February sapper mag:Layout 1 21/1/09 16:14 Page 20
F
riday 3rd of October marked a Sappers Gr
notable occasion when 18
Royal Engineer Geographic Technicians
were awarded Science Foundation
Degrees in Applied Computing at a
Graduation Ceremony at Denison
Barracks in Hermitage. This Foundation
Degree programme, accredited by
Sheffield Hallam University and run by
the Royal School of Military Survey has
now been running for five years and is
one of very few such programmes in the
British Army and indeed the graduation
ceremony is the only offsite event sanc-
tioned by the University. This ceremony
was the culmination of almost five years
of hard work and study: students are
required to follow an initial nine month
course, three years experience in an
operational unit, and a further nine
months’ study at the School. Foundation
Degrees are designed to integrate aca-
demic and work-based learning through
collaboration between employers and the
training deliverers, the end result in this
case being Geographic Technicians with
the vital skills needed for deployment on
operations. The key to the success of the
The graduates with RSMS staff and Military and Academic gu
programme is the strong partnership
between the Royal School of Military with the School and the important place donated by Marconi Integrated systems,
Survey and Sheffield Hallam University. foundation degrees have in the learning now part of BAE Systems, in honour of
Building on the success of the inaugural process. After the students received their Dr Terry Straeter and his contribution to
ceremony in 2005 and after funding for degrees it was the turn for the prize win- the development of digital photogram-
the event was obtained the rather tortu- ners to receive their awards, awards metrys and geographic systems as
ous process of checking the availability covering years 2006 and 2007. Sgt Ryan employed within Military Survey. The
of key players was undertaken and just Bell was awarded he Sheffield Hallam award is currently made to the Class 1
as importantly, the availability of the University prize as the top student for Technician who has made the most con-
graduands themselves. Out of a potential 2007. The Royal Engineer Association tribution to group working and team
24 graduands from the last three cohorts Prizes for Achievement were presented spirit on the course. Mr Kevin Porter,
to finish their Level 5 training, when by the Engineer in Chief (Army), the Business development Director Joint
considering operational commitments, Brigadier BJ Le Grys MBE to Air and Land of BAE Systems kindly
this was a pleasing turnout. It was nearly LCpls Ryan Ciesielski, Stuart Paronuzzi agreed to make the presentations to
19 graduands but LCpl Matthew Smith, and Richard Warmington. When the LCpl Garry Anderson for 2006 and
returning from Afghanistan, was subject prize, a copy of ‘Follow the Sapper’ was LCpl Joseph Deboo for 2007.
to a twenty four hour delay in Kandahar presented to LCpl Ciesielski he showed Then followed two addresses, from the
missing the ceremony by a day. that he was a true sapper as he told the Corps and the Intelligence perspectives.
The day of the graduation dawned Brigadier that he already had a copy of Brig Le Grys emphasised the continued
fine, and with staff and students suitably his own, Brigadier Le Grys exhorting and valuable role of RE Geographic within
gowned the ceremony commenced. him to give a copy to his father! The the Corps, and Brig Duncan OBE,
Professor Peter Jones, the Vice James Walke Prize was endowed by the Commandant of the Defence Intelligence
Chancellor of Sheffield Hallam Walke family in memory of James Centre in the final address, emphasised
University presided at the ceremony Walke who was an instructor in the Field the successful integration of both geo-
with Major General Rose MBE, Director Survey Department of the School of graphic training and geographic expertise
General Intelligence Collection, attend- Military Survey from 1967 to his death within the Intelligence community. And
ing as the senior military representative. in 1985. The award is now to the student then it was time for the welcome opportu-
After the Principal of the Royal School on the Class 1 course who has shown nity for the graduates and their families to
of Military Survey, Mr John Knight, sustained academic merit, outstanding meet with the academic staff from the
welcomed guests, students and family to leadership and team spirit for the university and the military guests over a
the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor gave duration of the course. Brig Le Grys convivial glass of wine.
his address, stressing the value the presented the 2007 prize to LCpl Martyn It was quite apparent that the graduates
University placed on the relationship Frank. The Terry Straeter Award was realised the importance of the event but
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