. • Sizes.
• Availability/opening times.

The 4 worlds of
Defence Aviation
1. Aircrew.
2. Engineers.
3. Air traffic management
personnel.
4. Other support elements
such as; movements staff,
Bowser Drivers, Ground Crew,
Clerks, Supply Specialists,
Contractors, and anyone else
whose work bring them into
contact with aviation activities.
Manual of Air Safety.
Military Aviation Authority.
If I don’t do my job, people
don’t get the vehicles, fuel and
tug they need to do theirs.
• This causes them stress
and failure to follow
procedures (shortcuts).
• They might make do without.
• Stress leads to mistakes.
• Mistakes cost lives.
I am an HR Administrator
• Pay
• Allowances
• Leave I can help by making my
• Individual Annual Report services available for those
Admin – career progression working on shifts.
•P  PE is a legal requirement
and keeps people safe,
warm and dry.
• I can make a real difference
If I don’t do my job, people to Air Safety.
think more about the things
that affect them and their
families rather than thinking
about their safety critical jobs.
• I might not be able to solve all their
problems but at least I can do my
best and put their minds at rest.

22 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 23
lessons corner

Further DOLS aims to be at Full Operating Capability (FOC) in January

Information 2020. This roadmap expands on how FOC will be reached.

Further information will

appear in future columns.
If you would like to be
signposted to further detail
The DOLS Road Map
now, please contact Mrs Linda
Mundy, JHC Lessons SO3. Behaviours 1 2
Objective A End-state
A learning culture where Defence Is a learning
leaders routinely act organisation where knowledge
as role-models and and experience are readily
Command
enable critical applied accessible. and where

People
and Leadership 3 4 5 6
learning, ensuring their learning. and passing on
people do the same. learning. become routine.

Training

VCDS direction
and Education 7 8
Objective B Main effort
Structures and processes Ensuring that leaders
capture, analyse. exploit throughout Defence engage
and apply knowledge to with and drive cultural and
Analysis all Defence activities. behavioural changes that
9 10
and Exploitation enable organisational learning,

Processes
supported by appropriate

Lessons
As far as HQ JHC are concerned necessary, observations outside the training and education.
we are increasingly seeking responsibility/ability for HQ JHC to OBJECTIVE C
engagement with and from all resolve/take forward will be passed Working Practices 11 12 Employing tools

Corner
force elements. Together we
are developing (and constantly
reviewing) a process of lessons
capture and exploitation that is:
to the appropriate area of Defence). that our people can
This system creates a culture of access as part of
ownership and responsibility at their routine working
the most appropriate level. practice, to locate and Centre of gravity
Knowledge and Learning incentives

Welcome to Lessons
Corner, this edition we
provide you with an
insight to the Defence
Organisational Learning
Strategy, something
we feel that JHC is well
ahead of the majority
of the rest of Defence.
value on learning across its full
range of activities. It often fails to
learn the lessons of the past; and
when it does learn, it does not
pass that learning on effectively.
Consequently, opportunities for
improvement are often missed,
inefficient practices allowed to
endure and mistakes repeated”.
TIMELY
An individual or individuals are
appointed to collect ‘observations’
– good and bad – as they occur,
throughout all exercises and
operations. The development
of the related post-event report
will begin immediately after the
event, whilst memory is fresh
and a deadline for submission
to HQ JHC will be agreed.
ACHIEVABLE
The process is intentionally
simple. The aim is clear – doing it
‘better’ next time and informing
similar exercises / operations.
REFLECTIVE
All reporting must be open and
honest so that improvement/
change can be achieved. All
reports are produced to a standard
Tools
Information 13 14 exploit knowledge
Management and expertise.
IOC Dec 15: TLBs will have organisational FOC Jan 20: Defence’s knowledge and information Risks
leaming improvement strategies in place; management infrastructure will adequately enable • Command Engagement
strategic risks and mitigations will have organisational learning; Defence routinely learns from • Superficial interventions
been identified: Defence and joint training experience and the experience of others; seeks out • Balance of investment
and education Interventions will be in what has been learnt sharing and critiquing it before • Lessons ‘inertia’
development; and DOLS will be a standing during and after activities; and values knowledge, knows • Marketing
agenda item in VCDS’ Stock Take. when and how to find it, knows how to use it share • Governance
it, collaborate in developing it and challenges it. • O rganisational Incompatibility

T
he Lessons team in HQ Whilst readily understood, format and cover mandated areas.
JHC work hard with all introducing an effective change CONSIDERED Both successes and failures offer
JHC Force Elements to learning culture pan-Defence All reports should be reviewed by equal opportunity for learning. Milestones
to make the Lessons has taken time to plan. Defence their respective force/force element
Exploitation process (reviewing has been developing (JFC lead) command/HQ. Additionally, MONITORED 1: Before engaging 2: An 3: Leaders 4: The chain 5: Individuals and 6: Individuals and 7: Individuals and
detail from both operations the Defence Organisational every observation should be All actions are monitored until the in a new activity organisations explicitly accept of command organisations organisations organisations
and training) as relevant and Learning Strategy (DOLS); internally examined to judge required change is introduced. individuals and willing to be that they, and their directs a culture are incentivised across Defence understand the
organisations innovative and organisations, of transparency, to learn. are held to benefits and
effective as possible. driving the required change whether it can be locally resolved. Only then can we be satisfied that
critically examine challenge the always have reflection and account for opportunities
One of life’s truisms is that to thought and action which If local resolution is not possible, a lesson has been applied (we knowledge sources. status quo. more to learn. introspection. learning. for learning.
we are all learning from the is now starting to reach into observations should be passed prefer to think about a lesson being
moment we are born. Common all Defence activities. up to HQ JHC for review (where applied rather than just learnt).

“
sense dictates that we are much 8: ’knowledge 9: Mainstream 10: Knowledge 11: Learning 12: Before, 13: A common 14: Mainstream
more likely to succeed in a task REMEMBERED Champions’ processes Exploration and processes are during and reliable staffs are able
if before we do it we think and Prior to any exercise/operation we are embedded routinely utilise Exploitation Centres employed after an activity, knowledge and to easily exploit
in support of analysis to inform of Excellence that enhance knowledge is information knowledge in
check how it went last time. will look at all past reports related
As a result of the Iraq Inquiry
An investment in knowledge to or involving similar activities.
Defence outputs. evidence-based support mainstream mainstream captured, exploited management order to inform

”
(the Chilcot Report) it was always pays the best interest. This enables an effective ‘circle
decisions. outputs. outputs. and shared. infrastructure. routine outputs.

recognised and reported that of learning’, without which all the

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Defence “does not place sufficient above activity is diminished.

24 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 25
capability
RAF Benson’s Puma Force
marks its
20,000 hours
with Puma 2
October 2017 saw the
Puma Force celebrating
a significant milestone
as they reached an
astounding 20,000
hours of in-service
flying with the Puma
Mk2 helicopter.
T
he extensively upgraded
helicopter declared Initial
Operating Capability in
February 2015 and just
over three weeks later deployed
to Afghanistan in support of
Operation TORAL. RAF Benson
based crews from 33 and 230
26 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ
Sqn have flown more than 25%
of the Puma Mk2’s total hours in
support of the ongoing NATO
training and support mission.
The impressive flying rate
continues back at home as well,
with the Operational Conversion
Unit on 28 Sqn, the Rotary Wing
Test and Evaluation Squadron
at Boscombe Down, and the
Trials and Standards Evaluation
units at Benson all supporting
Puma Mk2 frontline operations.
Declaring Full Operating
Capability in early January 2016,
the Puma Force has maintained
a continual readiness for
people
contingency operations and a Group Captain Hamish
national standby commitment Cormack, the Puma Force
alongside the ongoing Afghanistan Commander and RAF Benson
deployment, emphasising their Station Commander, states: “The
key contribution to Defence. milestone of 20,000 flying hours on
More recently, the Puma the Puma Mark 2 helicopter includes
Force deployed on it’s first many hours flown on operations
contingency operation in the in Afghanistan, where 3 Pumas
Caribbean after the devastation remain today providing vital support
of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, to the NATO mission, and most
where 3 Puma Mk2s were recently in the Caribbean providing
deployed within 20 hours of relief following the devastating
being called upon. Operation hurricanes. This achievement is
RUMAN has provided stability a testament to the outstanding
to the areas worst hit, delivering teamwork and dedication of RAF
life-changing humanitarian Benson personnel, the Delivery
aid to those in need. Team and industry.”
Further
Information
The Puma Mk2, Defence’s
only medium sized lift
helicopter, has proven its
value on operations and
exercises both at home and
in overseas theatres.  The
Force’s achievements during
20,000 hours in-service flying
illustrate how vital this aircraft
is in supporting the UK national
interest anywhere in the
world at very short notice.
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
661 Squadron
1 Regiment Army Air Corps
Ex
NORTHERN
LANCER
Written By: Capt Robert Hares AAC
661 Sqn, 1 Regiment
AAC were due to deploy
on Exercise NORTHERN
LANCER 11 Sep 17.
L
ANCER was a Royal Lancers
(RL) led Exercise organised
as a replacement for the
cancelled Ex PRAIRIE
STORM 3 (PS3, BATUS). 661 Sqn,
having been cut from PS3, were
deploying to provide both enemy
and friendly support to the RL
whilst meeting their own training
objectives. The exercise was to
be conducted over a large area
of operation ranging from RAF
Leeming in the South East, to just
shy of Glasgow in the North West.
36 hours prior to deployment
the squadron was put on 24
hrs Notice To Move (NTM) to
deploy on Op RUMAN to provide
disaster relief to the Caribbean.
This meant a significant amount
of reorganisation was needed to
re-plan from a squadron group
of around 90 to the North of
England, to a 33 man detachment
to the British Virgin Islands.
A 24 hour NTM would have
been impossible to hold from
Leeming, so the squadron delayed
LANCER until the following
week, when it was stepped
down to a 48hr notice period.
On 18 Sep, one week after
being put on standby for RUMAN,
three crews were also put on
standby for a UK tasking as part
of Op TEMPERER. Planning took
place over the weekend, meaning
that, by the Monday we were
ready to deploy on LANCER,
Op RUMAN or Op TEMPERER.
On Monday our NTM for
RUMAN had relaxed to 48 hours,
which could feasibly be held from
RAF Leeming. While one crew
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
spent Monday tasking under
Op TEMPERER the remainder
prepared for LANCER. The
squadron finally deployed Tuesday
21 Sep as a road move and three
air packets, taking various routes
north. One formation bounced
straight through Leeming
on task to the RL, providing
ISTAR support and generating
target packs for future Ops.
Wednesday became a
setup day for 661 at Leeming,
establishing an Ops room and
engineering locations while
we caught up with how the
exercise had progressed for the
RL over the previous week and
a half. An FRP was established
at Otterburn, which reduced
transit time giving more hours
to the BG. On Thursday a pair of
Wildcats provided around 6 hours
of varied tasking from limited
movement of materiel, movement
of commanders and stage one
drills and trooping serials.
The following morning was
spent supporting Ex CHAMELEON
at the nearby Spadeadam ranges.
The Wildcat would attempt covert
reconnaissance of a convoy of
vehicles before being a target for
a Typhoon. Having been detected
by a Reaper and summarily
‘destroyed’ it was time for the
Wildcat to re-join Ex NORTHERN
LANCER, providing further ISTAR
and moving troops for the RL.
The plan had been to send a
detachment forward to Otterburn
to enable support to the exercise
over the weekend, when RAF
Leeming would be closed.
However, poor weather intervened
and only one aircraft was able to
deploy forward. The remaining
two, deploying later in the day,
were forced back with the cloud
base at ground level. The single
aircraft was still able to deliver 6
hours of ISTAR through Saturday
night, the performance of the
Wildcat’s camera far outstripping
the RLs’ ground based sensors.
On Monday poor weather
struck again. The cloud was
once more on the deck so
no movement was possible.
On Tuesday the weather had
improved during daylight hours,
but for the intended tasking
window that night the cloud
base was again forecast to be
out of limits. The possibility of
relocating the detachment to
lower ground at Dishforth was
explored, and though the move
would have been possible despite
the abbreviated planning time,
the weather would likely still have
precluded flying. For this reason
the decision was made to recover
the detachment to Leeming.
Wednesday was a visitor’s day
for the BG, so the OC deployed
to Catterick with an aircraft for a
wash-up while the opportunity
was taken to give those members
of the squadron who had not
yet flown in a Wildcat with a
familiarisation around the local
area. An RTB with a tactical
overlay was also planned by the
QHI, as our late deployment to
the exercise and poor weather
meant that less training was
achieved than had been hoped.
Thursday’s recovery involved
several distinct phases. Routing
through the Wensleydale Valley to
capability
the Lake District, vehicle follows at
high and low level were rehearsed,
culminating with simulated vehicle
interdictions. Once in the Lakes,
tactical approaches maintaining
mutual support were practiced,
before flying via a refuel at
Blackpool to Snowdonia. En
route the pair bounced through
HLSs, training for troop drop offs
and collections. Mountain flying
techniques were practiced in
Snowdonia, both as singletons
and as a pair, before dropping
into another HLS at Lake Vyrnwy
and splitting to return home.
Though the exercise was
seriously affected by events
outside of the squadron’s control
– storms in the Caribbean, the
late arrival at RAF Leeming and
poor weather – 661 was able to
achieve many of its objectives.
The rapid re-plan to Dishforth,
though not executed, taught
us valuable lessons about the
complexity of operating outside
of our local area. We were able
to operate from a main and
step up location, with refuels
available at both, providing
valuable and varied day and
night tasking to the BG.
LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 27

capability
T
his major Turkish led
CHF participates exercise has been held
in the NATO amphibious every year since 1987
Exercise
and is intended to
further the ability of participating
nations to interoperate in littoral
Dogu Akdeniz
waters and includes the conduct
of amphibious operations. This
year saw active participation
from 5 NATO nations with
observers from a further 11
countries including Pakistan,
off the Turkish Coast Algeria and Qatar. HMS Ocean
assumed the role of Flagship
HMS Ocean, the Royal Navy’s Fleet Flagship for the Commander SNMG2 on
and also Flagship for the Commander of one 29 October and will retain this
of NATO’s Standing Maritime Groups in the duty until the end of the year.
Mediterranean (SNMG2) set sail from the Exercise Dogu Akdeniz
Turkish port of Aksaz to participate in the sea
started in the port of Aksaz 7
borne element of Exercise Dogu Akdeniz.
November and culminated on
16 November. The exercise
involved 52 surface and airborne
platforms from the UK, US,
Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria
exercising Anti Surface Warfare
(ASuW), Anti Air Warfare
(AAW) and Anti Submarine
Warfare (ASW); there was also
a dedicated Turkish and UK
phase of the exercise designed
to simulate a Humanitarian
Assistance and Disaster
Relief (HADR) scenario using
amphibious shipping and air
assets from both countries. The
fact that HMS Ocean is herself
a large and highly capable
amphibious ship with CHF
Wildcat and Merlin onboard
from 847 NAS and 845 NAS
allowed her to make a significant
contribution to the Exercise;
additionally she hosted Royal
Marines from Bravo Company
40 Commando, US Marines and
naval aviation from 820 NAS.
Early tasking for CHF involved
mixed day and night battle
28 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
formation flying between 847
NAS Wildcat and 845 NAS
Merlin Mk3. The Wildcat and
Merlin Mk3 also conducted
winch transfer serials with HMS
Ocean’s LCVPs. In addition, a
planned night training sortie was
re-tasked at short notice to take
a casualty to shore at Aksaz HLS.
During the HADR phase of
the exercise CHF was able to
contribute valuable experience
gained during the recent OP
Ruman. This was achieved
through shared flying and cross-
deck serials with Turkish aircraft
and by having a CHF liaison
officer on board the Turkish
flagship the TCG Bayraktar.
Merlin Mk3 pilot, Lt Tom
Richards Royal Navy, said: “The
casualty evacuation and winch
transfer serials were extremely
challenging but immensely
rewarding flying. Also be able
to operate as one of several
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
“
Early tasking for
CHF involved mixed
day and night battle
formation flying
between 847 NAS
Wildcat and 845
”
NAS Merlin Mk3.
NATO participants allowed us to
improve our interoperability with
other nations; as demonstrated
during the HADR phase as we
shared the tasking with an SH-70
Sea Hawk and Cougar from the
Turkish Navy and Air Force.”
Turkey is currently engaged
in a significant amphibious
capability uplift with a number
of specialist ships under build or
recently delivered; the exercise
thus afforded the opportunity to
demonstrate how CHF conducts
amphibious operations and
how Turkey and the UK might
better interoperate within a
NATO context in the future.
HMS Ocean’s appointment
as the Flagship for NATO’s
SNMG2 deployment is
indicative of the UK’s strong
and ongoing commitment to
NATO as a key pillar of UK
Defence and the collective
defence of our allies.
LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 29
 CAPABILITY
EX Diamond Peak
Written By: LCpl J Bulpin
To celebrate the 60th
anniversary of the Army
Air Corps a mixture of 21
lucky Officers & Soldiers
conducted a once and
a life time opportunity
to not only climb some
of the highest peaks
in the world but to
experience first-hand
the culture and sheer
© SIHASAKPRACHUM, filmlandscape / shutterstock
beauty of the Himalayas.
O
ur team would
focus on the assent
of Imja Tse sitting
at 6,189m, but in
order to get there it would be
no easy task, we had to endure
an arduous journey that would
test everyone in more ways
than one, this is our story.
For me this was the first
time I had done something
like this, mountaineering is
something I had always wanted
to try, but never had. I thought
I would be lucky enough to
do it in one of the highest
mountain ranges in the world,
the Himalayas. I couldn’t let an
opportunity like this slip away
so I applied and luckily I was
one of the 21/150 odd people
that was fortunate enough to
experience this adventure.
We arrived on the 20th April
landing at the capital Kathmandu.
We would have 2 days here in
order to rest and conduct the
necessary final preparations
before our journey started.
I didn’t know what to expect,
but what I will tell you is it’s an
amazing city indeed and must
be experienced first-hand. The
streets and roads are filled with
30 Issue 1, 2018 / LZDZ
lots of hustle and bustle, and
from an outside view it can look
a tad chaotic, but it all seems to
have a natural flow and order.
You won’t struggle to find things
to see or do when you’re there,
some of us were lucky enough
to see the royal palace and go to
the monkey temple. We stayed
in the tourist district, and there
were plenty of shops, markets,
restaurants and heritage sites
to explore. Just make sure your
bartering skills are to a good
standard to get the best deals.
After a couple of days
exploring and getting to know
one another better, we were
prepped and ready for the big
day to fly out and start our trek
up to Imja Tse. However we
had to land at Lukla Airport,
which is renowned for being
the most dangerous runway in
the world (no pressure), and
if I wasn’t nervous enough as
it was, upon looking at the
pilot we could see that he was
wearing flip flops for the flight,
which always makes you ask
that question in your head
“what have I got myself into?”.
We landed safely at Lukla
Airport sitting at 2850m, and
the scenery and little villages we
passed were all picturesque, but
what impressed me the most
was seeing all of the Sherpas
passing us, going both up and
down the mountain (at a good
speed as well) carrying loads
of different things. There are
no roads up there suitable for
motorised vehicles so everything
either goes up on the back
of a yak a person, or if you’re
lucky enough a helicopter.
After reaching Phakding we
after collecting our kit and would stay at our first tea hut,
taking a moment to take all the we didn’t know what type of
views in we all started to notice conditions the rooms would be
the difference of oxygen in the like, but they weren’t half bad. We
air. We took a couple of hours had electricity, a roof above our
to take in the views in and have heads and a decent bed and if you
some lunch then we started our go to top it off Wi-Fi (what more
trek up through the Himalayas could you want?). I’m sure we all
to Phakding. The journey up have been in worse conditions on
through the valley was amazing, exercise so to be up a mountain in
THE JHC Delivering joint success on operations
the Himalayas I was very surprised
at just how good we had it.
The next day would be to
Namche Bazaar which would
take us a total of 6-8 hours to
get to, crossing numerous high
suspension bridges that connect
different villages through the
valley (not great if you have
a fear of heights.) We had a
visit: www.lzdzonline.co.uk
chance to acclimatise though
at Namche and it was the last
major trading place to get things
for the trek up the mountains.
It was during this time at
Namche we had our first chance
to set our eyes on Mount Everest,
and you really do have to see it to
believe it. The formidable Mount
Everest sits at 8,848m and sadly
claims dozens of lives each year
and proves to be right at the top
for one of the most challenging
of climbs for mountaineers.
And yet each year it attracts
more and more people, daring
to have a chance to climb the
world’s highest peak. However
when looking at the mountain
for the first time you start to
understand why it appeals to
so many to take the challenge
and conquer the mountain.
We continued our ascent up
through the Himalayas passing
numerous settlements day by
day and some started to feel
the effects of altitude sickness,
which if you have never had you
want to keep it that way, some
felt it worse than others some
not at all, but even through the
challenges of lack of oxygen,
fatigue and navigating the trek up
the Himalayas safely, we started
to accomplish our goals reaching
Pangboche (3930m), Ama Dablam
Base camp (4600m) to name a
few, I was very fortunate and had
started to think that I wouldn’t
succumb to altitude sickness, but
when we started our trek day 9
to Locbuche (4910m) that it hit
me and the headache from hell
started. Luckily the following day,
I had recovered and I was ready to
continue our journey up to Gorak
Shep (5140m) and then finally onto
Everest Base Camp (5365m) and
just to get here and see Everest
up so close in all its glory was
an amazing accomplishment.
But it didn’t just stop there,
we then went on to summit Kala
Pattar (5545m) and then Chukhung
(5833m) and then we were ready
to tackle Imja Tse the one we
had come to summit sitting at
6189m and a challenging ascent
it was going to be no easy task,
However having had the training
and 2 professional Mountaineering
Instructors we started our trek
to Imja Tse Base camp (5050m)
However sadly upon reaching
Imja Tse base camp we were
unable to attempt the climb, the
weather conditions were starting
to change and the decision was
made not to make the climb,
it’s a shame it wasn’t meant to
be, but then again for what we
did manage to accomplish I
feel we achieved a great deal.
After this we started to make
our descent back down through
the valley back to Lukla Airport
it took about 3 days in total, the
one thing we all noticed was
the thickness of the air as we
descended and I must say I’ll
never take for granted again.
In summary the expedition
was a success. We all walked
away feeling a sense of
accomplishment, Nepal is an
amazing country but I find it’s
not just the mountains that make
it so good, but the people are
some of the most hospitable
I have ever come across and
they will bend over backwards
to help. Their culture is rich
in tradition and teachings of
kindness and prosperity and I
must say it’s infectious, I would
go back in a heartbeat.
“
The journey up
through the valley
was amazing,
the scenery and
little villages we
passed were all
”
picturesque...
LZDZ / Issue 1, 2018 31