Sgt Helen Blake at No 10
My Time at HQ ARRC
Sgt Blake
Serving at HQ ARRC is a unique experience and one that I have benefitted from greatly in terms of personal and professional development .
It is unique mainly because of the multinational environment and
the increased cultural awareness that comes with it . The term “ cultural awareness ” should have prominence among all soldiers and officers in the British Army , but I have found this not always to be the case in my tours of Regimental Duty . However , at ARRC it is embraced with events such as International Families ’ Day every summer and individual national evenings held throughout the year which are two of the many highlights of my tour here .
We serve with different cultures but also various multinational military organisations within NATO who all do things slightly differently . It is part of the experience to adapt to these differences in your own working style and broaden your mind . As an NCO you get a glimpse of a bigger picture , bigger than regimental life and even bigger than the British Army . We have the opportunity to take part in NATO exercises and staff rides and I have been lucky enough to visit other NATO headquarters around Europe to see how things work when the British Army isn ’ t the Framework Nation .
Personal development is held in high regard at ARRC , I have had the time to conduct post graduate study for two years part time , with the ability to plan
for exams and had the assurance that I will get enough study time throughout . Personal and family life is equally important to the headquarters and exercises are planned well in advance so that soldiers and officers have the luxury of planning their own lives which we aren ’ t always normally afforded .
Adventurous training is at the heart of personal development in the British Army but in practice can be hard to fit in for most regiments . At ARRC expeditions are put into the calendar and planned 12-18 months before so there is an element of certainty that they will happen and there is the time to put the effort into the organisation so that participants get the most out of it . Most notable on the ARRC calendar is EX ARRCADE SNOWMASTER which is a week of skiing with the potential to gain a qualification at the end .
As an NCO , the environment we work in is “ grown-up ”. All ranks are treated as adults and are encouraged to organise extra-curricular activities either through a platform such as the NCO leadership committee or on an ad hoc basis if they feel something might be beneficial for their peers . Through the leadership committee , the NCO cohort has visited the Churchill War Museum , Imperial War Museum , the National Memorial Arboretum and the Houses of Parliament with a quick stop outside 10 Downing Street to study leadership .
I have enjoyed my experience of working at HQ ARRC and hope to work in a NATO environment again .
Working at HQ ARRC
Subteniente Andrés Fdez Baena – Spanish Army
Three years ago , I was pleasantly surprised to be selected as a member of staff at HQ ARRC . I was joining the Outer Office team of the new Spanish Brigadier , Enabling Commander and it was an honour for a solider with more than 35 years ’ experience serving my country and International Organizations , to be sent to the UK .
It is ‘ rapid reaction ’ indeed in this fast-moving HQ ! During my time here there have been two different COMARRCs , three COSARRCs , two DCOMs and a constant changeover of soldiers of all ranks . Exercises such as ARRCADE FUSION 19 and LOYAL LEDA 20 highlight the scale of this key NATO HQ . Also , the merging of ENABLING COMMAND into SUPPORT DIVISION with a new Spanish Deputy Chief of Staff has made my experience very demanding .
At HQ ARRC , you work together with people from different countries and different backgrounds . I am fortunate enough to work in an environment with colleagues representing 23 different nationalities . The opportunities to experience the benefits of working in a multinational and multicultural environment are particularly prevalent and this culturally diverse work environment gives you new insights and is good for your language skills and offers the right preparation for an international career .
ARRC has been an example of all these things , rarely a soldier can enjoy diversity and inclusion more than in this HQ with all the activities scheduled for all ranks as such as Snowmaster , Ridgemaster , Selva Backstop and Sail Maritime .
As well as adventure training and team building , the HQ is focused on Education , Training and Welfare support with a whole dedicated and experienced team . They show their commitment every day to improving the quality of training and life for all the soldiers and their families .
Recently , CSM Davison has started the Senior Soldier Working Group ( SSWG ) to support the chain of command with SNCOs
STTE Baena and COMARRC
ARRC Snowmaster
experience and to encourage a better flow of information to our junior soldiers . As the backbone of all armies , soldiers need this confidence to be ready for deployment and other challenges they face . This is undoubtedly a milestone that will benefit branch leadership , staff and the ARRC Command Group and a formal recognition of the role and professionalism of the Command Sergeant Major and Senior NCOs .
I am proud to serve in this HQ as Senior Spanish NCO looking forward to challenges that will come my way in the future .
8 SPRING 2021 the imjin