Page 22 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 58

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

Cpl Chris Moloney, RLC Chef, 1 RDG:
“I am glad I was given the opportunity
to take part of this project, I feel that I
have helped to leave a massive stamp
on the trade.”

The RLC Chef Ethos Project

By WO1 Ashley Johnson, DCWO 6th (UK) Division

Reprinted by kind permission of the Editor of The Sustainer, Journal of The Royal Logistic Corps

The RLC Chef is the only soldier who has three
Sgt Rhys Pandeles, RLC Chef,
deadlines every day, to ensure mission success is
1 Scots Guards:
achieved.
This statement might raise an eyebrow but “RLC Chefs lead by example, its hard
being an RLC chef is a tough business. The famous graft but everything we do has pride and
Napoleon quote: “An Army marches on its stom- passion. We are brilliant at developing
ach”, has stood the test of time because of what and mentoring our future and we are
food offers. Good food gives more than the nutri- dedicated to providing the best we can.”
ents needed to maintain life. It transports us to our
childhood through smells and flavours, it offers a
teams and having to adapt quickly to the nuances of
space for us to laugh and build relationships and
above all it gives us respite when we are having a these different groups. Because of this, our identity
and belonging has become muddled, nevertheless
tough day. Chefs are positioned throughout the
Army, bouncing from unit to unit, working in small our passion and pride remains the same.
Developing an ethos, is like delving into your
Cpl Vicky Pimm, RLC Chef, soul. Understanding what motivates us to do our
RLC Nurture team: job and what we expect from those in our ranks is
a reflective process. ‘Why am I happy cooking on
“Since joining the army, we all have a BBQ, whilst everyone else is playing volleyball?
become well versed in CDRILLS and, most What motivates me to smile at silly o’clock, when
of us, practice them daily, sometimes I am serving a breakfast to soldiers it the rain?’ The
subconsciously, as they have become answer is pride, knowing that the soldiers I am
ingrained into the process of decision feeding are happy and appreciative of my work.
making. Ultimately, we practice making Also, a more potent point is duty. ‘ I understand that
the correct choices, even if they are not the breakfast might be the last that solider eats, so I
always the easiest, in order to become need to make sure it’s my best.’ In January the trade
better leaders. Having a statement that set up a working group, with the aim to understand
we can all adopt, allows us to reach end what it is to be an RLC Chef and then deliver a
goals and objectives, as a team, with full tangible output that unites our values and gives us
corporation, support and guidance.” a common purpose, using the RLC strategy as a
handrail. We needed to build the team from the

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