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DCMR Visit to meet Scottish Reservists
19 February 2025
Colonel Aldeiy Alderson’s Busy Week in Scotland: From Employer Engagement to Burns Night
As part of a busy week in Scotland, Colonel Aldeiy Alderson , Deputy Commander of the Maritime Reserves (DCMR), took part in a diverse range of events, from an employer engagement evening to a traditional Burns Night Supper.
Col. Alderson began his visit on Thursday with an employer engagement evening. This event not only provided an opportunity to thank employers of reservists for their support but also gave them a taste of reserve service—from experiencing sea survival equipment to using virtual training aids for operating RHIBs.
The support that employers provide is crucial in enabling their employees to undertake reservist service alongside their civilian careers. Employers recently awarded the Gold Award under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme shared insights into the benefits they have seen from supporting service personnel.
A jam-packed weekend followed, with HMS Scotia hosting national training weekends for the RNR Logistics Branch and Command, Leadership & Management training for Young Officers in Initial Naval Training. Alongside these courses, HMS Scotia also held a whole-ship training day for members of the ship’s company.
For the Logistics Branch, training ranged from damage control exercises in HMS Scotia’s Damage Repair Instruction Unit—a scaled-down version of the full facilities at HMS Excellent and HMS Raleigh—to instruction on establishing a Forward Logistics Site.
Meanwhile, members of INT undertook practical leadership tasks, with each young officer having the chance to act as Officer in Command, giving orders using the standard maritime tactical estimate. These continuous leadership exercises over the weekend helped young officers prepare for their upcoming Final Leadership Exercise at Britannia Royal Naval College—one of the final assessments of their Initial Naval Training.
The weekend also provided an opportunity for members of HMS Scotia and the Logistics Branch to each host belated Burns Night Suppers, followed by a joint ceilidh. With recitations of Burns’ poetry, including, of course, the Address to the Haggis, and the Immortal Memory delivered by Colonel Alderson, these dinners offered a more informal social setting to bring together personnel of all ranks. The ceilidh—featuring traditional Scottish dances—was led by the brilliant musicianship of the Royal Marines Band Scotland.