COMARRC’S INTRODUCTION
Herewith the autumn edition of the imjin magazine.
Returning from NATO service overseas, I was delighted to take the helm from
General Tim Radford and plan to continue his work here. The focus in this edition
is to celebrate our heritage with anniversaries stretching from the beaches of
Normandy to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
It is difficult not to be struck by the opportunities arising from service with the
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, Signals Brigade and those in Innsworth Station.
Professionally we have an interesting, varied and suitably demanding training
programme over the months ahead that will keep us sharp. The decision to
make us the Corps Warfighting Headquarters for the next two years will drive
our programme, the most immediate manifestation of which will be Exercise
‘ARRCADE FUSION’ in Cornwall this autumn. This will give purpose and, perhaps
serendipitously, a degree of healthy specialisation. Concurrent experimentation
is innovative and potentially transformational. Separately, the benefits are then
relayed as training support from Estonia to Japan. It is an exciting prospect.
On a more personal level, whether as an individual or family, opportunity
abounds. The Cotswolds are on our doorstep and there is a wealth of opportunity
in Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, quite aside from the broader
opportunities further afield in the United Kingdom. The ARRC International Club
is well placed to help British and foreign families alike. We shall maintain an
attractive series of trips to see the hardy perennials and more bespoke visits of
specific interest. Let us know where we can do more and we shall see what we
can do.
This magazine gives you a feel. I encourage you to read on. Take full advantage
of the opportunities and fill every minute with 60 seconds run.
CONNECT WITH US
Allied Rapid
Reaction Corps
Imjin Barracks
Innsworth, Gloucester
GL3 1HW
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +44 (0)1452 718007
For the latest on the Allied Rapid
Reaction Corps visit our website
www.arrc.nato.int
@HQARRC
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
I look forward to meeting you.
Lieutenant General Sir Edward Smyth-Osbourne KCVO CBE
Commander Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
How lucky are we to be associated with historic
Gloucester?
Home of the Glorious Glosters and their heroics at
the Battle of Imjin River, of HMS Gloucester, and RAF
Innsworth.
The city of ‘Humpty Dumpty’, the canon that supposedly
fell from Gloucester’s city walls during the English Civil
War that all the King’s horses and all the King’s men
couldn’t put back together again.
A city founded by Roman soldiers in 97 AD – that continues to be home today to
Italian troops (and their NATO allies) serving at the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
It makes it all the more satisfying to see the NATO flags flying across Gloucester as
we paraded through this famous city on Armed Forces Day.
In this edition of the imjin we explore our part in the continuing military story here.
We’ve visited Berlin and Kosovo to explore our historic ties to those twentieth
century battlegrounds.
And on the anniversary of D-Day, we released a pigeon from Normandy. Our plucky
pigeon voyageur even made it back to Portsmouth in an impressive three hours.
Glorious.
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
Major Laurence Roche
EDITOR’S NOTES
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps
For staff and families posted to
Imjin Barracks, there is a private
Facebook group. Search for
Imjin Station Community and
ask to join the group.
2
AUTUMN 2019 the imjin
Cover image:
Lieutenant Colonel
Florian Raebel of the
German army in front
of the section of the
Berlin Wall outside the
ARRC’s headquarters in
Imjin Barracks. Taken by
Sergeant Paul Shaw RLC.
the imjin magazine is produced by ARRC
Public Affairs on behalf of Innsworth Station.
The publication of an advert, article or photo
does not necessarily reflect the views of the
ARRC, Partner nations or the UK MOD.
Should you wish to include an article or photo
in future editions, please contact the Public
Affairs Office on 01452 718007 or e-mail
[email protected]
the imjin is designed
and printed by Manor
Printing Services
www.manorprinting.
co.uk
The next edition of the imjin will be issued in
December 2019.
@HQARRC
Allied Rapid Reaction Corps