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December/January 2013 - DSG
December/January 2013 - DSG
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<strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
December/January 2013<br />
The magazine of the Defence Support Group
contents<br />
Editor’s<br />
intro<br />
Welcome to the<br />
December edition of<br />
Digest in which we report<br />
what’s been happening across<br />
the business over the last few<br />
months.<br />
We continue to receive high praise for<br />
the successful operation of the<br />
Equipment Sustainability System<br />
Regeneration Capability in Bastion, the<br />
latest is a commendation from the<br />
Commander Equipment Capability, read<br />
the full citation on page 5.<br />
Just over a year since transferring to<br />
DSG, the Ashchurch site has made<br />
significant improvements to the stock<br />
management of Bowman, find out more<br />
on page 6.<br />
Developing skills in-house is important<br />
to ensure we have the right capabilities<br />
to deliver our services, on page 15,<br />
DSG Donnington introduces four<br />
apprentices who have joined the supply<br />
chain.<br />
Working with the local fire service,<br />
DSG Warminster carried out a<br />
simulated fire exercise to test its<br />
Business Continuity Plan on page 17.<br />
The round up of events from across the<br />
country features on pages 22 and 23<br />
and you can win an Apple iPad Mini in<br />
our competition on page 24.<br />
Thank you for all your contributions to<br />
this edition, please continue to send in<br />
your stories and achievements and may<br />
we take this opportunity of wishing you<br />
and your families a Merry Christmas<br />
and a Happy New Year.<br />
Warrior © Photographer Steve Dock /UK<br />
MOD Crown Copyright 2012<br />
Contents<br />
03 Talking Point / DSG’s Minister visits Warminster<br />
04 News from DSG Bastion<br />
05 Commander Equipment Capability Commendation for<br />
Bastion facility<br />
06 Transformation of Bowman stock management<br />
07 Completion of Foxhound Project / Safety first<br />
08 Sales and Operations Planning mobilisation day<br />
09 Catterick completes Pinzgauer programme / Savings from<br />
salvaging swivels<br />
10 Poster<br />
12 Back to the shop floor / DSG welcomes new Jordanian<br />
Military Liaison Officer<br />
13 DSG’s COO reflects back on his first nine months in the job<br />
14 5 Minutes with… / Chris’s fire fighting duty comes to an end<br />
15 Four new links in the chain<br />
16 Graduate placement programme comes to an end / Shooting<br />
star<br />
17 Playing with fire<br />
18 Across the country<br />
20 Competition time<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> points of contact<br />
Editor: Venus Tingzon<br />
Phone: 94391 3217/01264 383217<br />
Email: Venus.Tingzon@dsg.mod.uk<br />
Post: DSG Corporate Communications, Sedgemoor Building,<br />
Monxton Road, Andover, Hampshire SP11 8HT<br />
Editorial Board<br />
Brian Griffiths Abbeywood 93523 0159<br />
Yvonne Dowden Ashchurch 94249 4419<br />
Roz Cronin Bovington 94374 3909<br />
Lorna Morris Catterick 94731 2062<br />
Karen Emery Colchester/Aldershot/Longmoor 94660 6893<br />
Position Vacant Donnington/Bicester 94480 2578<br />
Rosemary Murphy-Paul Kinnegar 94914 3768<br />
Nicola Thorpe LSBU 94480 3702<br />
Lynda Holloway Sealand 95541 7745<br />
Teresa Evans Stafford 95551 5173<br />
Arlene Hamilton Stirling 94741 8373<br />
Kathy Tuck Warminster/Sennybridge 94381 3233<br />
Designed by: Isabel Butcher - email: designis@designis.co.uk<br />
2<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
usiness<br />
Talking<br />
point<br />
“<br />
Succession planning<br />
and developing talent in the<br />
workplace are key factors<br />
in the success of any<br />
organisation regardless of<br />
whether it is in the private<br />
or public sectors. Now that<br />
we are well down our<br />
transformation path towards<br />
more efficient and effective processes<br />
and procedures, we must focus our attention on establishing a<br />
stable of homegrown business leaders of the future.<br />
We have an enviable reputation for delivering outstanding<br />
apprentices through our various schemes run across many<br />
parts of our business. It is clear to me that we must also<br />
concentrate on developing the individuals who show<br />
commitment and promise, and try to create opportunities for<br />
them so that they can fulfil their ambitions and maximise their<br />
full potential. Therefore, I fully support and endorse a businesswide<br />
people development programme, which aims to ensure<br />
that we help match individual aspiration with business need.<br />
The excellent reputation that is the hallmark of DSG’s<br />
employees is one that was hard won and should be cherished.<br />
Gaining a good reputation is much harder to achieve and retain<br />
than a bad one so it is important we all remember the high<br />
regard in which our customers, our industry peers and the<br />
wider defence community hold our business and make every<br />
effort to sustain it into the future.<br />
On a personal note and as 2012 draws to a close, I thank you<br />
all for your significant contributions, both large and small, made<br />
this year in helping DSG become the success it deserves to be.<br />
You should be proud of what you have all achieved and<br />
continue to achieve in all you do and contribute to our<br />
business. I am certainly proud of our workforce and try to<br />
make sure everyone at every level knows it.<br />
I make no apology for repeating my annual message that next<br />
year will be just as challenging as previous years and we must<br />
never lose focus on continuing to deliver best value in<br />
everything we do.<br />
Finally, I take this opportunity of wishing you all and your<br />
families a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous<br />
New Year.<br />
”<br />
Best wishes,<br />
Archie Hughes<br />
Chief Executive<br />
DSG’s<br />
Minister<br />
visits<br />
Warminster<br />
Fourth from left Philip Dunne MP in the<br />
DSG Warminster workshop<br />
Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence<br />
Equipment, Support and Technology recently<br />
toured one of DSG Warminster’s workshops<br />
as part of his first official visit to Army HQ.<br />
Prior to his walk around the workshop, Archie<br />
Hughes, DSG Chief Executive hosted the Minister<br />
along with Major General Paul Jaques, Director<br />
General Logistics Support and Equipment Land<br />
Forces (DG LS&E). The themes in the briefing from<br />
DG LS&E included the importance of DSG to the<br />
Army, the sale of DSG, Op HERRICK transition<br />
end-to-end process, Herrick Exchange Point and<br />
Total Support Force which are all key projects<br />
currently underpinned in DSG’s Capability Growth<br />
Programme.<br />
The tour which followed gave the Minister the<br />
opportunity to understand and see the controlled<br />
management support DSG provides to the Land<br />
Training Fleet under a successful partnering<br />
agreement with Army HQ.<br />
Speaking to Digest about his first visit the Minister<br />
said, “DSG’s key contribution to front line support is<br />
known across MOD but it is useful for me to see at<br />
first hand the breadth and depth of repairs in the<br />
workshop. Whilst there are likely to be concerns<br />
amongst the employees on the sale of DSG, every<br />
skilled craftsmen and women I met appears<br />
determined to continue providing vital support to<br />
our Armed Forces and the on-going operations in<br />
theatre.”<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
3
news<br />
News from<br />
DSG Bastion<br />
Matt Carr, Head of Production brings us<br />
the latest update from Camp Bastion.<br />
At the end of September, DSG completed its<br />
second full year of operating the Equipment<br />
Sustainability System Regeneration Capability<br />
workshop in Camp Bastion. The team<br />
achieved 92% target output by regenerating<br />
792 urgent operational platforms as well as<br />
delivering cost benefits of over £60M, proving<br />
the huge benefit of having a regeneration<br />
facility in theatre to support the ongoing<br />
campaign. The site continually receives praise<br />
from all those who visit but more importantly<br />
from the end users.<br />
Of notable praise was when Jon Thompson,<br />
MOD’s Permanent Secretary visited the<br />
workshop and presented the team with a<br />
Commander Equipment Capability Certificate<br />
of Commendation for our resilience and<br />
inspirational professionalism during Operation<br />
HERRICK 16.<br />
Fitters Matt Davies, Louise Sincock and Jeff<br />
Walker completed the regeneration of the<br />
second and last Rough Terrain Cargo Handling<br />
vehicle held in Kandahar. Carrying out the<br />
regeneration in Kandahar gave the fitters the<br />
opportunity to experience the working and<br />
living conditions in a deployed military base<br />
other than Bastion. It removed the need of<br />
the military moving the vehicle back to<br />
Bastion, which not only saved time but also<br />
reduced the risk of danger from improvised<br />
explosive device if driven in the austere and<br />
hostile operational environment.<br />
DSG provides the only support to<br />
examinations on fuel carrying vehicles within<br />
Afghanistan, so were asked if it was possible to<br />
carry out the examinations in Kabul. Stuart<br />
Sexton and Andy Mapplebeck rose to the<br />
challenge and flew to Kabul to conduct the<br />
required ADR examinations on two Dennis<br />
Eagle tankers. Whilst they managed to<br />
complete the task within a few hours, due to<br />
Front row L-R, Graham Taylor, Kyle Barnett, ASM Neil Siddall, Alan (Reg) Williams,<br />
Back row L-R, Andy Mappelbeck, Wullie Nairns, Stephen Wilson, Barry Smith<br />
flight times it meant an overnight stay for the<br />
pair. However, Stuart’s cockney accent and<br />
close hair cut bared resemblance to the actor<br />
Ross Kemp and after a brief discussion with<br />
the SAS, the pair managed to bag a few seats<br />
on their Hercules and flew back landing in the<br />
hours of darkness.<br />
We also completed the first Warrior<br />
observation point vehicle variant to pass<br />
through the regeneration process this month.<br />
This was the regeneration of our third<br />
Warrior.<br />
Our workshop's close working relationship<br />
with the theatre Equipment Support Battalion<br />
was further strengthened by an invite to DSG<br />
employees with previous REME service to take<br />
part in a range of activities to celebrate the<br />
formation of REME 70 years ago. The day<br />
started with a Church service where the<br />
Battalion Padre gave a short message and led<br />
in a few hymns. Needless to say the DSG<br />
employees’ performance clearly showed the<br />
need for a few singing lessons. There were a<br />
number of events arranged over the day with<br />
eight teams of 10 persons competing. The first<br />
of the day was a technical challenge, which<br />
required the teams to build a vehicle for<br />
assembly at a chosen location, drive down a<br />
ramp and then travel for 20 metres whilst<br />
steering through a chicane and have the<br />
capability of indirectly firing a water balloon.<br />
The scoring scheme consisted of assembly<br />
time, course completion time and number of<br />
insurgents taken out. In true DSG fashion we<br />
ensured the vehicle complied with the latest<br />
932B standard but unfortunately this had a<br />
detrimental effect on the assembly time<br />
leading us to come in third place. We must say<br />
a special thanks to Dave Burgess for donating<br />
his bed frame for use as a chassis.<br />
Dave Burgess has now finished his term as<br />
General Manager passing it over to Mark<br />
(Daz) Dalzell. We would like to pass on our<br />
thanks to Dave who shows a great<br />
commitment to DSG and has a great passion<br />
for what we are supporting as well as a<br />
constant energy in driving for improvement.<br />
Team challenge<br />
Barry Smith driving DSG’s Bed-ford<br />
4<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
news<br />
PUS with the Bastion team<br />
in the ESS facility<br />
Commander<br />
Equipment<br />
Capability<br />
Commendation<br />
for Bastion facility<br />
During a recent visit to theatre, Jon<br />
Thompson, MOD’s new Permanent<br />
Under Secretary, visited the Equipment<br />
Sustainability System Regeneration<br />
Facility (ESS RC) in Bastion, managed by<br />
DSG, presented a Commander<br />
Equipment Capability Certificate of<br />
Commendation.<br />
The full citation of the certificate reads as<br />
follows, “The Equipment Sustainability System<br />
Regeneration Capability (ESS RC) comprises of<br />
123 personnel from the Defence Support<br />
Group (DSG), Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR)<br />
and General Dynamics. They have been<br />
supporting UK forces in Afghanistan as part of<br />
Op HERRICK since 2009 and have proven to<br />
be a significant force multiplier throughout all<br />
areas of operations. Each man and woman is a<br />
volunteer, supporting our Armed Forces and<br />
their year long deployments are a testament to<br />
their professionalism and dedication.<br />
“The tens of thousands of equipments<br />
deployed to support UK Forces in Afghanistan<br />
can only be sustainable in the long term with<br />
the appropriate equipment support regime in<br />
place that extends to deep repair and<br />
maintenance. Before the creation of the ESS<br />
RC no such coherent plan existed and they<br />
have been at the forefront of synchronising this<br />
activity across all platforms and lines of<br />
communication whilst overcoming operational<br />
frictions.<br />
“As at 1 September 2012 members of the ESS<br />
RC have delivered 1261 regenerated<br />
equipments to UK forces, 5200 items of<br />
calibration and 247 ISTAR assets. The<br />
tradesmen and women have delivered<br />
additional repairs to all deployed equipments<br />
from generators to armoured fighting vehicles<br />
which have proved vital in maintaining the<br />
immediate combat power of UK forces.<br />
Constantly faced with varied complex<br />
engineering challenges the dedication and<br />
commitment shown by the staff has never<br />
faltered, and they are often found working<br />
deep into the night to ensure that battle<br />
winning equipment is returned to the user.<br />
“The ESS RC is now at Full Operating<br />
Capability and repairs over 75 complex<br />
equipments every month, offering the UK tax<br />
payers a cost saving of over £62M. Most<br />
importantly, through the deep regeneration<br />
process they have significantly increased the<br />
vehicle availability to commanders. Their work<br />
not only increases reliability but vehicle<br />
survivability and there is no doubt that their<br />
work has saved British Servicemen’s lives.<br />
“This has been a truly pivotal period for all<br />
deployed ESS RC personnel during which they<br />
have set an exceptionally high benchmark for<br />
others to follow. They are rightly commended<br />
for their resilience and inspirational<br />
professionalism in the face of austere and<br />
stressful conditions.”<br />
Applauding the team’s award, Archie Hughes,<br />
DSG Chief Executive told Digest, “The<br />
contribution our employees’ make continues<br />
to strengthen and deliver an outstanding<br />
service. UK politicians, Army Chiefs and senior<br />
MOD civil servants all recognise the excellent<br />
support our team contributes to operations.<br />
When we initially began support in Bastion we<br />
had a team of 29 employees operating from<br />
rubb shelters, now the team has quadrupled in<br />
number and we are operating from a purpose<br />
built facility. The ESS RC facility is a DSG<br />
success story and through the sheer<br />
commitment and professionalism of the<br />
volunteers, this award is another fine example<br />
of DSG employees’ growing reputation for<br />
excellence in helping support our colleagues in<br />
the Armed Forces.”<br />
L-R, PUS with John Cooper and Louisa Griffiths<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
5
news<br />
Transformation of<br />
Bowman stock<br />
management<br />
In April this year, DSG Ashchurch took<br />
over responsibility for managing the<br />
Bowman activity. The site now carries<br />
out level 1 testing; stock management<br />
and accounting; receipts, issues and<br />
storage of all Bowman assets on and off<br />
platforms across the entire Land<br />
systems fleet. This includes legacy<br />
equipment and the new range of<br />
platforms such as the Foxhound.<br />
This was a major undertaking from the<br />
beginning and required a new team to manage<br />
it. The team of managers, administrative and<br />
warehouse employees was established and<br />
sited in a dedicated communications<br />
workshop within the site. The team followed a<br />
four phased approach towards the Bowman<br />
activity:<br />
Phase 1 was to carry out a full audit of all<br />
Bowman assets on the Ashchurch fleet, which<br />
was in excess of 2200 platforms.<br />
Phase 2 required a visual inspection of all<br />
platforms fitted with Bowman to ensure they<br />
were correctly stored.<br />
Phase 3 involved removing all Line Replaceable<br />
Units (LRU’s) and ancillaries from 1000<br />
Complete Equipment Schedules and then<br />
account, serialise and return the stock to the<br />
Bowman warehouse. More than 20,000 LRU’s<br />
were accounted for following the audit.<br />
Phase 4 involved the reconciliation on to the<br />
Army’s Unicom stock management system as<br />
well as simplifying and putting in place<br />
transactional processes to improve data<br />
accuracy.<br />
As well as meeting the statement of work<br />
within the contract, the team delivered other<br />
activities beyond the specification, including<br />
integration and testing of new from trade<br />
equipment and urgent operation requests,<br />
timely delivery of Bowman to units directly<br />
supporting the London Olympics; refit and<br />
delivery of dismounted headquarter kits and<br />
issue of equipment to contingency fleets. The<br />
team continuously make improvements to<br />
processes and working areas to promote a<br />
professional, productive and effective working<br />
environment, this has included re-configuring<br />
the working and storage areas resulting in the<br />
ease and visibility of all Bowman products.<br />
Whilst the implementation of a Bowman<br />
Equipment Schedule during the receipt<br />
process not only enables the testing and<br />
conditioning of the equipment prior to<br />
storage, it also helps maintain stock accuracy.<br />
The team showcased the transformation in<br />
managing the Bowman activity to the<br />
customer community as well as the National<br />
Audit Office during recent visits to the site.<br />
First to visit was Lt Col Dominic Robinson,<br />
from Army HQ’s Information Systems Branch,<br />
who was accompanied by a representative<br />
from DLE Commercial. They left extremely<br />
impressed with the work completed so far as<br />
well as the transformation improvements<br />
made since award of the contract. The Lt Col<br />
passed on his thanks to all employees involved<br />
and encouraged the team to keep up the good<br />
work.<br />
On a separate visit Lt Gen Chris Deverell,<br />
COM(L), was encouraged by the changes<br />
made since his last visit to the site two years<br />
ago when he was in another role. In particular<br />
he was impressed with the Bowman<br />
equipment management. The National Audit<br />
Office also paid a visit and complimented on<br />
“<br />
We delivered<br />
key improvements<br />
particularly in the<br />
Bowman activity but<br />
there are still a<br />
number of challenges<br />
ahead and I am<br />
confident we have a<br />
motivated, skilled<br />
team and collectively<br />
we are working<br />
towards the same<br />
mission in improving<br />
our support to the<br />
customer.<br />
”<br />
the tremendous transformation of the<br />
Bowman operation.<br />
Wayne Baker, Head of Site, told Digest,<br />
“Everyone at Ashchurch embraces the transfer<br />
to DSG. We delivered key improvements<br />
particularly in the Bowman activity but there<br />
are still a number of challenges ahead and I am<br />
confident we have a motivated, skilled team<br />
and collectively we are working towards the<br />
same mission in improving our support to the<br />
customer.”<br />
Level 1 vehicle testing on Foxhound<br />
Weekly stock taking<br />
Level 1 gold suite testing<br />
6<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
news<br />
Completion of Foxhound<br />
project<br />
DSG Bovington recently completed the<br />
pod assembly and integration for 203 of<br />
the new Urgent Operational<br />
Requirement (UOR) Foxhound vehicles.<br />
The assembly, integration and test line was the<br />
first significant scale of its kind in DSG. The<br />
workshop was transformed to integrate the<br />
production assembly line, with dedicated bays<br />
kitted with special tooling, jigs, fasteners and<br />
standard operating procedures. Items for<br />
fitment at each stage of the production were<br />
The Foxhound team at the assembly line in Bovington<br />
stored, picked and kitted from the warehouse<br />
and delivered daily to the line side.<br />
The skilled team worked intimately alongside<br />
Thales engineers responsible for the fitment of<br />
communications equipment as well as with<br />
Force Protection engineers. Although, there<br />
was a contracted specification of work, the<br />
team also undertook wider support including<br />
manufacture and modification of parts to<br />
support the emerging vehicle design to deliver<br />
cost saving improvements.<br />
Kevin Langdon, Value Stream manager for<br />
Foxhound explained, “Working on the<br />
Foxhound programme has given the team the<br />
The Foxhound team with completed Foxhound vehicles<br />
opportunity to demonstrate their diverse range<br />
of skills and the flexibility to cope with change. I am very pleased to have been part of a team responsible for delivering the Foxhound UOR.”<br />
Jason Spicer, Programme manager said, “It was an extremely challenging project and an education to say the least but with the right skill sets,<br />
determination and adoption of lean techniques, centring around flow and standard operations, the team successfully completed our<br />
contractual quota. We are proud that we have been able to provide support to the new platform for front line operations.”<br />
Safety<br />
first<br />
A group of managers and team leaders<br />
from DSG Donnington received<br />
certificates from the Institute of<br />
Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)<br />
recently for completing the Managing<br />
Safely and Working Safely courses.<br />
The IOSH is the world's biggest professional<br />
health and safety membership organisation<br />
committed to raising awareness and standards<br />
in health and safety. The aim of the course was<br />
to create greater awareness of potential<br />
hazards and improve risk assessments in local<br />
areas.<br />
Feedback from the course was very positive.<br />
Many found the delivery of the training for<br />
each module informative and found it helpful<br />
to discuss the key points in the training group.<br />
Following the course, the managers viewed<br />
their work areas in a different light and started<br />
putting improvements in place to eliminate or<br />
Some of the recipients of the<br />
Managing Safely certificate<br />
lessen risks. This included change in the<br />
process on the Warrior line to reduce vehicle<br />
movement and the use of an external crane to<br />
move Rarden cannons to reduce manual<br />
handling.<br />
The team leaders who attended the Working<br />
Safely training commented that having worked<br />
in the same environment for so many years<br />
they have become oblivious to some potential<br />
hazards. However, the recent training<br />
refreshed their outlook and helped them<br />
identify potential risks they haven’t previously<br />
noticed. They are confident they can put in<br />
Some of the recipients of the<br />
Working Safely certificate<br />
place changes to make their working<br />
environment much safer.<br />
Graham Sargent, Head of Business Stream 1<br />
said, “The IOSH training is part of<br />
Donnington’s overall back to basics training<br />
programme planned for our managers over the<br />
next 18 months, which is part of DSG’s<br />
commitment to people development. I am<br />
very pleased those who attended the course<br />
were proactive and already applied lessons<br />
learnt to ensure that work areas are properly<br />
managed and health and safety standards in the<br />
workplace continue to improve.”<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
7
news<br />
Sales and Operations<br />
Planning mobilisation day<br />
In the August issue of Digest we<br />
reported on plans for the roll out of a<br />
Sales and Operations Planning<br />
(S&OP) project designed to embed in<br />
DSG disciplined processes and<br />
procedures aimed at delivering<br />
greater efficiencies and better<br />
management across all of the DSG<br />
business areas.<br />
Under the lead of Andy Hursey, the team’s<br />
primary focus and objective included<br />
embedding a range of S&OP processes in<br />
the business designed to meet DSG’s<br />
ongoing requirements. These included a<br />
framework of meetings that ensure S&OP<br />
operates effectively and efficiently,<br />
presentation of training and education<br />
materials at road shows held across various<br />
DSG sites and developing accurate<br />
Integrated Business Reporting to provide<br />
the business with timely performance and<br />
management information.<br />
Reaching a major mile-stone and achieving<br />
the key objectives, the Project team<br />
formally handed over responsibility for<br />
implementing the S&OP processes to the<br />
DSG businesses at a Mobilisation event<br />
held on 27 September at Donnington.<br />
Over 80 people from throughout the<br />
business attended to review the new<br />
processes and tools. Representatives from<br />
the different business streams shared how<br />
they intend making S&OP work in their<br />
roles and ultimately contributing towards<br />
its success across DSG. Along with formal<br />
presentations, board displays and break-out<br />
rooms, everyone was able to discuss and<br />
exchange views and ideas.<br />
Archie Hughes, DSG Chief Executive,<br />
opened introductions and emphasised the<br />
Attendees of S&OP mobilisation day during break-out sessions<br />
“<br />
importance of S&OP in managing current<br />
workloads and meeting the changing<br />
customer environment. Supported by a<br />
board sponsor, the S&OP project team<br />
followed and explained each of the process<br />
steps in detail.<br />
Geraint Spearing, DSG Chief Operating<br />
Officer, closed the event by outlining the<br />
path for the future development of the<br />
process and opening the forum for a<br />
question and answer session.<br />
The feedback from the event was very<br />
positive, with 94% of the attendees<br />
confirming they were confident in moving<br />
forward with the implementation of S&OP<br />
in their areas.<br />
Having successfully delivered the project,<br />
Andy Hursey returned as Head of<br />
Operating Unit at Colchester and Steve<br />
Davis is now taking ownership and leading<br />
the project in his role as S&OP Business<br />
Process Owner and handles Supply.<br />
Assisting him in their roles as Step Leads<br />
The project<br />
established a solid<br />
foundation with S&OP<br />
operating throughout<br />
the business. My<br />
thanks to all those<br />
involved in the<br />
development and<br />
implementation of<br />
the process.<br />
”<br />
are Mark Alston, New Service Provision;<br />
Dave Carter, Demand; and Peter Higginson,<br />
Integrated Reconciliation and Senior<br />
Management Review.<br />
Steve said, “We have analysed the feedback<br />
and supporting information from the<br />
mobilisation day. It is both informative and<br />
useful in helping us plan the next stage in<br />
the S&OP journey.”<br />
S&OP mobilisation day briefing<br />
In summing up Andy Hursey, said, “The<br />
project established a solid foundation with<br />
S&OP operating throughout the business.<br />
My thanks to all those involved in the<br />
development and implementation of the<br />
process. Everyone across the business is<br />
committed to supporting Steve in the<br />
journey towards a fully effective and mature<br />
S&OP process.”<br />
8<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
news<br />
The DSG Pinzgauer team with representatives from NCHQ and the SLV PT<br />
Catterick completes<br />
Pinzgauer programme<br />
In the August 2011 issue of Digest, we<br />
reported on the mini trial work DSG<br />
Donnington and Catterick completed<br />
for the Navy Command<br />
Headquarters (NCHQ) to inspect,<br />
regenerate and rebuild to worthy<br />
condition, including Stage A<br />
waterproofing, five 4x4 EURO II<br />
Pinzgauers.<br />
The success of the trial resulted in DSG<br />
Catterick receiving a task for the<br />
refurbishment of another 45 vehicles. The<br />
programme has recently come to an end,<br />
with the vehicles now delivered to the<br />
customer for support to the deployability<br />
of the Lead Commando Group.<br />
Brought into service after 1993, the<br />
Pinzgauer two year refurbishment<br />
programme undertaken by Catterick was<br />
the most in depth work carried out to<br />
date. The site faced a significant number of<br />
challenges during the refurbishment of the<br />
vehicles, in particular problems with<br />
sourcing of spares and confirming technical<br />
and build standard specifications given that<br />
the vehicle was out of production for more<br />
than five years and ownership of the<br />
Design Authority rights have undergone a<br />
series of handovers. A lot of the lessons<br />
learnt will no doubt be of use when, on<br />
current planning assumptions, the<br />
Pinzgauer Life Extension Programme starts<br />
in 2014 for the vehicles to remain in<br />
service until 2030.<br />
Speaking on the success of the programme,<br />
Major Simon Powell, Programme manager,<br />
Light Logistic Vehicles said, “DSG Catterick<br />
rose to the challenges and applied<br />
innovative solutions to overcome the<br />
issues. The high quality of the output from<br />
the programme is testimony to the skill,<br />
determination and professionalism of the<br />
DSG Catterick workshop technicians,<br />
spares supply specialists and of their<br />
management team. There is no doubt in<br />
the minds of the programme management<br />
team in Specialist and Logistic Vehicles<br />
Savings from<br />
salvaging swivels<br />
DSG Land Supply’s Repair Management team has now been successfully operating for over two<br />
years. In its first year of operation the team delivered savings in excess of £1.3 million to the<br />
customer and to date that figure has doubled.<br />
Such significant savings are due to the team’s ethos and effort in constantly looking for new ways to make<br />
improvements and get best value for defence.<br />
Another fine example is the recent savings made by Repair manager, Andy Barrass. He has recently amended<br />
a contract with a contractor, which will save the MOD just under £700,000 over the vehicles current<br />
service life for a swivel for the Pinzgauer. The saving is a result of a new solution to refurbish the old<br />
swivels rather than produce from new. A business case generated by Andy was submitted and<br />
approved by the project team and a contract amendment made.<br />
Andy told Digest, “We work closely with our contractors to find ways of not only delivering savings<br />
but also making sure that repair management requirements are addressed promptly. In this<br />
particular situation, the innovative solution is not only delivering savings but also as the contractor is<br />
no longer producing from new and requiring a minimum order quantity, the contractor is also able to<br />
maintain stock at optimum levels, which keeps downtime to a minimum.”<br />
L-R, Gordon Dryden, DSG VSM with<br />
Capt Tony Philogene from NCHQ<br />
Project Team and of the NCHQ staff that<br />
DSG Catterick proved to be a centre of<br />
excellence for Pinzgauer support and<br />
vehicle refurbishment and that the 45<br />
vehicles will prove to be the vanguard for<br />
the refurbishment of the wider fleet in<br />
years to come. DSG Catterick must be<br />
justifiably proud of their achievement and,<br />
on behalf of the Programme Board, we<br />
wish to express our personal thanks for a<br />
job well done.”<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
9
13 Pounder First World War Guns
© Photographer Sgt Ian Houlding RLC/UK MOD Crown Copyright 2012
news<br />
Back to the<br />
shop floor<br />
Members of the Senior Management<br />
Team (SMT) in DSG Donnington have<br />
gone back to the shop floor to<br />
experience what goes on at the sharp<br />
end.<br />
The ‘back to the shop floor’ programme was<br />
in response to the feedback and low scores<br />
received under the theme of Leadership and<br />
Managing Change from the 2011 Civil Service<br />
People Survey. In a drive to commit to<br />
making improvements and improve the SMT’s<br />
visibility, they spent time across the various<br />
functions in both the workshop and office<br />
environments, experiencing first-hand the<br />
positives and frustrations employees deal with<br />
on a daily basis.<br />
During the programme each SMT member<br />
visited a different team and not only did they<br />
shadow the employees but also often<br />
undertook their role with them. The exercise<br />
proved useful and highlighted the frustrations<br />
experienced by those carrying out their roles<br />
including problems with acquisition of<br />
consumable items, shop floor layout and<br />
quality of parts. Whilst there were negative<br />
issues to address, there were also plenty of<br />
positives, with the attitude and application of<br />
the employees they met impressing them and<br />
showcasing the good working practices in<br />
place.<br />
Following the exercise, the SMT recorded<br />
over 260 actions. Each action was assigned to<br />
an owner deemed most suitable to determine<br />
the root cause and resolution. It was agreed<br />
that only the originator could authorise<br />
closure of an action ensuring the benefits<br />
were experienced at the right level. To date<br />
there is significant progress, with 150 of the<br />
actions closing in just four months and<br />
developments and progress still on-going to<br />
achieve full completion.<br />
Graham Sargent, Head of Business Stream 1<br />
said, “The SMT is committed to delivering the<br />
improvements our employees want to see.<br />
L-R, Gill Cherry, HR manager with<br />
Pete Williams rebuilding an SA80<br />
Spending time with the workforce has proven<br />
very useful and due to the positive feedback<br />
we received, we now plan to continue rolling<br />
out the activities across the rest of the<br />
business stream into Ashchurch, Sealand and<br />
Stafford. Our aim is to achieve identifiable<br />
and enduring improvements that everyone<br />
can identify with and be part of.”<br />
L-R, Graham Sargent, Head of Business<br />
Stream 1 with Duncan Beattie<br />
undertaking PEWS activity on Baan<br />
L-R, Kevin Ashley, Technical Services manager<br />
de-fuelling a Warrior vehicle with Rick Butler<br />
L-R, Tony Owen, Change manager with<br />
Allen Gripton discussing output<br />
DSG welcomes new Jordanian<br />
Military Liaison Officer<br />
After spending two years in Andover, Lt Col<br />
Wajeeh Khlefat returned to Jordan to take<br />
up his new job in the Head Quarters of<br />
the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) Royal<br />
Maintenance Corps.<br />
During his time in Andover, Wajeeh was<br />
responsible for the delivery of the<br />
interests of the JAF’s Al Hussein<br />
Project via the Government-to-<br />
Government Memorandum of<br />
Understanding (MOU), which runs<br />
until the 31 March 2015.<br />
Ron Sumner, DSG Overseas<br />
Business manager said, “It was a<br />
great pleasure working with Wajeeh<br />
over the last two years. Not only<br />
has he brought many positive things to the project during his time<br />
with us but he also leaves it in a better place. All his friends and<br />
colleagues in DSG will greatly miss him but we<br />
wish him every success in his new post and his<br />
family all the best on their return to Jordan.”<br />
Lt Col Omar Al-Zatari who replaces Wajeeh<br />
is settling well in Andover with his family who<br />
are all looking forward to the<br />
adventure ahead of them. Ron<br />
added, “I am looking forward to<br />
working with Omar during his time<br />
here in the UK ensuring that the JAF<br />
and their land forces are fully<br />
equipped and supported for many<br />
years to come through the MOU.”<br />
L-R, Ron Sumner, DSG Overseas Business<br />
manager with Lt Col Wajeeh Khlefat<br />
12<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
news<br />
DSG’s COO<br />
reflects back<br />
on his first<br />
nine months<br />
in the job<br />
Just nine months into his appointment<br />
as DSG’s Chief Operating Officer,<br />
Geraint Spearing is still busy dealing<br />
with the challenges of his new role. In<br />
his first few months, he took a trip to<br />
see the DSG team at Camp Bastion.<br />
During his trip he met Commander<br />
Joint Force Support (Afghanistan),<br />
Brigadier Ewen McLay, who expressed<br />
how pleased he was with the support<br />
DSG is delivering to operations through<br />
the regeneration facility and provided<br />
an insight into current and future<br />
operations, emphasising the important<br />
of the close working role that REME<br />
and DSG could provide as part of the<br />
transition redeployment process.<br />
Geraint told Digest, “With over 30,000<br />
people in Bastion, the size and scale of the<br />
military operation is very impressive. Nestled<br />
in the camp are the 100 plus DSG employees<br />
operating the Equipment Sustainability System<br />
workshop, with the vital role of maximising<br />
equipment availability for the Operational<br />
Commanders. My visit gave me the<br />
opportunity to spend time in the workshop<br />
meeting and talking to the DSG employees to<br />
gain an understanding of what it was like<br />
working in an operational environment, how<br />
they were coping with living away from their<br />
families and also hoping to find out what<br />
frustrations they face in carrying out their<br />
important roles. Like the rest of the<br />
organisation I am extremely proud of their<br />
role in supporting our forces and enhancing<br />
DSG’s ever-growing reputation. It is through<br />
their commitment and professionalism that<br />
we receive numerous accolades for our<br />
successful contribution to front line<br />
operations.”<br />
Geraint added, “It was important for me to<br />
see first hand the work going on at the front<br />
line to help me fully understand all of my new<br />
responsibilities. However, DSG’s total<br />
operational footprint is great, as well as the<br />
workshop in Afghanistan we also have over 40<br />
dispersed locations made up of main sites, sub<br />
sites, in-barracks support sites and other<br />
embedded support functions, so it’s certainly<br />
keeping me busy.”<br />
A key project for Geraint on appointment<br />
was the roll out of a co-ordinated project<br />
approach to implementing a Sales and<br />
Operational Planning (S&OP) process and<br />
policy across DSG, which aims to deliver<br />
greater efficiencies and better management<br />
across its businesses. Geraint said, “As board<br />
champion for S&OP, I am pleased that under<br />
the project lead of Andy Hursey, the project<br />
has met all its objectives and is now<br />
successfully embedded across the business.”<br />
On a final note, he added, “Going forward, I<br />
recently introduced some changes to improve<br />
our business structure to deliver further cost<br />
savings whilst at the same time offering our<br />
employees real development opportunities<br />
and career progression in line with our<br />
“<br />
Going forward, I<br />
recently introduced<br />
some changes to<br />
improve our business<br />
structure to deliver<br />
further cost savings<br />
whilst at the same<br />
time offering our<br />
employees real<br />
development<br />
opportunities and<br />
career progression in<br />
line with our People<br />
Development<br />
programme.<br />
”<br />
People Development programme. The<br />
internal changes seek to build and develop<br />
our operational output and I am confident my<br />
senior team will achieve a seamless transition<br />
with no detrimental effect to our business<br />
performance.”<br />
Geraint Spearing meeting members of the Bastion team during his visit<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
13
news<br />
5 minutes with…<br />
Ronnie Simpson, Fitter Motor Transport Reinforcing Fleet<br />
and Unite Convenor, Stirling.<br />
Ronnie completed an apprenticeship with 26 Command Workshop<br />
REME before spending some time working in industry. He returned<br />
to the Civil Service in 2000 to work on the gun line in Stirling and is<br />
now supporting the Reinforcing Fleet. He is also a Convenor for<br />
Unite Union.<br />
If I weren’t talking to you… I would be<br />
on the shop floor or in the union office<br />
reading endless e-mails.<br />
Even though I know I shouldn’t, I can’t<br />
help… Occasionally telling people what I<br />
think about them, as George Bernard Shaw<br />
said, “The power of accurate observation is<br />
commonly called cynicism by those who<br />
have not got it.”<br />
My perfect day would be… With family,<br />
just relaxing.<br />
I won… The Individual Pistol trophy at<br />
Corpsam in 1992 for the Army with a 9 mm<br />
Browning HP, although I think someone else<br />
was shooting at my target!<br />
Those closest to me describe me as…<br />
On a good day; thorough, insightful, and<br />
inquisitive, but on a bad day, grumpy and<br />
procrastinating. Personally I feel that I bring<br />
confidence, resourcefulness and rigour to<br />
everything I do, cross the t’s and dot the I’s I<br />
say.<br />
If I could go back in time, I would tell<br />
my ten year old self … Never forget who<br />
you are and definitely don’t believe anyone<br />
unless you verify it first.<br />
In a nutshell, my philosophy is… Do<br />
unto others as you would have them do<br />
unto you.<br />
My secret talent is… Cooking; hence the<br />
reason I’m a tad chunky.<br />
If I could change anything about myself<br />
I’d… Try to avoid the habit of<br />
procrastinating when something important<br />
needs to be done.<br />
The last film I saw was… Whisky<br />
Galore! by Compton MacKenzie. One of the<br />
classic Ealing Studio comedies… poor<br />
Captain Waggett!<br />
If I had to appear in a reality TV show, I<br />
would appear in... None. I’d rather watch<br />
paint dry or grass grow. Watching reality TV,<br />
or even soaps, is just a time thief – don’t do it.<br />
“<br />
I bring confidence,<br />
resourcefulness<br />
and rigour to<br />
everything I do.<br />
”<br />
At Christmas… It shouldn’t be just about<br />
food, television and new toys; there is wine,<br />
brandy and port too! Really, I’ll be sharing<br />
the spirit of Christmas with family and<br />
friends and as a traditionalist, it will be<br />
turkey and the works, roast tatties, parsnips<br />
and of course brussel sprouts… bring on the<br />
holiday.<br />
Chris’s fire fighting<br />
duty comes to an end<br />
After 27 years of fire fighting in the<br />
Warminster area, DSG Warminster<br />
employee, Chris Reaney recently<br />
retired from his position as a retained<br />
fireman with Wiltshire Fire and<br />
Rescue service.<br />
Known locally as Rambo, Chris’s<br />
involvement with the fire service started<br />
when joining the onsite fire fighting team.<br />
In August 1985 he joined the Wiltshire fire<br />
brigade as a retained fireman and in 1989<br />
was promoted to Leading Fire Fighter<br />
before moving to Sub Officer in 2000 after<br />
a two year period standing in for a sick<br />
colleague. As Sub Officer, Chris was<br />
responsible and in charge of major<br />
incidents involving two or more appliances.<br />
Amongst the incidents he took part in were<br />
fires in Heytesbury House, Marlborough<br />
High Street and a fire in Warminster<br />
Market Place. Other notable rescues and<br />
accidents involved troops and vehicles on<br />
Salisbury Plain Training Area.<br />
His noteworthy commendations during his<br />
career include receiving the Fire Service<br />
Long Service and Good Conduct medal, the<br />
Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal and the<br />
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal.<br />
Chris, who works on the Mastiff variants<br />
for Warminster’s Heavy B Vehicle Repair<br />
team, spoke of his thoughts on retirement,<br />
“I would like to thank Nick Morgan, Head<br />
of Warminster Operating Unit for<br />
supporting my role as a retained fireman.<br />
Without employers like DSG, the retained<br />
fire service would never operate. Whilst I<br />
enjoyed my time with the fire service, I’m<br />
now enjoying not being woken up in the<br />
Chris in uniform with his<br />
certificate of service<br />
middle of the night with the callouts and<br />
also spending more time with my family.”<br />
14<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
news<br />
Four new links<br />
in the chain<br />
Four graduate apprentices beat off strong competition to take<br />
part in a three-year development programme to optimise the<br />
supply chain and grow capability in DSG Donnington.<br />
John Price, Adam Woodhall, Emma Bailey and Scott Boulton will<br />
undergo a structured programme with the aim of achieving chartered<br />
status within three years. As well as job experience, they will also work<br />
towards a professional qualification in Logistics Operations and Institute<br />
of Operations Management delivered by Telford College of Arts and<br />
Technology and Dudley College. Emma said, “I am very excited being<br />
given this opportunity. The people here at DSG are very welcoming<br />
and friendly.”<br />
The scheme requires the apprentices to become active participants and<br />
aims to develop their curiosity, competency and creativity whilst<br />
becoming analysts for the supply chain. Such learning helps the<br />
apprentices become critical thinkers, able to engage in in-depth<br />
investigations with people, objects, materials and ideas by drawing<br />
meaning and understanding from those experiences.<br />
The importance of investigation of supply chain principles cannot be<br />
overstated. The apprentices have the unique opportunity to directly<br />
observe and understand supply chain processes and bring new vision<br />
and ideas as they develop effective techniques for observing and testing<br />
everything around them. These experiences are vital if the DSG supply<br />
chain of the future is to remain effective and fit for purpose.<br />
The four apprentices started in September and are already working on<br />
projects linked with the procurement of line side goods and improving<br />
inventory record accuracy, incorporating a bar-coding solution line side<br />
on the SUSAT’s and segmenting the local inventory to evaluate new<br />
methods of procurement and delivery.<br />
Commenting on the scheme, Tim Stubbs, Donnington’s Supply Chain<br />
manager said, “It is an exciting opportunity to develop key skills within<br />
the organisation and ensure we have a skilled team with the capabilities<br />
to take the supply chain forward and become best in class in the<br />
future.”<br />
Meet the new team members to the supply chain.<br />
Name: John Price<br />
Name: Adam Woodhall<br />
Name: Emma Bailey<br />
Name: Scott Boulton<br />
Age: 37<br />
Age: 22<br />
Age: 21<br />
Age: 22<br />
From: Telford<br />
From: Wolverhampton<br />
From: Preston<br />
From: Sandwell<br />
Interesting Fact:<br />
Football Association<br />
Level 2 qualified football<br />
coach and referee.<br />
Fav Curry: Pork Jalfrezi<br />
Interesting Fact:<br />
Became a dad in his first<br />
week at DSG.<br />
Fav Curry: Chicken<br />
Tikka Massalla<br />
Interesting Fact: Lived<br />
in Stuttgart and speaks<br />
German.<br />
Fav Curry: Chicken<br />
Korma<br />
Interesting Fact: Rugby<br />
Football Union qualified<br />
rugby coach.<br />
Fav Curry: Chicken<br />
Tikka Massalla<br />
News in Brief<br />
Congratulations to Ian Hoy MBE, general<br />
engineer from DSG Colchester on<br />
completion of 40 years service. One of the<br />
highlights of Ian's career was receiving the<br />
MBE in 1999 from HM The Queen in<br />
recognition of his service to the King’s Troop<br />
Royal Horse Artillery for the 13 Pounder<br />
Guns, all of which are still in use for royal<br />
ceremonial duties.<br />
L-R, Ian Hoy with Dave Edmunds, Head of Business Stream 2<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
15
news<br />
Graduate placement<br />
programme comes to an end<br />
Joe Bragg joined DSG Land Supply<br />
Business Unit (LSBU) in March on a<br />
five month graduate placement<br />
programme. In Digest’s June issue, Joe<br />
spoke about how he got on the<br />
scheme and what he hoped to learn<br />
from the experience. Having<br />
completed his placement, Joe tells us<br />
how it all went.<br />
What have you learnt?<br />
Over the last five months I have learnt a<br />
great deal about both the commercial<br />
function and the Land environment. Before<br />
coming to DSG I had never worked in Land<br />
and was therefore unaware of the process<br />
of getting spares to theatre and the<br />
pressure of urgent operational<br />
requirements. Along with this I have also<br />
been involved in setting a number of<br />
more unusual contracts with varying<br />
issues such as using the United Kingdom<br />
Defence Procurement Office to contract<br />
with companies in the US.<br />
Would you recommend LSBU as a<br />
placement for a commercial<br />
graduate?<br />
I have already recommended<br />
LSBU as a placement<br />
for future graduates, especially in the Net<br />
Additional Costs of Military Operations cell<br />
due to the high pace and variety of work<br />
involved. I believe that LSBU offers the<br />
perfect range of experiences to help<br />
develop the relevant commercial skills that<br />
are required on this scheme.<br />
What do you think LSBU could do to<br />
improve?<br />
While there are a number of very<br />
good practices in LSBU,<br />
such as the new<br />
compliance team<br />
and the use of<br />
electronic<br />
procurement<br />
systems, I<br />
believe LSBU<br />
would benefit<br />
from an<br />
increased level<br />
of publicity about<br />
the work it carries<br />
out, especially with<br />
the Project Teams<br />
(PTs) in<br />
Shooting star<br />
Abbey Wood. Overall, I believe LSBU does<br />
a fantastic job with staff under considerable<br />
pressure from both requesting units and the<br />
PTs so they deserve the praise.<br />
What’s your most enjoyable<br />
experience?<br />
I have got to know so many people whilst<br />
working at LSBU, so although not work<br />
related, the highlight was seeing Lis, Stacy<br />
and Reg dancing in a local pub after a curry<br />
and a few, well actually, too many drinks.<br />
What next?<br />
I will now mobilise with 2 Military<br />
Intelligence and deploy to Afghanistan. My<br />
tour will last approximately six months,<br />
however, I won’t actually return to work<br />
until August 2013. On my return, the<br />
Defence Commercial Graduate Programme<br />
will allocate me a job. This could be<br />
anywhere in MOD, however, I have stated a<br />
preference for either Land or Intelligence,<br />
Surveillance, Target Acquisition and<br />
Reconnaissance as an Officer Commanding.<br />
Finally?<br />
I would like to take this opportunity to wish<br />
everyone all the best for the future. Thank<br />
you all for being so welcoming and friendly,<br />
Following team GB’s medal success at<br />
the Olympics, DSG’s very own Phil<br />
Alcock, Process manager from DSG<br />
Donnington recently won five gold<br />
medals in the Territorial Army (TA)<br />
long range small bore rifle<br />
competition.<br />
Phil was eligible to enter as he is a serving<br />
member of the Royal Mercian and<br />
Lancastrian Yeomanry, based in Telford,<br />
where he is a Lance Corporal within REME.<br />
Over two days, five competitions took<br />
place at the Bisley ranges in Surrey. Phil<br />
entered all five competitions using a .22<br />
target rifle at ranges of both 50 and 100<br />
metres with target sizes of 100mm and<br />
200mm respectively.<br />
As the first competition progressed Phil<br />
found himself challenging for a medal. He<br />
held his nerve to gain his first gold. His<br />
success continued in the second<br />
competition where he bagged another gold.<br />
On a roll, Phil then went on to win two<br />
further gold medals in the third and fourth<br />
competitions.<br />
When the last competition got under way,<br />
all the other competitors were gunning for<br />
Phil, though not literally, to try and prevent<br />
him from having a clean sweep. Alas,<br />
despite all their best shooting there was<br />
only going to be one winner and that was<br />
Phil.<br />
After the competition, Phil received an<br />
invitation to shoot for the National TA<br />
team with the challenge of competing<br />
against the Army, Navy and Air Force<br />
regular and reserve teams. It was a<br />
prestigious honour for which Phil also<br />
received his colours.<br />
In September, Phil competed in the national<br />
competition and against tough opposition<br />
he eventually finished eleventh overall in<br />
the individual standings and in doing so he<br />
helped the TA to achieve third in the team<br />
Phil Alcock in uniform<br />
competition.<br />
Congratulation Phil on your success, we<br />
wish you luck in future competitions.<br />
16<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
news<br />
Playing<br />
with fire<br />
DSG Warminster recently carried out a<br />
joint exercise with Wiltshire Fire and<br />
Rescue Service to test the service’s<br />
response in a fire emergency and DSG’s<br />
Business Continuity Plan (BCP).<br />
DSG Warminster has a special relationship<br />
with the local fire service, with three of our<br />
employees also retained personnel serving in<br />
the fire and rescue service. A few months ago<br />
the site shared its extensive knowledge of the<br />
vehicles that form the Operational Equipment<br />
Training Pack fleet by hosting a visit by the<br />
local fire station personnel to see up close the<br />
new range of equipment in use in operational<br />
theatre.<br />
The BCP exercise began with a simulated fire<br />
in the 4A Workshop. The local fire service<br />
team arrived on site within seven minutes<br />
from raising the call. Other crews from<br />
Salisbury, Mere and Tisbury were mobilised in<br />
support. To set the scene and give realism to<br />
the exercise, the mains power to the building<br />
was turned off to simulate the loss of the<br />
electrical supply, while using smoke generators<br />
to fill the building with smoke and a propane<br />
burner strategically positioned on the<br />
mezzanine floor above the staff canteen<br />
provided a realistic fire core.<br />
DSG Duty manager, Dan Rogers met the<br />
incoming fire crews and explained that<br />
employees and contractors were missing in<br />
the building. Wearing self-contained breathing<br />
apparatus, the fire teams carried out a search<br />
and rescue mission. They located collapsed or<br />
trapped casualties and successfully got them<br />
out of the building. There were over 50 fire<br />
fighters and five fire engines in attendance,<br />
including senior fire service managers and<br />
observers. A local church group from<br />
Salisbury set up a feeding station in a safe area<br />
“<br />
The exercise was a<br />
huge success from<br />
both DSG’s and the<br />
Wiltshire Fire and<br />
Rescue Service’s<br />
perspectives. For us,<br />
having the ability to<br />
actually physically test<br />
our BCP is important<br />
to ensure we are able<br />
to fully apply and<br />
”<br />
develop our plans.<br />
to provide a welcome snack for the fire crews<br />
and exercise participants.<br />
Following the exercise, the DSG team invoked<br />
the Business Continuity Plan (BCP) as a<br />
desktop exercise to deal with the loss of<br />
power to the 4A main workshop facility.<br />
Using Babcocks, the onsite facility contractor,<br />
the team sent a request asking for the cost<br />
and timescale for setting up temporary<br />
heating and power supplies to 4A. Another<br />
estimate requested was for temporary heating<br />
to Building 1A, a contingency building available<br />
on loan from the Land Training Fleet should<br />
the need arise.<br />
Throughout the simulated exercise which<br />
lasted almost three hours, Production<br />
manager, Paul Grearson acted as an observer<br />
for DSG. He said, “The exercise was beneficial<br />
Firemen rescue a trapped<br />
casualty in Accident Repair, 4A<br />
for DSG in testing our BCP and ensuring we<br />
have plans in place to maintain continuous<br />
operational effectiveness.”<br />
Compliance manager, Mark Fisher, who also<br />
acts as Warminster’s Business Continuity<br />
planner, added, “The exercise was a huge<br />
success from both DSG’s and the Wiltshire<br />
Fire and Rescue Service’s perspectives. For us,<br />
having the ability to actually physically test our<br />
BCP is important to ensure we are able to<br />
fully apply and develop our plans. For the<br />
local fire crews, they now have valuable<br />
intelligence of the site layout should they<br />
attend a future emergency at the site. We are<br />
grateful for the assistance and support the fire<br />
service provides to help us with our BCP and<br />
disaster recovery plans.”<br />
Church volunteers from Salisbury<br />
provide fire crews with a welcome meal<br />
A briefing for the fire crew prior to entering the<br />
building to rescue trapped employees<br />
Firemen manning the pump after extinguishing<br />
the fire in the 4A canteen<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
17
across the country<br />
Across the c<br />
Trio<br />
triumphs at<br />
ultra<br />
marathon<br />
challenge<br />
Wullie Nairns from DSG Stirling, Iain Trickett and Chris<br />
Chaffey both from DSG Bovington, who are all currently<br />
deployed in Bastion, recently triumphed in the ultra<br />
marathon challenge.<br />
The ultra marathon totals 50 miles with a target completion of 14<br />
hours. To sustain energy for this tough challenge, the trio consumed<br />
more than 11,000 calories and drank more than 14 litres of fluid.<br />
Iain told Digest, “I’ve done plenty of running in the past but mostly<br />
shorter distances like five km. In August, I took part in the Camp<br />
Bastion half marathon competing against 600 competitors, my<br />
finishing time of 1 hour 18 minutes placed me in seventh place<br />
overall. In the US Air Force five km run, I conquered the rocky<br />
circuit and approximately 800 competitors to win first place with a<br />
finishing time of 17 minutes 10 seconds. “<br />
“A couple of months before the event, I fitted in training of around<br />
50-70 miles a week in between my working week of up to 82 hours.<br />
My aim was to hit 50 miles in under eight hours and 30 minutes.<br />
Generally, 50 miles would take up to 14 hours so I said that if I<br />
raised over £1000, I would complete the 50 miles and then continue<br />
to run until the 14 hours was up, which by my calculation would<br />
mean completing up to 75 miles.<br />
“I was hoping that part of the race would be completed in darkness<br />
which would ease the extremity of running in the heat but we<br />
started the run in daylight hours making it even more challenging<br />
and almost impossible to stay hydrated. Volunteers from<br />
civilians to colonels ran with me in sections of 10 miles<br />
encouraging me to push on. I eventually completed the 14<br />
hours target and achieved just over 70 miles.<br />
“I had numerous reasons to take up this challenge. I wanted<br />
to give back something to those who have suffered to protect<br />
us, military personnel who are injured pay such a high price,<br />
suffering mental and physical scars, resulting in a discharge and<br />
the prospect of facing a whole different world outside of the<br />
Armed Forces. My brother is a Royal Marine Commando and<br />
suffered an injury, which is more than likely going to end up<br />
resulting in a medical discharge so that’s my biggest<br />
motivation to carry out this ultra marathon. You can still<br />
donate by going to www.justgiving.com/trickysultramarathon.”<br />
Wullie added, “When Tricky told me that he was thinking<br />
about doing an ultra marathon in aid of the Royal Marine<br />
Benevolent Fund it planted the seed in my own mind. I have<br />
completed an ultra marathon before and raised money for<br />
other good causes in the process.<br />
“A charity which is close to my heart is the Make A Wish,<br />
L-R, Wullie Nairns, Ian Trickett and Chris Chaffey<br />
which grants wishes to children who are battling life-threatening<br />
conditions. I know first hand the outstanding work of the charity,<br />
providing children and families with everlasting memories and a<br />
welcome short-term distraction from the battle they face with their<br />
various conditions. I decided to tag along and set myself a target of<br />
completing the 50 miles in less than 10 hours. I am pleased to<br />
report I completed the 50 miles in 9 hours 45 minutes and raised in<br />
excess of $700 from donations in theatre and family and friends<br />
back at home are still collecting for this worthwhile cause.”<br />
Concluding a recount of the experience, Chris said, “Having already<br />
taken part in many running events for charity during my deployment,<br />
the ultra marathon planned towards the end of my tour was<br />
something I was keen to take part in as it would be a great way to<br />
end the year of events.<br />
“The event itself went really well, we all had an amazing run despite<br />
the heat really taking its toll. We all hit our donation targets for our<br />
chosen charities and personally I managed to hit my target of just<br />
over £1000 for Cancer Research UK. I really enjoyed the<br />
experience and the significant amount we raised between us has<br />
encouraged me to definitely consider doing more in the future. A<br />
big thank you to my running partners who all did extremely well and<br />
to every one who supported us.”<br />
TOWIE in Bastion<br />
They may not be the stars from The Only Way is Essex tv reality show<br />
but they are from Essex. The volunteers from DSG Colchester deployed<br />
in Bastion as part of the Equipment Sustainability System Team<br />
18<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk
across the country<br />
untry<br />
Super Spartan Race<br />
One man<br />
and his<br />
unicycle<br />
helping<br />
casualties<br />
Not my usual look! Covered in mud and crawling under barbed wire.<br />
© www.epicaction.co.uk/Photographer Richard Burley<br />
As Digest editor, the articles relating to personal challenges have<br />
inspired me to take on a challenge of my own, the Super Spartan<br />
Race.<br />
I suggested to my personal trainer Andy that he put a team together for the<br />
Spartan Sprint Race, a five km obstacle course race designed to test resilience,<br />
strength and stamina. He agreed but instead registered a team of eight<br />
including myself for the Super Spartan, which meant contending with another<br />
seven km.<br />
Eight weeks leading up to the event, the team and I met up every Saturday<br />
morning for outdoor training sessions, which included running, weight bearing<br />
and aerobic exercises.<br />
We had all seen video footage so we had some idea of the obstacles in store,<br />
and the day itself certainly lived up to it. We jumped over fire, crawled under<br />
barbed wire, carried sandbags, waded through rivers, climbed up ropes, over<br />
scramble nets, walked over balance beams and of course there was lots of mud.<br />
That was all in the first six km and for the remaining six km we repeated the<br />
course again but this time carrying a brick, no brick at the finish line, no medal.<br />
Our finish time was slower than we hoped but this was due largely to the sheer<br />
number of people participating, leading to lots of queuing for obstacles and<br />
walking rather than running. I crossed the finishing line with my brick still inhand<br />
and was presented with my medal, but my once pristine trainers were no<br />
longer white. Thankfully though I still had my trainers as I nearly lost them<br />
when I got stuck in mud, surviving only after two burly men came to my rescue<br />
and pulled me out.<br />
Building a good rapport as a team we are going to attempt the Toughmudder<br />
next year, another similar race but 19km in distance and with more severe<br />
obstacles with the frighteningly sounding cliff hanger, electroshock therapy and<br />
arctic enema!<br />
Still on a high that I managed to complete the Super Spartan, I applied for the<br />
Basingstoke half marathon despite only having four weeks to train. I was<br />
pleased with my finishing time of two hours five minutes, but I was aiming for<br />
less than two hours. However, I blame the cold I developed three days before<br />
the race and the side stitch I got nine miles in that slowed me down. Now, that<br />
I have completed a half marathon I am now tempted to tackle a full marathon<br />
but not sure if my little legs can manage it.<br />
(Well she certainly kept that quiet from me – Allan Robertson)<br />
Mike on his unicycle with one of his support team,<br />
Joe Toye, providing encouragement<br />
Mike Telfer from DSG Warminster, currently<br />
deployed in Bastion, braved the 45 degree<br />
heat of the Afghan desert to complete a<br />
10km ride on a unicycle in aid of the British<br />
Limbless Ex-servicemen’s Association<br />
(BLESMA).<br />
Mike learnt to ride the unicycle when he was 15<br />
years old. He was inspired to give it a go by his<br />
Godmother's blind brother who rode a unicycle.<br />
Within a year, Mike mastered the single wheeled<br />
cycle, becoming quite proficient but put it away<br />
and left it gathering dust in storage until deciding<br />
to take it to Bastion. He had heard that Bastion<br />
was a very large camp with plenty of opportunities<br />
for running so he thought he would unicycle<br />
instead and hone his riding skills.<br />
Mike completed the ride in one hour and 45<br />
minutes, without once falling off or stopping and<br />
raising $1,000 so far with more money pledged.<br />
He said, “Doing that distance on a mixture of sand,<br />
gravel and Tarmac, in the extreme heat without<br />
falling off, was extremely difficult. It was my<br />
personal challenge but worth doing for BLESMA.<br />
“BLESMA is DSG Bastion's chosen charity and it<br />
does a fantastic job helping severely injured<br />
servicemen, many of whom sustained their injuries<br />
in Afghanistan.<br />
“It took place on my day off and I had a great<br />
support team on the day from my friends Gordon<br />
Alley from Warminster and Joe Toye from<br />
Chippenham on bicycles.<br />
“I also had a pick-up truck following me round<br />
with plenty of water on board and snacks and best<br />
of all I got the challenge finished before the hottest<br />
part of the day.”<br />
www.dsg.mod.uk December/January 2013 <strong>DIGEST</strong><br />
19
competition<br />
COMPETITION<br />
For this month’s competition, Imperial Commercials has<br />
kindly donated an Apple iPad mini. All you have to do to<br />
win, is to name the country related to the Christmas<br />
themed question. Good luck!<br />
1. The popular Christmas pantomime, Puss in Boots was written by Charles<br />
Perrault, where was he born?<br />
2. Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean, is a territory of which<br />
country?<br />
3. In which country does Santa have his own personal postcode HOH OHO?<br />
4. Stollen is a traditional cake, usually eaten during the Christmas season<br />
originates from which country?<br />
5. Singer Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics was born on December<br />
25 1954. In which country was she born?<br />
6. The poinsettia flower widely used as a Christmas decoration is a native of<br />
which country?<br />
The closing date for the competition is Thursday 3 January 2013.<br />
The winner of last month’s competition and winning<br />
the Land Rover experience day is Becki Sanders<br />
from Warminster.The correct answers were:<br />
1. Vampire<br />
2. Trick or treat<br />
3. Jack O Lantern<br />
4. Toffee apples<br />
5. Halloween<br />
6. Superstition<br />
Please send all your entries in to the Editor by Thursday 3 January 2013.<br />
E-mail: venus.tingzon@dsg.mod.uk<br />
Intranet: Click on the link on the dsg.net homepage<br />
Fax: 94391 5458 / 01264 385458<br />
Post: DSG Corporate Communications, Sedgemoor Building,<br />
Monxton Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8HT<br />
Name:<br />
Business Unit/Department:<br />
Telephone Number:<br />
ENTRY FORM<br />
RULES OF ENTRY<br />
The competition is restricted to<br />
DSG employees only.<br />
Only one entry per person will be accepted.<br />
20<br />
<strong>DIGEST</strong> December/January 2013 www.dsg.mod.uk