CHF personnel haul trucks through Yeovilton to mark LGBT history month

This is how you mark the end of LGBT history month in the Commando Helicopter Force: a truck pull down a road at Yeovilton.

The challenge? Haul a six-tonne truck 360 metres (1,181ft).

The link with LGBT issues may not seem obvious, so allow CHF's Commanding Officer Colonel Lenny Brown - he was among those doing the hauling - to explain.

The 360 metres, he says, represents the 360 degrees on a compass… and Compass is the Royal Navy group championing LGBT issues.

The haul bit? To show that everyone in the RN is "a team, all pulling in the same direction". The free physical training involved was an added bonus.

Above all, Col Brown said he hoped the sight of four teams dragging heavy vehicles would raise awareness of LGBT History Month.

"I demand that every member of my Force brings exception professional standards to work every-day, and the only way that I can truly expect every person to bring their best is by ensuring that those who serve as a Junglie know that they are completely valued and respected for who and what they are - zero tolerance for anything else," he explained.

"A helicopter, ship or computer doesn't know or care about your Sexual Orientation or Gender - all that matters is that you can operate it well - this is the mind-set I expect across my Force - all that anyone should care about is whether or not you can do your job, and that you can do it to the highest possible standard."

As marines were involved, the pull did turn into a little contest, with the Combat Service Support Squadron covering the 360m distance 60 seconds faster than their three rivals.