2017 RAVC Corps Reunion Golf Competition
The competition is available to all serving, ex serving and associated individuals, guests are welcome. Places are limited so please contact SSgt Martin or Mr Pedlar on the above contacts to book a place early.
When: Friday 15 Sep 17 at 1000.
Where: Six Hills Golf Club
Cost: £18.50 which includes coffee & bacon roll on arrival
Dress: Golf attire must be worn.
Prizes: Winner - Reunion Cup/Best Guest/Closest Pin/Longest Drive/Best Pair.
Contact: SSgt Dan Martin 94451 8697/ DATR-CTS-2TP-SSGT@MOD.UK or Andy Pedlar on 01664 418649.
RAVC Welcomes new Colonel Commandant
Brigadier Roly Walker was appointed as the RAVC Colonel Commandant on 1 March 2017 by HM The Queen.
Chiron Calling – PDF Version
Our readers are now able to access a PDF version of Chiron Calling through this website.
Please click here to view the Spring 2017 edition of Chiron Calling
Please click here to view the Autumn/Winter 2016 edition of Chiron Calling
Please click here to view the Spring 2016 edition of Chiron Calling
Please click here to view the Autumn/Winter 2015 edition of Chiron Calling
Royal Army Veterinary Corps Reservists now recruiting!
If you are aged between 17yrs 9 months and 49 years 11 months you can apply to join the RAVC Reserves. If you have had previous service in the Army you can rejoin before your 52nd birthday, ex regular Officers can apply before their 56 birthday.
If you are interested in a challenge and would like to see some adventure, travel overseas and you can commit to at least 27 days training per year for the RAVC Reserve, in the East Midlands area, You may wish to consider Regular service if you can commit to a full time career.
Both Regular and Reserve service can provide you with recognised qualifications, sporting opportunities and lifelong skills which will benefit you both in a military or civilian career.
Regular and Reserve service offers good rates of pay. There are great incentives for those wishing to rejoin the Army and a tax free bounty for Reserves who complete the specified annual training requirements.
The RAVC Reserves needs to recruit dog handlers, veterinary officers and veterinary nurses now. Log on to www.army.mod.uk to find out much more about a challenging career in the Army and the RAVC.
RAVC Association Rules - Update!
The RAVC Association Rules have not been updated since 1996.
RAVC Association Rules - New Rules were endorsed by the Association AGM on 12 Sept 2015.
A complete forecast of events can be found on the Events page
RAVC Association Melton Branch are seeking new Members
If you are serving, have served in the RAVC you are automatic life members of the RAVC Association.
If you are attached to the RAVC or have served with the RAVC, you can become Associate members of the RAVC Association.
The RAVC Association Melton Branch meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Sergeants’ Mess DAC at 1930 hrs. Come along and join us for a chat and a drink.
We would also like to see more members living locally to become involved in the Corps Association activities as we are in need of some new blood to keep the Association going in the future.
If you have a query, please contact us.
Would you like to start an RAVC Branch?
If you would like to start an RAVC branch in your area, we would like to hear from you. Please contact the Regimental Secretary for further information.
Historical Records
If you are involved in research related to the RAVC or you require access to historical records about the RAVC, please visit this page.
A brief history of Military Working Dogs
Please click here to read an excellent article on the history of Military Working Dogs.
RAVC Book of Remembrance
Please click here to download the RAVC book of remembrance. You will require Adobe PDF Reader to open the document.
Corps Instruction
Please click here to download the Corps Instruction document.
Chiron Calling
Chiron Calling is an in-house production that gives serving and retired members of the Corps and all those with a connection to the RAVC, up to date news and articles about the Corps and its members.
Chiron Calling is published twice a year with a Spring and Autumn copy. It is distributed free of charge to all members of the Corps who subscribe to the Days Pay Scheme and to all subscribing members of the Regimental Association.
Deadlines for articles are January for the Spring edition and July for the Autumn edition. Late submission will be considered provided advanced agreement is obtained from the Editor.
Please click here for further information on submitting articles to Chiron Calling.
The Royal Army Veterinary Corps
RAVC Centenary 2018
Please visit the Events page or click here for planned programme
The RAVC currently has a huge role to play on operations, providing the handling and training expertise for a range of Military Working Dog (MWD) classifications working in the Force Protection and Search spheres. Veterinary Officers use their expertise to maintain the health and welfare of the MWDs, provide advice on zoonotic disease and environmental health matters as well as working in the stabilisation arena. Military Working Horses are also a key part of the work of the RAVC.
The original Army Veterinary Service (Veterinary Corps) was founded in 1796 after public outrage concerning the death of Army horses. John Shipp was the first veterinary surgeon to be commissioned into the British Army, when he joined the 11th Light Dragoons on 25 June 1796. This date has been recognised as RAVC's foundation day ever since.
The RAVC provides, trains and cares for mainly dogs and horses, but also tends to the various regimental mascots in the army.
The RAVC Directorate is based at the Army Headquarters in Andover. This is where the Chief Veterinary Officer for Defence and his Staff Officers are based. The main unit locations for the RAVC is the Defence Animal Training Regiment based at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire although staff are spread throughout the Army. They are also responsible for explosives and drug search dogs.
Other RAVC units are based at:
- 1 Military Working Dog Regiment RAVC at St George’s Barracks, North Luffenham, Rutland
- 101 Military Working Dog Squadron (Reserves) based at North Luffenham
- 102 Military Working Dog Squadron, based at Sennelager, Germany
- 104 Military Working Dog Squadron, based at North Luffenham
- 105 Military Working Dog Squadron, based at Sennelager, Germany
- Other dog units are based in Cyprus, Brunei and Afghanistan
- Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) based at Melton Mowbray
- Headquarters and Support Squadron
- Equine Training Squadron (ETS)
- Veterinary Training Squadron (VTS)
- Canine Training Squadron (CTS)
There is one Branch of the RAVC Association which is based at Melton Mowbray.
The RAVC Association objectives
Formed in 1921, the objectives of the RAVC Association are to:
- Foster esprit de Corps amongst all ranks, serving and retired, of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps
- Organise an Annual Reunion
- Circulate Corps information to the members
- Inform the Secretary of the Corps Welfare & Benevolent Fund of members or dependants in need
- Ensure, where possible, a decent funeral for any member of the Corps serving or retired
Membership of the RAVC Association
There are two forms of membership:
Full Membership
Serving and retired members of the RAVC, including those Officers and soldiers that have served in the Reserves, are entitled to Full Membership.
Associate Membership
Persons not eligible full membership, including former WRAC (Kennel Maid and Grooms etc) and HKMSC who have served in a RAVC unit, who have an interest in the Association, may be invited to apply for Associate Membership.
Management of the RAVC Associaton
Committee of Management consisting of the following members meets twice a year and consists of:
- Chairman - Serving or retired officer of the RAVC
- Secretary - The Regimental Secretary RAVC
Members
- Commanding Officer Defence Animal Training Regiment
- Regimental Sergeant Major RAVC
- Senior serving LE officer RAVC
Up to six members are elected at the annual general meeting.
RAVC Association branch
Branches may be established in the UK where sufficient interest exists to form a branch. Presently there is only one Branch known as the Melton Mowbray Branch.
The Melton Mowbray Branch of the RAVC Association meet monthly on the last Thursday at the WOs & Sgts Mess DAC, by kind permission of CO and RSM DATR.
The RAVC Association Melton Branch are promoting attendance by serving and retired members living in the Melton Mowbray area to come and join in Association Branch activities.
The contact for the Melton Mowbray branch is Mr Roger Whittle:
Email: secmelton@ravc-association.org
Or
Email: regtsecravc@hotmail.co.uk
RAVC Association Income
The RAVC Association obtains its income from members’ life subscription, interest and dividends from its investments and donations.
