I was most disappointed to read in the April edition, in an article entitled Role Models, that it took a senior research fellow at the Sandhurst-based Centre for Army Leadership to realise that “mentoring of recruits could help stamp out inappropriate behaviours”.
After the shameful deaths of four trainees at the Royal Logistics Training Centre in Deepcut between 1995 and 2002 – and the subsequent review which found that the quality and motivation of some of those responsible for supervising the trainees was not of the required standard – we seem to have learned nothing.
In 1967 I was selected to be a trooper in the Royal Horse Guards and become what was known as a ‘barrack room-trained soldier’ at the Guards Depot in Pirbright.
I moved into the barrack room of a 32-man squad for their 20-week phase one training course.
I was in that space seven days a week throughout the course to supervise the trainees and instruct them in personal hygiene, kit cleaning, locker layouts, basic discipline and behaviour.
The incentive for me was that I was to be promoted to the rank of lance corporal if I completed the full 20-weeks with the trainees.
Quite why the army discontinued the application of such essential, albeit low-level, supervisory staff is beyond me.
Human nature, left to its own devices, will usually degenerate unless a positive example is there to counter such behaviour.
Mentoring undoubtedly benefited me too. My career as a private soldier developed to the point where I was later selected for commission and went on to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
– Lt Col (Retd) Stuart McLean, ex-AGC (RMP)
I am a reservist about to deploy on overseas adventurous training and the medical plan and admin instruction state I must have a dental check-up before departure.
The current policy in 2023DIN01-124 DMS Dental Care for Deploying and High Readiness Reserve Personnel states that I am not entitled to a military appointment.
I’d like to know if I can claim back the costs of a civilian dental check-up via JPA?
Also, if I am unable to access my hugely oversubscribed dental practice would I be permitted to use the military system in order to comply with the exercise order and ensure medical risk is mitigated for this deployment?
– Name and address supplied
Lt Col Christoph Harper, Dental Regulation and Training, Army Headquarters, replies:
You are correct to reference the DIN, noting that an updated version (2025DIN01-040) is now available.
You have also correctly identified that your current status does not provide access to defence’s dental provision and for this reason you would be unable to claim any costs or access Defence Primary Health Care (Dental) for an assessment prior to attending adventurous training overseas.
Dental care for reservists is currently being considered as part of an improved offer, although it is unlikely that anything new will be offered in the short term.
In the meantime, I would urge you to do all you can to remain dentally fit through NHS facilities in order to take advantage of opportunities such as AT expeditions when they arise.
