1ST ( UK ) SIGNAL BRIGADE
COVID Competitions
A competitive urge has gripped HQ 1 ( UK ) Sig Bde , some believe it has been borne from the success of the battle for communications on Ex LOLE 20 , but the more likely reason is it is a cunning way for the Bde Sergeant Major to get the staff officers to do what he wants in these COVID restricted times .
It all started with the “ fastest 5k ” challenge – team and individual times counted – one could submit as many times as desired , and the fastest time counted . The G4 team won the day , with only mild suspicion raised that they were the only team with access to the MT fleet .
Then there was the socially distanced Christmas quiz . The staff were spread between remote dial ins across the UK and the socially distanced remainder in the IBC in Imjin Barracks . As the scores were counted up , tensions mounted , a close fought battle between G1 , the Command Team and Sam Cutting , SO3 G3 . And just as the first-place prize was about to be handed over to G3 ( in a COVID secure manner ) a cry crackled across the Skype speaker from the BEME ( SO2 G4 , Maj Gino Hinson ) claiming another victory for G4 . Once again only raising moderate suspicion that he didn ’ t have google running on a separate computer throughout the quiz .
Handover of Command
23 Feb 20 saw the official handover of command of 1 ( UK ) Sig Bde , and in lieu of being able to celebrate the Brigadier ’ s tenure in the usual way , the HQ held a remote leaving function on Skype to mark the occasion . One of the traditions within the Brigade Headquarters is that the departing person sends a letter to the Brigade Commander with a summary of their time in the Headquarters , which he subsequently reads to the assembled staff . The joke is , that the letter is not actually sent by the departing person , but rather by their closest colleagues who collaborate to expose as many of the departer ’ s faux pas as possible !
One does not witness many handovers of Brigades in their career . Unless , that is they are the Brigade Commander ’ s PA , otherwise acknowledged as the real brains behind 1 ( UK ) Sig Bde . Mrs Trina Wheable has seen six Brigade Commanders come and go , and by all accounts they just keep getting better . Whenever one asks “ who has been your favourite ?”, her reply is always “ the current one ”. As the Real Brigade Commander , Trina had received a letter to read on the occasion .
As Brigade Commander , Brigadier John Collyer has presided over the Brigade during the ARRC ’ s qualification as the Corps Warfighting HQ , a national pandemic and a period that has seen the Brigade size and role expand . Amongst his achievements are the creation of 13 Signal Regiment as a cyber security unit , inclusion of the Brigade Reserve Units in the OrBat for major exercises and a very rare “ Green across all services ” for the communication provision on Ex LOYAL LEDA 20 . The Brigadier also competed in Trailwalker in 2019 – a gruelling
100km march across the South Downs held annually to raise money for the Gurkha Welfare Trust and Oxfam – completing the course in just over 18 hours .
However , the role of Comd 1 ( UK ) Sig Bde and Chief G6 HQ ARRC does not make for a relaxed command appointment , and being human , Brigadier JC ’ s letter had plenty of material to rouse a chuckle at the remote leaving function . Searching for his beret whilst it is on his head , turning up for a 100km race having done no preparation and armed with only a packet of Marlborough lights and a flask of tea for nutrition , and his well-worn vernacular , all came under fire . Yet always , there was the sense of a commander who puts his people first and leads by example .
Brigadier John Collyer leaves to take up assignment in Army Headquarters as Head Capability Strategy and Development within HOC Information Manoeuvre . Newly appointed Deputy Commander and ACOS G6 , Colonel Richard Byfield MBE , will take the reins of 1 ( UK ) Sig Bde and HQ ARRC G6 Branch until Trina ’ s seventh Brigade Commander , Colonel Philip Muir MBE , arrives in May . The Brigade staff look forward to supporting both .
The Socially Distanced Christmas Quiz
The New Year lockdown sparked a new challenge ( designed by the G4 team ) from the comfort of our homes – how much exercise one could fit into a month ? The answer turned out to be rather a lot , and the G4 team once again ran away with the team prize , winning their own competition . There was no suspicion this time , just a curiosity about how the G4 team manage to find so much time for PT …
22 Signals Regiment
248 Gurkha Signal Squadron , 22nd Signal Regiment formed up , with their Commanding Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major on completion of a successful Ex LOYAL LEDA 20 .
The Squadron , provide Communication Information Systems to the Forward and Rear Command Posts , as part of Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps ( ARRC ) in support of NATO .
12 SPRING 2021 the imjin @ comd1SigBde