Hi, I’m Brigadier Simon Stockley and I’m responsible for the provision of infrastructure to support our personnel in their bases overseas, while simultaneously providing Defence training facilities in the UK and around the world. Today I wanted to take the opportunity to explain the important role that our Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) play overseas to ensure that service personnel have a safe place to live, work and train.
The Americas
Let’s start in South and North America and work our way east. Firstly, the Falkland Islands, which has our smallest detachment of just one LEC. Responsible for communicating with the Falkland Islands Support Unit, Joint Forces Logistics Unit and our supply chain partners Sodexo and Interserve, she authorises contractor flights and manages accommodation and welfare packages for those deployed in the Falklands.
Moving north, in Belize, we have 66 LECs who provide critical infrastructure support and life cycle replacement work to maintain the estate infrastructure. Our LECs recently carried out work to reactivate service family accommodation, replace high voltage electrical cabling and refurbish exercise accommodation.
![A LEC from Belize working on some plumbing. [Crown Copyright]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2018/08/Belize-Brian-Robles-Plumber.jpg)
![DIO's team are vital to providing essential training for British forces in Canada. [Crown Copyright/MOD 2015]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2018/08/45158825-1.jpg)
Europe
Across into Europe, we have 120 LECs working in the Sennelager Training Area, Germany, which provides fixed and manoeuvre ranges for service personnel to practise firing their weapon systems, from their personal rifles to massed artillery. Our range wardens, security patrol drivers and those responsible for running range control operate a safe place for the UK military and international colleagues to train in Germany, while keeping the civilian population safe. It has now been decided that the British Army will retain the Sennelager Training Area, and we are now working with colleagues to determine what levels of support we will require to provide to retain and maintain these valuable training.
![Dogs and their handlers from 102 Military Working Dogs Sqn taking part in a live fire exercise on the Sennelager Ranges in Germany. [Crown Copyright/MOD 2016]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2018/08/45160265.jpg)
Finally, 25 LECs work in Cyprus, including engineers, chartered surveyors and administration staff who work in travel, finance and facility management; in effect we represent the local authority across the British bases. They liaise with the Republic of Cyprus government on issues such as land management, legislation and the provision of water. They also maintain infrastructure for around 5,000 buildings and facilities, including the strategically important airbase at RAF Akrotiri. As one example of the loyalty and dedication shown to the British Armed Forces by our local staff, the team in Cyprus recently said a sad farewell to Mr Andreas Panayiotou, who enters retirement following 62 years of service.
Africa
Moving to Africa, in Kenya we have 135 LECs, who are responsible for providing a safe place to train for light forces, and elements of the Joint Helicopter Force, who conduct live and dry training on land that includes mountains, dry and arid terrain and jungle.
![Some of the Kenya team at work. [Crown Copyright]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2018/08/Kenya-LECs-pic-2-1.png)
Asia
Moving to the Far East, we have 16 LECs in Singapore who run the strategic oil fuel depot for UK and foreign naval vessels. During refuelling they connect hoses, walk on top of each tank and measure the fuel levels and drain pipelines. They also conduct weekly maintenance work to pumps and tanks.
![One of our Nepali team working in the Standby Generator Room. [Crown Copyright]](https://insideDIO.blog.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2018/08/Nepal-Standby-Generator-room-and-operator.jpg)
Our LECs are a critical component of the DIO family, fundamental to supporting UK MOD personnel and our families overseas.
Finally, my team always have a number of exciting opportunities for UK Civil Servants overseas. If you have been inspired by my blog and, have a sense of adventure, a willingness to experience new cultures and a desire to work with supporting service personnel preparing for, and on, operations, check Civil Service Jobs to see what roles are available today.
2 comments
Comment by Keith Fisher posted on
Brigadier a great insight into those LEC's who work tirelesly behind the scenes in order to ensure service delivey is maintained across the globe. I would have loved to have done those visits across the globe, to see some of these people, and in some cases may be the only bread winner in a large household. delivering with a smile on their faces.
Fortunatley I have had the opportunity to be based both in Germany (24 years on and off) plus a lucky two year tour to Brunei. The support staff are amazing and are there to assist you and your family with any works repairs that you call in about (the bit we see). The appreciation of these essential services is however, not always given the thanks it deserves.
We are fortunate that if we live on the military estate we have a system that we can call into and report a fault. The repair man will come out in the allotted contractual time line and repair the fault. We take it all for granted! In the big world of Civilian Strasse, these call outs, all cost money and it is only then do you appreciate what we had was a fantastic service. I do agree that there are some very minor issues where things haven't gone to plan, worker didn't show up at the planned time, but these are very rare.
A big shout out to DIO and especially all those LEC's that work behind the scenes to keep our accommodation good, our workplace good, get rid of our waste, feed us, wash our laundry, provide toilets in the field, sort out pest infestations, ensure our runways are kept safe and operational, ensure our fuel storage and operational fuel tanks on unit lines are all functioning correctly and I can go on and on as there are too many to mention.
To some DIO may not be held in the esteem it deserves! It is only when you quantify what DIO delivers across the globe (as we only see the work that is done locally) by our LEC's, that ensures UK PLC can deliver its operational capability 24/7. Keep up the great work, wherever you may be working, across the globe as it is really appreciated.
Comment by DIO Communications Team posted on
What a lovely comment, Keith. Thank you very much!