Page 17 - A4 Journal 2020

Our Military Affiliations

NEWS FROM 5001 SQUADRON (RAF)
Sgt D W Cooper, the Team Leader, writes:
5001 Squadron has been as busy as ever over the last twelve months, with teams continuously deployed in
support of worldwide military operations. From Eastern Europe, to the Mediterranean and the Middle East,
the Squadron has been constructing, dismantling, rectifying and maintaining aircraft shelters, air
conditioning units and airfield support equipment.
The onset of the Coronavirus pandemic meant changes in the Squadron’s working practices, but they were
able to quickly implement a series of effective controls that enabled them to deliver their operational
outputs. Periods of isolation for personnel going to, or returning from, deployments were just some of the
measures that kept the Squadron healthy.
During the first quarter of 2020, the Facilities Installation Teams from Expeditionary Airfield Facilities Flight continued their
busy maintenance schedules in Afghanistan, Cyprus, Africa and the Middle East. The Facilities Installation Teams also
deployed to Lithuania, in support of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, to construct an environmentally controlled storage
shelter. The Squadron also supplied personnel to maintain and rectify the airfield support equipment for the entire 6-month
mission. The teams continually adapted to new working conditions, enabling the success of the operation whilst also
remaining COVID-safe.
More recently, 5001 Squadron also played a key role in keeping the UK’s operational capabilities ready and able to respond.
Runway works at RAF Lossiemouth meant the temporary relocation of RAF Typhoons to nearby Kinloss Barracks. Two
Facilities Installation Teams from 5001 Squadron deployed concurrently to Kinloss Barracks to construct four Rapid Erection
Shelters used to accommodate Typhoon aircraft from No 1 (Fighter) Squadron. This scale of deployment hasn’t been seen
since the early days of Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. Due to COVID-19 the team were working under a limited timeframe,
but because of their extensive knowledge, experience and high level of professionalism the task was a great success, with the
Typhoon aircraft continuing to carry out their defence commitments.
The Squadron has continued its commitment to Operation Shader, the UK's contribution to the fight against Islamic State and
terrorism. 5001 provides maintenance and rectification works to deployed aircraft shelters and environmental control
equipment utilised at the main operating base in Cyprus and satellite units throughout the Middle East.
Even with pandemic restrictions at their highest, 5001 Squadron has not stood still for a moment. The Squadron’s
Expeditionary Airfield Facilities Flight has constantly planned, managed and delivered 5001’s operational defence outputs; the
construction and maintenance of deployed airfield infrastructure across the globe - helping the UK to achieve its national and
international objectives.
The members of 5001 Squadron are exceptionally proud of their affiliation with the Worshipful Company of Constructors, as it
recognises the Squadron’s continued contributions to UK Defence through the delivery of our unique construction,
maintenance and rectification capabilities.

SOUTH-WEST LONDON ARMY CADET FORCE
It is both interesting and pleasing that the South-West London Army Cadet Force has used our
financial support to help them with their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Major Emma
Burtenshaw, 14 Company Commander, has written to the Clerk as follows.
“Its been a very strange and life altering period for us all both inside and outside the Army Cadet Force
(ACF). As an organisation, on the back of the pandemic, the ACF shut down all face to face (F2F)
training in March. Unlike schools and even workplaces the ACF has always worked on the high level of
F2F training and most of our training and activities are based around a high level of practical
involvement and contact. Removing this was a major step change to our continued engagement with both staff and cadets.
Part of the values and standards of the ACF is selfless commitment and this was never more apparent than during the initial
few days of the shutdown, all the Company HQ and quite a few of the Company staff continued to work as key workers but
still found time to adapt to support the ACF. Given the unknown and untried nature of the initial shut down the Company
quickly moved into action and with the use of modern technology we managed to build a virtual training environment using
Google Classrooms. The Company Training Officer and Staff Officer managed within 10 days of the shut down to produce
over 110 virtual lessons engaging cadets from basic through to Master cadets. These allowed the units to remain “open” to
training, supporting and continuing to develop the cadets. In addition to this some units also moved over to virtual drill nights
and training with the use of Zoom or Google Meets. Virtual training had not been tried prior to this, but given the standing
start and the adaptability of the staff and cadets it did not take long for the training to be adding value to the cadets. One real
positive that did come out of this was the wellness aspect, just the ability during those initial few weeks of lock down for the
cadets and staff to be able to contact each other and continue training helped to normalise the extraordinary situation that
we found ourselves in.

Autumn 2020 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Page 17