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DROPS Driver
Drops drivers provide the transport logistics support to a REME Workshop. They are trained to camouflage and service military vehicles and to operate the loading and dropping of supplies.
Minimum entry standard: Must be below the age of 40 on entry, have a full UK driving licence.
LANCE CORPRAL JACK VICKERS A DROPS DRIVER FROM LONDON IN 104 BN REME (V)
I was looking for some adventure which was completely different to my every day life.
As my brother was already in the TA and had told me what he got up to at the weekends, I knew this was what I was looking for! Living in London there was a wide variety of Units to choice from and I decided that the role of The Parachute Regiment with its high physical standards was the challenge that I wanted.
Initial training was hard and demanding, I used to come home at the end of the weekend exhausted, but found by doing some thing different, I was fully charged up for work on a Monday morning. What I was doing on a weekend compared to my other work mates was far more exciting! After completing all the training, I earned my wings, which was a very proud moment and made all the hard work and effort worthwhile.
Being in an Airborne Unit, the training was fast and furious: one weekend we parachuted into a training area in Germany and carried out an exercise in fighting in built up areas.
Unfortunately, due to work commitments, I was unable to remain in this role. The good thing about the TA though is that there are a variety of jobs which you can do, so with the help of my Unit I transferred to a Logistical Unit. At first I did not find it as glamorous as being in an Airborne Unit, but soon found that they had the same ethos of" work hard play hard". I learnt that the role of logistic supply was important and gained categories to my driving licence, becoming a Heavy goods Driver. Believe me, camouflaging trucks in static positions is an art in itself!
I have taken part in large formation exercises in the UK and overseas and when the new drops vehicle was introduced, I was able to attend a conversion course. I have also learnt to ski and was part of the Unit's orienteering team.
Unfortunately, due to a defence review the TA centre where I was based was closed. We were all given the option of joining another unit, so I chose an Air Despatched unit and got trained up to be part of a team dropping supplies by air.
After 15 years I decided it was time to leave the TA, but after a year I missed it and decided to rejoin. As I could not do the same commitment I had previously done, I decided to join a Specialist Unit as a Drops Driver. The most convenient Unit for me was 104 Bn REME Specialist based at Bordon. Training with the Specialist REME was interesting, as no two weekends are the same and you have plenty of opportunities to take part in adventure training, as well as supporting the Regular Army on equipment support tasks.
A year later I was mobilised and went to Iraq. This tour tested all the training I had ever received and stood me in good stead for living and working in harsh conditions.
They say never volunteer for anything in the Army, but on this occasion I did! An opportunity came up to escort some military equipment back to the UK from Iraq, sailing on a commercial vessel. The experience was unbelievable; we sailed up the Suez Canal, stopping off in Cyprus and Gibraltar. On arrival back in the UK, I was met by my family at the quay side which was a very emotional and fitting end to the tour.
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