32 NAVY NEWS, AUGUST 2009
News and information for serving personnel
A fighting
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AFTER two years and £100,000
of training one sailor was on the
Galaxy Briefs
verge of being discharged from
Galaxy 07/09: The Elizabeth
the RN – for good.
Cross and Memorial Scroll.
Despite the efforts of his
instructors, the trainee just wasn’t
RNTM
making the grade.
RNTM 102/09: Status of
It took a pair of tinted glasses
recruiting into sideways entry
to save his career – and spare the
branches and opportunities for
taxpayer £100K potentially being
branch transfer.
flushed down the drain.
RNTM 103/09: Learn to fl y
We’re not, of course, talking
at the RNGSA training week
Tom Cruise tinted glasses to
September 14-18 2009.
Picture: LA(Phot) Gaz Faulkner
make someone look cool, but
● The Geospatial cell at FIMU have helped keep the Vikings on the map in Afghanistan
RNTM 105/09: Loss or theft
bespoke spectacles to tackle
of Naval Service identity cards
a visual difficulty – Irlen, or
disciplinary and administrative
procedures.
RNTM 106/09: Warning
notice for offi cers’ non selective
promotion
RNTM 107/09: The Nuffi eld The data day
scotopic sensitivity, syndrome . It
causes black text to blur or move
on white paper or a computer
screen – and in turn leads to
headaches and eyestrain.
It’s one of the successes cited
Trust for the Forces of the Crown
by Karen Truscott and Steve
RNTM 109/09: Locally
Kendrick, Raleigh’s specific
Produced Identity Document
“YOU’RE like a Naval
learning difficulty advisers.
(LPID) for use during overseas
On Portsdown Hill overlooking Portsmouth sits the Fleet
wikipedia, aren’t you?” I ask
It’s their job to help recruits
deployments
Information Management Unit, who daily update, detail
passing through the Torpoint
RNTM 110/09:
brightly.
and track data and information for the Fleet. Helen Craven
Viking map
establishment cope with
Communication and support
Pause.
goes to find out more. difficulties sometimes missed
via the Royal Navy Community
“No,” I am very firmly
When the Viking transport by the education system –
website
corrected, “We are accurate.” but is, in fact, a challenging – at inputting quality data into the
vehicles operated by the dyslexia, dyspraxia (problems
RNTM 113/09:
Up on Portsdown Hill looking
times frustrating – but ultimately central data repository to support
Royal Marines were designed, with co-ordination), dyscalculia
Accommodation requirements
down at Portsea Island there’s
rewarding task.” current systems.
it was assumed that they (like dyslexia, only with
for injured service personnel
a team of just 43 people who
There are several specialist All of this data entry is 100
would require paper mapping numbers rather than letters)
RNTM 117/09: Introduction
combine the best elements of
sections within the overall FIMU per cent checked and adheres
for navigation whilst on and others – all with the aim of
of LSea Advanced Fleetwork
Jane’s, Wikipedia (but accurate),
organisation: to rigorous standard operating
operations.
furthering their fledgling naval
course at MWS Collingwood.
Google Earth, CIA Worldbook
■ Reference information procedures. This dedicated, largely
However, space constraints
careers.
RNTM 118/09: Phase 2 –
and more.
■ Geospatial cell unsung, team works tirelessly
meant that the crew could only
On their first day in the RN all
Handover of information on
Want to know the exact size,
■ Encyclopaedic data cell to keep up with the voracious
carry mapping covering the
recruits fill out a self-assessment
trainees deemed of concern
weapon system, sensor fit of
■ Support office and software demands of the database.
expected operating area.
form – answering questions
RNTM 120/09: Completion
that foreign minehunter you’re
issuing office Support office and software
Therefore, when the patrol
about reading, writing, maths,
of the Modern Apprenticeship
working alongside in NATO –
■ Data management group issuing office: Vital to the
was re-tasked or saw a target
concentration and past learning.
in engineering by Marine
these guys can tell you.
■ Quality assurance section running of the unit this office
outside their original patrol
Of those 60 to 65 rookie sailors
Engineering general service
Want to know the lay of the
■ Message text format cell (a keeps a record of all products,
area, they had to operate
recruited each week, maybe half
personnel
land, the nature of the sea, the
lodger unit) when and to whom they were
without mapping.
a dozen have some underlying
RNTM 121/09: Promotion
name in local lingo – these guys
Reference information: This delivered – an essential track of
The Navy saw this gap
learning difficulty which requires
requirements for Leading
can tell you.
is a new addition to FIMU, the dispersal of highly-sensitive
and sourced an off-the-shelf
attention.
Engineering Technician (Marine
This is the information age,
and provides new electronic data in the Fleet.
solution that used the same
“The Navy picks up people
Engineering) general service
with facts and figures instantly
publications for use in CSS Data management group:
electronic mapping available
who perhaps might have failed
RNTM 122/09: The Royal
available at the other side of your
(Command Support System) and Provides technical data support
from MoD sources.
at school, but who have great
Navy day by day
computer screen.
keeps current versions updated. and information systems expertise
BAE Systems provided
strengths and are determined to
RNTM 124/09: The
Problem is, can you trust
As much of the world has to FIMU; custodians of the FIMU
a technology demonstrator
do something with their lives,”
Association of Royal Navy whoever put together that
moved online, the RI section central data repository, they
consisting of a Toughbook
explains Karen.
Offi cers (ARNO) inaugural essay information? And if you’re in the
now issues for use on Navystar design, configure and maintain
laptop; a PC Tablet to be fitted
“That’s why we have a mission
competition 2009 middle of the oggin your internet
electronic libraries to Fleet units the central database.
into the Viking’s cab and a
to ensure that they are not failed
RNTM 126/09: Guidance access may not be all that instant.
containing the JSP, BR and They also ensure that
hand-held PDA for troops.
by the system.”
and policy for Fleet internal
similar publications. This allows information imported into and
But, yes, you can trust the
This system became
The statistics back up the
communications
ships at sea access to a library of exported out of the database is
quality of the facts from the Fleet
known as the Viking Local
achievements of the team: 98
RNTM 127/09: Naval Service
information that cannot be easily delivered in the correct, useful
Information Management Unit
Situational Awareness
per cent of Irlen sufferers, for
amenity fund approved grants
reached on the Defence Intranet and useable format.
(FIMU).
System.
example, pass their specialist
RNTM 128/09: Completion of
via satellite. Quality assurance section:
Lt Cdr Toby Evison, the officer
The Geospatial Section at
Phase 2 training (the success rate
survey of leave
The unit is keen to receive There’s an old adage ‘rubbish
who heads up the information unit,
FIMU became involved when
feedback on this relatively new in, rubbish out’. So it is essential
for all Phase 2 trainees, with or
said: “FIMU has a staff of over
the system needed to be
without learning difficulties, is 86
DIN
service, and adapt it to meet the that when FIMU information is
40, an eclectic mix of uniformed,
loaded with mapping for the
per cent).
DIN 2009DIN01-126: The
changing digital future. used to make important command
civil service and contractors, who
trials. As FIMU supported other
“When I was last here a dozen
wearing of uniform in public/
Geospatial cell: They produce decisions, the quality of that data
beg, borrow – but never actually
RN systems with electronic
years ago, I know there were
standards of dress and
all the digital mapping products is paramount. This section ensures
steal – static or encyclopaedic data
mapping, charting and satellite
people who were discharged,
behaviour.
(sea, air and land) for exercises that quality is protected.
from authoritative sources, enter
imagery, it was a simple task to
two or three a week. Today,
DIN 2009DIN01-121: Armed
and operations that are used Points of contact
it into a central data store, then
obtain the additional mapping
they would not be discharged
Forces childcare voucher
for situational awareness, not
OIC – Lt Cdr Toby Evison 93821 2091
send it on to specific areas in the
for the deployment area.
because we better understand
scheme
navigation.
Geospatial manager – Lt Iain Wallace
93821 2064 The Geospatial staff used
right format.”
their needs,” says Steve, a former
DIN 2009DIN04-101: Physical
They have recently shown off Reference information manager – Helen
their extensive knowledge and
He admits himself that data is
warrant officer now working
education, adventure training
their skills with swift response
D’Alessio 93821 2097
experience of the nuances of
not sexy. But that unsexy data
for the VT Flagship training
and sports (PAT) equipment
and up-to-the-minute information
Data manager – Ron Strike 93821 2113
Data analyst manager – Bob Hamilton digital mapping to suggest to
is what gives the brains to any
organisation.
DIN 2009DIN07-073: Open
during anti-piracy operations, 93821 2076
BAE several important changes
system that is called on to identify
“One lad got just 18 per cent
University Naval Service prize
force protection on visits to foreign
Coordinator – Ian Stirton Smith 93821
to the associated software.
or build information around
in a seamanship exam, but his
competition 2010
ports, and relief operations for
2104
MTF manager – Lt Irish Sirmons USN Once the complete system
a specific unit – this includes
instructor knew he could do
DIN 2009DIN07-076:
units in the front line. 93821 2165
was bought, a trial was set
command systems, Bowman, and
much better than that. He called
Postgraduate studies –
Encyclopaedic data cell:
Quality manager – Ron Smith 93821
up to test the feasibility of
more.
us and we did the test with the
Fellowships, Masters and part-
The powerhouse of the FIMU
2096
Applications manager – Malcolm Findlay using the system in theatre for
He added: “It sounds simple
sailor, reading the questions
time Doctorates within the Naval
database, researching and 93821 2112
Herrick 9.
Service
As a part of this trial, the
out. The lad got top marks and
DIN 2009DIN07-082: Joint
Royal Marines of 45 Commando
earned the class prize – but he
Services mountaineering
Spotting the threat at sea used the system on their pre-
could have been discharged,
expedition 2012 (JS2012) to
Submarine Threat Evaluation Cards: At sea in making tactical decisions and will improve
deployment training so FIMU
which would have been such a
Antarctica
the submarine command teams used to produce operational capability.
sourced mapping and imagery
waste.”
threat cards, which provide basic information on This will will ensure Threat Cards of a
of the training areas and
Given the huge throughput of
DIB
a unit of interest. consistently high standard will be produced by
loaded the data onto the three
people through Raleigh – around
DIB 24/09: Iraq Inquiry
Shortcomings of this method were identified by the Submarine Command Teams.
Toughbooks, nine PC Tablets
3,000 new-entry trainees every
FOST and they have now mandated that Threat Fleet Visual Recognition Training –
and 30 PDAs.
year, not to mention Phase 2
Evaluation Cards are to be produced for known Hotspots: Since the closure of the Command
As the training progressed,
sailors going through seamanship,
changes to the mapping and
logistics and submarine training
to l
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mission threats. Recognition Centre facility, the supply of
This, however, takes significant effort from authorised Recognition Training (RT) material to
imagery required by the users
– the learning advisers concede
the individual command teams and is open to Fleet operational units has ceased.
were sent from FIMU to the
they cannot help everyone.
interpretation by the units. This led to units holding increasingly outdated
geospatial team at Brigade
But they are determined to
Each Threat Card takes approximately 20 man- material resulting in the units finding it difficult to
HQ.
do their best and give sailors a
It’s your 2-6
hours to produce and on average there are meet the requirements of the recognition-related
At the end of the pre-
fighting chance – something the
approximately 20-30 Threat Cards produced per PRISM serial.
deployment training, the Viking
trainees often appreciate.
deployment. To solve this problem, FIMU have been working
LSAS received great feedback
“We’ve had some great
NEED to get your message
The Data Management section of FIMU, in alongside the Small Applications Team and Navy
from the users and was
feedback from parents, or from
across to the rest of the RN?
conjunction with the Fleet Small Applications Command to produce a Visual Recognition
accepted for use in theatre for
the recruits themselves, who say
To feature in 2-6 contact
Team is working together with FOST and the Training (VRT) web-based software application
Herrick 9.
that their problems were never
WO1 Baz Cooke (Fleet
Maritime Warfare Centre to develop an electronic that will be distributed to Fleet units for download
This system was put into
recognised in 11 years in the
Media Ops), 93832 8821, email
educational system, but were
FLEET-DCS-INFO-IC WO
web-based system that will replace the current to their laptop, with the possibility of it being on
service in just 14 months at a
spotted after a week in the RN,”
method. DII(F) in the future.
cost of only £140,000. FIMU’s
says Karen.
This system will contain information on sea and This product will contain information and a
involvement with the mapping
“Sailors come back to us and
air platforms along with images of the platform, selection of graphics and images for training
data, the testing and design
say: ‘We couldn’t have done it
plus equipment and weapon-fit breakdowns. purposes on sea, air and land platforms. Regular
of the software helped fill the
without you.’ We tell them that
It will be updated as required – meaning that updates will be distributed ensuring that the
capability gap in a very short
they’re the ones who’ve achieved
accurate information will be available to assist product is maintained and up to date.
period of time.
something, not us.”
News and information for serving personnel
032-033_NN_aug09 2-6.indd 1 21/7/09 14:01:50
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