20 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2009
For Cerney
read Cyprus
THE population of RAF Akrotiri
in Cyprus doubled in size late last
year when Exercise Joint Venture
08 swung into action, writes Lt
Jenny Coley RNR.
The biennial Joint Force command
post exercise would normally see the
RN Maritime Battlestaff (MarBatStaff),
the Navy’s high readiness expeditionary
HQ, deploy to South Cerney in
Gloucestershire.
But the desire to add a realistic
scenario for deployed operations saw
a ground-breaking move to southern
Cyprus, where a further 1,000 or so
other personnel helped form a joint
Land, Air and Allied Rapid Reaction
Corps HQ.
Based at Whale Island in Portsmouth,
42 core staff from the MarBatStaff
were augmented by 36 personnel from
across the RN and Maritime Reserves,
including AWNIS (Allied Worldwide
Navigation Information System),
NCAGS (Naval Cooperation and
Guidance for Shipping), Media Ops,
● Cdre Duncan Potts (left) presents AB Michael Head with a ‘fi eld conditions’
Info Ops and the Air Branch, to form a
birthday cake to celebrate his 20th birthday
Picture: CPO Duncan Wisbey
78-strong Maritime Component.
The primary aim of Joint Venture 08 with a full helpdesk service supporting
was the interaction between the military the variety of systems,” explained PO
HQ and its various components, with Nigel Hogg.
other Government departments and “We’ve got a big footprint of
international and non-governmental equipment and we are working very
organisations, including aid agencies. closely with our colleagues in the Land
Among the VIPs who visited the and Air Components.”
JFMCC (Joint Force Maritime PO Mark Cheyne added: “This
Component Commander) was Armed is the first time the MarBatStaff
Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth and have deployed overseas into a field
Chris Porter of the Department for environment, and being in Cyprus has
International Development. really tested our ability to operate away
The Joint Force Maritime from home.”
Component Commander for the Throughout JV08 the food was a
exercise, Cdre Duncan Potts, said: hot topic of conversation, but despite
● Pioneers of the RLC provided security during Joint Venture 08
Picture: Sgt Andy Carnall
“As long as it is our defence policy to messing in field conditions, it was not
operate overseas at this the usual gripes – quite the reverse.
scale, it is essential that There was nothing but high praise
we exercise that ability for the excellent standards and variety
occasionally. of food on the menu provided by
“JV08 has been an the RAF field kitchen, especially with
invaluable workout for daily curries added to accommodate
the MarBatStaff, and in the tastes of the Gurkha Signals
particular the opportunity Regiment.
to work to the Joint Force One of the youngest members of the
HQ and alongside our
MCC, AB(WS) Michael Head of HMS
fellow components in the
Albion, celebrated his 20th birthday
Air and Land forces.”
during JV08, and was presented with a
The communications
“field conditions” birthday cake by the
team arrived in Cyprus
commodore.
weeks earlier to start the
Michael, a RN picture compiler who
set-up process.
has previously deployed to the Baltic and
“We were amongst the
Africa, said: “This is the first time I have
first in and will be the last
been on such a large joint force exercise
out,” said WO Michael
and it has been a great experience.”
● Good technique, but the pitch
O’Shaughnessy.
Participants also found time for fun
leaves a bit to be desired – cricket
“We’ve got a
– CPOPT Tom O’Malley organised
was one of the activities organised
significant amount of
a range of activities for the MCC,
by CPOPT Tom O’Malley
communications and
including early morning cliff runs,
information equipment circuits, cricket, watersports, bowling aircrewman/SAR diver – said: the
to operate and only eight and team games. Australian contingent valued its
personnel and, despite In addition, augmentee Lt Cdr Tony participation in what turned out to be
being the smallest Severs, a former RAF officer, now in a complex and demanding exercise.
enabling group on JV08, the RNR Air Branch, who works as “Complex from the political/military
we are proud to be the an Air Accident Investigation Officer angle and demanding in dealing with
first component to get at Farnborough, used his commercial the natural frictions and frustrations
all our systems up and pilot qualifications to take off-watch that such a large and complex cross-
running.” MCC personnel for flights over the organisation structure generates; very
Indeed, the amount of Sovereign Base Area in a light aircraft. realistic – but we got through it.”
kit required to support the Among the overseas representatives “Observing different processes and
MCC is considerable. involved in JV08 were 23 members of exchanging knowledge throughout the
“We have in the region the Royal Australian Navy. exercise has made our attendance an
of 110 clients to support Australian contingent commander enjoyable and professionally rewarding
here and have deployed Cdr Mike Hogan – a former RN experience.”
● The RAF fi eld kitchen won plaudits for its food – including curries for the Gurkhas Picture: Sgt Andy Carnall
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