A Celebration of Academic & Technical Excellence

On Thursday 31 July I was privileged to represent the Master at Blandford Camp for the conclusion of the Yeoman of Signals Course 79, which draws participation from the Royal Signals, Special Forces and Royal Marines. 

The day marks the end of a course containing 44 weeks of technical trade training and evaluation, academic modules contributing to a degree, application of new skills in field exercises, and a research project requiring a minimum of 200 hours work from each course member as part of a three-person team.

Following a short briefing at 08:00, there followed 7 one-hour long sessions in which each project team presented their project, their findings and answered questions from those in the Hall and following online. 

The range of projects was impressive and included addressing communication coverage for the military and emergency services on Ascension Island, looking at real time data uploads from soldiers on the ground, the specific demands of communication delivery in challenging environments, the rapid deployment of ‘burner’ networks supporting very short-term operations, and an investigation of data transfer via portable laser technology.

While the detail and acronyms may have been a challenge for a civilian guest, the professionalism and technical capability of the cohort shone out in every presentation.

The presentations were followed by the course graduation ceremony, together with promotions for members of the Royal Signals who successfully completed the course.  It was my pleasure to congratulate the winners of the Best Project for their work on Project AGILE NETWORK – which identified suitable solutions for Communications on the Move (COTM) for UK Commando Force in the High North Area of Operations, using man-portable bearer systems.

Then followed the Mess Dinner, where we were joined by family and guests of the graduates, which was all the more memorable for the presence of a Piper from Gurkha Signals, who led us to the top table and entertained during the meal.  It also provided an opportunity to, on behalf of the Master and Company, congratulate all those who successfully completed this academically and technically challenging course, earning the right to always be a Yeoman of Signals.

Liveryman N F Claydon

If you would like to know more about our affiliation with the Royal Signals please contact our relationship manager, Nick Claydon (nicholas.claydon@member.wcit.org.uk)