NAVY NEWS, MAY 2009 13
New man spreads the word
THE Maritime Reserves
and effect the Maritime Reserves be in demand for the foreseeable
are doing a splendid job
brings’, which will hopefully future.
– but not enough people
stand us in good stead with the “The whole of Defence is
planners.” incredibly busy, and that filters
are aware of that. That, the commodore believes,
down to the MR and makes them
The new man at the head is particularly important as very busy,” said Cdre Steel.
of the Maritime Reserves
budgets and spending are decided,
“It’s a question of when and not
(MR) has set himself the
and he and his senior officers are
if the majority of Reservists are
task of ensuring everyone
making sure the message is heard
mobilised, and I do not think that
– particularly senior Naval
at every level of the process.
is a bad thing.”
Cdre Steel believes the new
officers – appreciate the
He believes it not only creates
command structure, using the
valuable role played by the
opportunities for reservists to put
conduits of Captains North and
Reserves.
their skills to practical use, but
South, has helped the message
also provides “an awful lot of
Cdre Chris Steel, Commander percolate upwards, and he is also
Maritime Reserves, took over taking every opportunity to get out
excitement” for them as well.
the hot seat in January this year, of Leach Building to see reservists
Cdre Steel said responsible
becoming the first regular officer at work, whether that is at their
recruitment must continue – the
to assume the role – but he does local unit or on deployment.
‘black hole’ from a recruitment
not believe that the die is cast. That has taken Cdre Steel as far
freeze would cause problems
“I’m delighted and honoured as Cyprus, where he met almost 20
for years to come – and specific
to be in this position as the first reservists playing key roles on the
branches for the MR should be
regular Naval officer to take on Taurus 09 task group – “people
targeted, such as the heavily-used
the role of Commander Maritime who are making a real difference,”
Seaman Reserve branch, which he
Reserves,” Cdre Steel told Navy said the commodore.
sees as being able to provide the
News. He is seeking the views and
all-round capability of a regular
“Why me? Why now?
perspectives of all ranks, from
seaman rating.
“Well, since the Commander
commanding officers and specialist Demand is such that the
Maritime Reserves organisation
staff officers to able seamen. commodore said he could not rule
stood up three years or so ago
“I’m very well aware the MR out mobilisation of the unwilling.
the Navy Command HQ here at
has to balance three strands of “I have got no doubt that the
Whale Island has developed, and
effort; work, family and a Naval demand for mobilised reservists
I don’t think Maritime Reserves
career – one more than a Regular will continue,” he said.
have played as big a role in that as
has to,” said Cdre Steel. “The level might go up or
it should have.
“It is getting inside the mind
down, but the need will remain
“There just hasn’t been the
of the reservist to be able to put
and there’s an increasing
ability to have staff in on the
forward the case for the Maritime
likelihood that we will not find
various meetings that have helped
Reserves in the best way.
willing volunteers from the MR to
develop the HQ.
● Cdre Chris Steel meets reservist Amphibious Ops Offi cer Lt Richard Brookes, an AW/STOM specialist
“I’m not an expert on Reservist
service that.
“At worst we were forgotten, at
9ASRM, on board HMS Ocean in Cyprus during the Taurus 09 deployment Picture: LA(Phot) Bernie Henesy
ways. I am here to deliver
“So there may be a future
best we were an afterthought.
leadership and direction and rely
down – and, more importantly, in the right place at the right specialist niche roles, to support
requirement for mobilisation of
“That is no slight on anybody
on Maritime Reserves experts
they know me. time to deliver for the Reserves and augment the regulars, Cdre
the unwilling.
in the organisation, past or
to offer opinions and guidance to
“Every mobilisation of the
present – everybody has been busy
“I have a seat at the table, and – although that’s not to say this Steel is also out to inform his HQ
supplement the experience I can
here, with people tied down to
pushing the Reserves’ cause which post will always be taken by a
colleagues and beyond that the
gain over the next few months as
unwilling will be made against
horrendous deadlines.
is easier for me to do than for full-timer.
Reserves has a crucial role in RN
I visit units.
a particular task, and that task
“If something is not in the
someone not known to this HQ. “In my view it’s too early to say
operational capability.
“What I’m already picking up is
would be agreed on a case-by-
mind’s eye it is passed by.
“It’s a real positive for the what sort of person will replace
At present around 17 per
the unique contribution the MR
case basis, outside general war –
“I have worked on and off in
Reserves, and they should see this me – it depends on the needs at
cent of trained strength of the
provides – the so-called ‘Twice the
specific approval is needed.”
this headquarters for five years in
as a huge fillip – it’s recognition the time.”
Maritime Reserves – which covers
Citizen’ effect.”
With a strategic review of
the past six.
their input is important, that they So besides his prime role of
both the Royal Naval Reserve and
Cdre Steel said this can bring a
reserves currently in progress,
“I have been involved in change, need a full-time representative. supplying a stream of ready-
the Royal Marines Reserve – is
number of benefits.
Cdre Steel is continuing his twin-
and I know people from the top “I see myself as the right person trained men and women, many in
mobilised or on full-time reserve
Supportive employers find that
track approach – supplying the
service (FTRS).
their employees pick up valuable
needs of the regular Navy and
“We need to look at the way
skills and are more rounded
making sure everybody knows
The Maritime Reserves
we sell ourselves, and the scale of
characters, while military chiefs
what a great job the MR is doing.
military tasks that could not be can count on mature, trained “I intend to be regularly
delivered if we were not there,” individuals who can slot seamlessly talking to the two- and three-star
said Cdre Steel. into roles alongside regulars,
marinaCurrent trained strength is around 2,200 deployment or exercise, in 13 countries
officers, treading the fine line
The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) stands at including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and the
“It is shifting the argument earning respect from their full- between being informative and
marina
around 1,600 trained men and women Sudan, as well as members at sea.
from ‘this is what the Maritime time colleagues. being a pain in the backside,”
The Royal Marines Reserve (RMR) weighs
Reserves is’ to ‘this is the impact That ability in theatre is likely to he said.
marina Reservists bring specialist expertise in a marina
in with around 600 trained personnel number of areas, including medical, logistics,
Birmingham unit HMS Forward saw more maritime trade, communications and force marina
than a third of its members deployed or on full protection
time reserve service in 2008 The Maritime Reserves can trace its modern marina
The unit had a presence, through roots back to 1859 and the RN Volunteer Act
● HMS Vivid sailors march past the Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire, the Lord Mayor of Plymouth and
Commanding Offi cer Cdr Angie Hancock (saluting) on Royal Parade
Picture: LA(PHOT) Abbie Gadd
Vivid enjoys its day in the sun
A DAY in the sun was the perfect start for a reserve HMS Vivid’s Commanding Officer, Cdr Angie
unit’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Hancock, said: “The men and women of HMS Vivid
HMS Vivid clocks up its half-century next month. are tremendously proud and grateful to be awarded
But members of the unit were out on the streets the Freedom of the City.
of Plymouth to accept the Freedom of the City from “As we marched through the city centre, with
Devon’s Lord Lieutenant Eric Dancer. bayonets fixed, drums beating and banners flying, we
Bright spring weather ensured perfect conditions felt justly proud of the honour bestowed upon us.
for the sailors as they exercised their right to march “We are always looking at ways to strengthen
along their home city’s streets, starting at the Armada the already close bond we have with the local
Way piazza. community.”
The award recognises the unit’s close association HMS Vivid has more than 140 personnel, of
with the local community, and follows the Devonport whom more than 20 have deployed in support of
Regeneration Community Partnership’s Volunteer of UK operations in the Middle East in the past year,
the Year award, earned by the unit’s efforts at summer working alongside their full-time counterparts in a
and Christmas fun events. range of tasks.
013_NN_may.indd 1 17/4/09 11:50:58
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48