Photo:

HMS President’s

Guard on deck for

Lord Mayor’s arrival

from the Thames at

the start of the Lord

Mayors Show in

November

FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER Commander John Herriman

Seven members of the ship’s company from

HMS President have mobilised in support of

the UK Border Force Agency. The sailors

who are embarked as seamanship special-

ists will be on BFA ships patrolling around

the coast of the UK.

Part of the Government’s enhancement to

the UK National security this provides an

excellent opportunity for our trained sailors

to support this key initiative and to gain

some very valuable sea time experience.

PRESIDENT MATTERS

LONDON’S ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE

Spring 2016

President Reservists to assist Borders Force Agency

Welcome to HMS President's Spring newsletter. Whether we are

supporting the Royal Navy on operations and exercises, supporting

events in the City, Greater London or the South East, or supporting

community engagement in the Borough of Tower Hamlets we

could not do this without the support of our families and employ-

ers, and this is an opportunity to say thank you.

As you will see from this newsletter the unit has been busy and we

are very proud of the role that we play as the largest Maritime

Reserve unit based in the Capital, and I hope to see many of you

in HMS President during the course of 2016.

Cdr John Herriman DL RNR

Commander Herriman with the Lord Mayor

Jeffrey Evans, 4th Baron Mount Evans

A reservist from HMS Presi-

dent has recently returned

from mobilised service in

Sierra Leone as part of Opera-

tion Gritrock, the UK military

response to the Ebola epi-

demic in West Africa. Based

at the headquarters of the

Combined Joint Inter-Agency

Task Force in Freetown, Lieu-

tenant Commander Ben Horn-

er, was the only naval officer

deployed to the Operation. His

role was to provide practical

support and advice to the

Sierra Leone Office of Nation-

al Security (ONS), which was

designated as the country’s

lead agency for disaster

management. His project

involved upgrading the in-

frastructure, training and

doctrine of the ONS, to re-

spond effectively to future

crises.

Ben said:“It’s been hugely

rewarding working with the

ONS staff, as they improve

their skills and equipment

and prepare for the future.

Everybody involved in this

project has a real sense

that the work we’re doing

here will help the Sierra

Leone government to face

future national emergencies

with confidence in their abil-

ity to respond quickly and

effectively, which will un-

doubtedly save lives.”

Fighting against Ebola

Page 2

Personnel from HMS

President have been

on mobilised duty

throughout 2015 and

2016 in the Gulf,

Africa, the

Mediterranean and

around the UK coast.

'All the President's Men and Women' - a

big Bravo Zulu to Midshipmen Joe Livesey,

Oli Youngman, Dominique Symons,

Joel Richmond, Alex Wallace, Henry Dace

and Nick Stevenson , who have success-

fully completed HERMES 2015. The

accelerated Phase 1 Initial Naval Training

(Officer) course is a fast track programme,

which started on 11 July, and included

4 weeks at Britannia Royal Naval Col-

lege and an Initial Ship Acquaint period on

RFA Argus.

The scheme is planned to

run again in 2016

Spring 2016

MOBILISATIONS

TRAINING

Lt Cdr Ben Horner

The Officer Cadets on board RFA ARGUS

Crowborough Command Leadership

training weekend.

Lt. Colonel Bear Grylls Royal Marine Reserve, leading fitness

training at HMS PRESIDENT

The past year has been a busy

one for exercises and 18 mem-

bers of HMS President have

been involved in international

exercises around the globe on

COUGAR 15, in the Mediterra-

nean on TRIDENT JUNCTURE,

and West of Scotland on JOINT

WARRIOR.

Reservists providing specialist

support with mine counter-

measures, media operations,

intelligence, submarine opera-

tions, logistics and amphibious

operations are an essential

element towards the success

of these exercises.

In recognition of their support to

Reserve forces, the Metropolitan

Police Service have won a Ministry

of Defence Employer Recognition

Scheme Silver Award. This Award

rewards and recognises employ-

ers and organisations that pledge,

demonstrate or advocate support

to Defence and the Armed Forces community, and align their values with the

Armed Forces Corporate Covenant. Lieutenant Craig Pearson and Petty

Officer Kevin Cribb from HMS PRESIDENT, attended the awards ceremony at

RAF Northolt in November.

Meanwhile another HMS President reservist, Lieutenant

Commander Tony Scott recently attended a ceremony at

his employer, the design, engineering and project man-

agement consultancy Atkins, to reinforce its commitment

to the Armed Forces Covenant. Co-signing the covenant

were Julian Brazier TD MP (Minister for Reserves) and

Nick Roberts (CEO, UK and Europe). Also in the photo is

Allan Cook CBE (Atkins Chairman, standing, second from

left). This announcement follows last month’s news that

Atkins had been recognised by the Armed Forces Cove-

nant for its commitment to the Armed Forces communi-

ty, with a coveted Gold Defence Employer Recognition

Scheme award from the MOD.

ACTIVE DUTY ON EXERCISES

EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT

Metropolitan Police win

MOD Silver Award

Spring 2016 Page 3

AB Trigg at her Employer’s

SELEX ES on Uniform to Work

Day 2015

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

With the help of a Community

Covenant Grant, HMS President

has developed a community initia-

tive with the charity, Ocean Youth

Trust (OYT) South, whereby it

helps fund places on sailing trips

for young people: http://

www.oytsouth.org/. The Gosport

based charity uses ‘Adventure

Under Sail’ as a personal develop-

ment opportunity for young people

aged 12-25, taking them to sea in

their 72-foot yacht John Laing.

This summer four young people

from the Tower Hamlets area sailing and learning new skills.

HMS President’s Able Seaman Andrew Porter was lucky

enough to spend a week sailing on the John Laing with a view

to learning about leading groups of young people in sailing.

He said “I would like to thank the crew of the John Laing for

making it an unforgettable experience. “

For the first time a team from the Royal

Naval Reserve (mainly from HMS Presi-

dent, but also HMS King Alfred

(Portsmouth) and HMS Flying Fox

(Bristol)) participated in last year's

Fastnet Race on Volunteer finishing the

race a creditable 190th out of the 300

entrants.

HMS PRESIDENT,

72 ST KATHERINE’S WAY,

LONDON E1W 1UQ

Telephone: 0207 481 7301

Email: president-mailbox@mod.uk

www.royalnavy.mod.uk/president

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or Twitter @HMSPresidentRNR

Adventurous Training