The DSA awards a prize each year to a serving member of the Royal Navy, the Royal Artillery and the Military Geographic community who has made a significant contribution in their particular field of defence geospatial matters. Royal Artillery winner WO2 (SMIG) Jason Cartwright RA and the Military Geographic winner Corporal Mark Lanwarne RE were both able to be present at the DSA AGM to receive their awards personally from the President, Major General Patrick Fagan, the Sapper winner having been flown back from an operational tour in Iraq specifically to receive the award. Unfortunately the Royal Navy winner, Lieutenant Commander (Retd) Richard Read RN, was unable to attend the presentation and received his prize from Captain Ian Turner, the Hydrographer of the Navy, at a later date.
Royal Navy
Lieutenant Commander RH Read Royal Navy (Retd)
Lieutenant Commander Richard Read joined the Royal Naval Hydrographic School at HMS Drake in November 1996 as the Long Hydrographic Course officer. He remained in this appointment until his retirement from the Royal Navy in January 2001, at which time he took up the post of Multibeam Manager (MBM) employed by Flagship Training Limited (FTL) at the recently renamed Royal Naval HM School (DRAKE) and has continued in this position with FTL at the Maritime Warfare School - HM Training Group at HMS Drake. The HMTG is responsible for the training of all hydrographic, meteorological and oceanographic personnel in the RN. It is due to Richard Read’s very significant contribution to the introduction of multibeam echo sounder (MBES) systems into service with the RN that he is nominated for the Defence Surveyors’ Association Royal Navy prize.
During his early time as MBM, Lieutenant Commander Read was involved in the capability assessment of the Atlas Fansweep 20, which was subsequently fitted in HMSML Gleaner. He spent considerable time and effort perfecting the operation of both the data gathering and the data processing systems, which enabled him to successfully develop training courses for personnel appointed and drafted to the vessel aswell as developing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This work was essential to the smoothintroduction into operational service of the RN’s first MBES system. He used his experiences as thebasis for his thesis leading to him gaining his MSc from the University of Plymouth.
Subsequently Richard has continued his training role whilst becoming integral to the procurement,trialling and setting to work of the RN’s next generation of MBES systems supplied by Kongsberg Maritime and fitted to HM Ships Echo, Enterprise, Roebuck and Gleaner. He has spent time at sea during their trials and setting to work periods, developing SOPs and training material as well as advising on operational usage and data management. Recently he has been at sea around the Antarctic in HMS Endurance helping to set to work the RN’s latest MBES, the EM710. His previous knowledge andoperational experience proving to be invaluable at such an extended distance from shore support.
Throughout this time Lieutenant Commander Read has extended his reach to include the development and delivery of MBES training courses for civilian organisations, such as Fugro, Trinity House, Gardlineand Thales; additionally he has taken on the task of teaching least squares to the HM Advanced Course.He has also continued in his voluntary post of treasurer to the south-west branch of the Hydrographic Society.
During his 5 years as MBM, Richard Read has been pivotal in the successful development of training,SOPs and operational employment of all MBES systems in service with the RN. He is recognised worldwide as a leading expert in the operational use of MBES systems, a status enhanced by the principal MBES research personnel from the Ocean Mapping Group (University of New Brunswick) and theCentre for Coastal and Ocean Mapping (NOAA-University of New Hampshire) who seek his opinionregularly.
His work and training have been of such high quality over a number of years that he was recommendedfor the award as a retired officer rather than a serving officer as is the norm.
Royal Artillery
Warrant Officer Class 2 (SMIG) J Cartwright RA
WO2 Jason Cartwright is generally a quiet, undemonstrative character, until that is, he is engaged on his great passion of survey; for this he becomes hugely animated with an eagerness that is totally infectious. Over the past 18 months he has worked as Sergeant Major Instructor Gunnery in Survey and Metrology. Aside from his considerable instructional portfolio he has made it his personnel goal to complete a new doctrine and policy for survey for the Royal Artillery (RA), a task that has defeated several staff officers over a number of years.
The old survey deployment policy was created in the 1980s in a very different era in terms of equipment, organisation and manning. The pace of change in all of these areas in recent years has necessitated a complete review of all aspects of the survey policy. While all acknowledged that this was required, there was a lack of drive to pursue this to a conclusion until WO2 Cartwright became involved. He appreciated the requirement and set himself the task of acquiring all relevant knowledge in order to be able to influence the debate and assist in the drafting of the policy. Although unfamiliar with the staff work, WO2 Cartwright plunged determinedly forth, wading through a morass of technical detail, establishments, organisations and associated equipment issues to ensure that he was fully informed. He conducted painstaking research into the survey requirements of all RA equipment, examined the current and future survey devices and identified likely training levels. This extensive work produced a very detailed database, enabling him not only to participate in work groups and study groups for the development of the new policy, but also to have a significant input into the development of other systems as regards the implications for survey.
He manfully took on the work of an SO2 and, as a result, his overall contribution has fundamentally influenced the direction of RA Survey policy and provided vital knowledge to inform the development of many other Artillery systems. This is a remarkable and valuable intellectual achievement. WO2Cartwright is now the resident expert in the survey field for the RA, this is down to his determination and active drive to learn and develop a subject which others had allowed to slip.
Military Geographic
Corporal M J Lanwarne RE
Corporal Mark Lanwarne is currently employed as the Data Corporal within the Geographic Section, Engineer Branch, Headquarters 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. He is responsible for the acquisition, evaluation, maintenance and preparation of both digital and hard copy geographic information. The Geographic Section is intimately involved with the collation, production and control of Geographic and Engineer Intelligence information for the Headquarters’ planning process. It is due to Corporal Lanwarne’s contribution to the field of Engineer Intelligence that he was nominated for the Defence Surveyors’ Association (Military Survey RE) prize.
During Operation TELIC 2 Headquarters 3rd (United Kingdom) Division identified an urgent need for a standard means of collating and controlling Engineer Intelligence information. Consequently, a database was hurriedly produced by the Geographic Section, Headquarters Multinational Division (South East)to support the Area of Operations. Unfortunately, this initial work was incorrectly structured and did not adhere to recognised information management standards. Consequently the development of the database was continued in Bulford on the Division’s return to the United Kingdom. This coincided with Corporal Lanwarne’s arrival in the Headquarters in December 2003 and he immediately seized upon the importance of the database which at the time represented a significant gap in Royal Engineers capability. Working on his own and without specific direction he took it upon himself to resolve this short fall.
Between 2003 and the present day he single-handedly built a geospatially referenced database which allows Engineer Intelligence information to be managed collectively and efficiently. This has often involved working in his own time and has required him to significantly broaden his database management skills beyond those taught on Military Engineer Geographic (Data) Technician courses.
The database has since been accepted by the Engineer Intelligence Working Group as the Royal Engineers standard, providing consistency between Royal Engineers units and formations thus saving time, money and resources by avoiding the duplication of effort, which was evident in the past. The database has been fielded within headquarters and engineer units deployed to Iraq (Operation TELIC)and Afghanistan (Operation HERRICK). Additionally, 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group, are expected to adopt the database as their standard Engineer Intelligence management tool. Demand for the database has been so high that Corporal Lanwarne is now updating it to support forthcoming operations.
Corporal Lanwarne has demonstrated a level of competence, foresight and technical ability well above that expected of his rank, experience and training. Throughout the period he has displayed highly commendable initiative and enthusiasm. Consequently, there is now a combat proven Engineer Information database for use in peacetime and importantly, during operations.
Special
Royal Engineers (Geographic) Recruiting Team for 2005
In addition to the usual three annual individual prizes, the Council decided that the excellence of the Royal Engineers (Geographic) Recruiting Team for 2005 warranted a special prize to be shared by all four members of the Team.
In early 2005 a decision was taken to form a RE (Geo) Recruiting Team. In recent years two issues had emerged which required a highly proactive recruiting campaign to be put in place:
- The number of soldiers joining the Specialisation had dropped to the extent that it was clear that under-manning within the RE (Geo) squadrons would be a significant problem if nothing was done.
- Defence demand for soldiers within the Specialisation was growing quickly, with increased establishments agreed as part of three enhancements: the Future Army Structure; an uplift to the internal Defence Geospatial Intelligence (DGI) organisation; and for Project PICASSO which will provide a fully integrated enterprise information systems architecture for DGI.
As a consequence the RE (Geo) Recruiting Team was set up at Hermitage under the leadership ofWO1 Andrew Rudd RE. Four soldiers were posted to the Royal Engineers Regional Recruiting Teams at Catterick, Minley, Bulford and in Scotland, but the principal driving force behind the recruitment campaign came from WO1 Rudd and his staff at Hermitage, SSgt Crago, Sgt Wiggins and LCpl Miles. This campaign included a wide range of initiatives designed to increase the number of personnel applying to become Military Engineer Geographic Technicians (ME GeoTechs). Some of the key activities within the recruiting plan are shown below:
42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) Recruiting Plan
Manning of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) Recruiting Team and provision of MEGeo Techs to RE Regional Recruiting Teams.
Attendance at a wide range of recruiting events, including county shows, technical shows,Army recruiting events, RE Look at Life and schools visits.
Development of the RE (Geo) Web SiteDevelopment of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) recruiting display boards, brochures,handouts and aptitude booklet information.
Organisation of a major conference for Army Careers Information Office staff.Development of Personal Development Activities for use in Schools as part of the GCSEGeography curriculum.Modernisation of the RE (Geo) recruiting trailerSupport in production of Army TV advertisements featuring Geo.
Strengthening of links with local Combined and Army Cadet Forces.Achieving Golden Hello and Pinch Point status for the Geo trades.
Introduction of database to track interest shown by individuals and allow evaluation ofsuccess of recruiting initiatives.
One example of the extent of the work done by the Team is outlined below. Personal DevelopmentActivities (PDAs) are another way for civilians to get an idea about what ME Geo Techs do anda chance for the Team to recruit people. The idea of a PDA is to go to a school or college, give agroup of up to forty students a brief presentation about what ME Geo Techs do, then take part ina group activity which is designed to be fun for the student yet informative at the same time. TheTeam developed three PDAs, one based around each of the three Geo Trades:
The Data Trade PDA was a navigation course with the students using Global PositioningSystem (GPS) handsets to navigate from one point to the next. Ten orienteering markerswould be placed over a 2-3 kilometre area, the position of each then logged into a GPShandset. This data would then be downloaded to the other handsets, which in turn are givento the students, one hand set per pair. The pairs of students would then be set of at intervalsand have to get round all of the markers in the quickest time.
The Terrain Analysis PDA was designed to get the students thinking about how the terrainaffects an Army in battle. For this a small-scale re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesburywas chosen, which took place during the War of the Roses in 1471 between the Yorkistsand Lancastrians. The idea for this is to split the group of students down into four teams,the first team taking charge of the Yorkist Army and the second team taking control ofLancastrian Army. The other two teams each get a modern day style Army based on BritishForces. By analysing the terrain, the teams then decide on the most suitable location toplace the various elements of their Army, Archers on the high ground, etc for the MedievalArmies, and machine gun placements for the modern Armies. They then place scale modelsoldiers onto a specially built model of the area. The two teams then have to try and defeattheir opposition according to set of rules, ideally using the shape of the land to win.
The final PDA was based upon the work of a Production Technician. Twelve laptop PCswere purchased and networked together. The idea of this PDA was to take the laptops tothe school/college and allow the students to make their own map of the local area. Theywould start with a blank map and the Recruiting Team would talk them through how a mapis composed, bringing in the roads, then the buildings, then the trees, etc, gradually buildingup all the components of a map. The finished product could be given a scale bar and othermarginalia, and then printed off for the student to keep.
Since March the Recruiting Team has travelled the length and breadth of the country with theGeo Recruiting Trailer, and has visited many towns and cities including Edinburgh, Liverpool,Manchester and London. The Trailer has had several improvements including a touch screen forthe plasma TV and a re-designed centre stand. A summary of the key events attended in 2005 and a look forward to those already planned for 2006 is given below:Colonel David Attwater presenting the Team Leader with the Special Prize certificate.
2005
| April | Geo Open Day / Cheltenham Skills Festival |
| May | Dragons March |
| June | Army Exhibition for Schools (Edinburgh, Catterick, and
Bassingbourn) /
RE Look at Life |
| July | Kennet Schools Challenge / Wirral Show / Freedom of Newbury /
Festival
of the sea |
| August | RE Look at Life / Beat of the Retreat / Eye Show |
| September |
Southport Air Show / Op London Soldier / Newbury Show / Re Look at Life x 3 |
| October | Oxford Cherwell College (PDA) / Exposia 05 / RE Look at life |
| November | Op Hallam Exp / Downs School (PDA) / 3 PDA weeks with 4 Div |
2006
| January | Op White Rose / Bournemouth Skills Festival / Barnstable
Schools (PDA)
/ RE Look at Life |
| February | Dragons March |
| March | Op Midland Soldier / RE Look at Life |
| April | Gloucester Skills Festival / RE Look at Life |
| May | Dragons March / Liverpool Military Show |
| June | Workington Carnival / Army Exhibition for Schools (Edinburgh,
Catterick
& Bassingbourn) / RE Look at Life |
| July | Colerne Schools Week (PDA) / Blackpool Air Show / Rochdale
Schools
Week (PDA) / Aldershot Show / Oldham Schools week (PDA) |
To date this recruiting effort has seen the number of potential ME Geo Techs rise above allexpectations. Before the Geo Recruiting Team was set up the Geo Trade training courses only had8-10 soldiers on each. That figure has now risen to 20 soldiers on the February 2006 course, over20 soldiers already confirmed for the August 2006 course. This trend will continue into the futurewith a further 32 expected in February 2007. This is especially important as the number of MEGeo Tech posts is expanding significantly within a variety of Armed Forces headquarters and unitsin the year to come.