A signaller taking part in the military skills competition, Colchester, May 2014.

British Army Press Release dated 12 May 2014:

Airborne signallers battle for promotion

From map reading to weapon handling and physical fitness to leadership skills, airborne signallers have competed against each other to win promotion.

Colchester-based 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron held a military skills competition with promotion to lance corporal at stake for the 21 signallers who took part. The contest saw the troops put through their paces around the town’s Friday Woods training area.

The troops were scored on their performance at 13 different challenges, ranging from an assault course to first aid skills. At the end of a hard fought contest Signaller Dylan Farminer finished with the most points to earn his stripe as a lance corporal.

The 20-year-old from Southampton said: “The contest was a tough day that tested all of our skills, even general knowledge. To get asked to identify pictures Napoleon and Wellington just after you’ve done a first aid test and you’re wet and tired is a challenge for the brain!

“Everyone was determined to do their best and I was really proud when I was called out as the winner, particularly when I found out that it was by quite a margin.”

Sig Farminer, a communication systems operator, has been with 216 (Para) Sig Sqn for three years and plays basketball for the Royal Corps of Signals.

The event was staged after a rule change allowing signallers to be promoted to lance corporal after a direct competition with their peers.

Major Graham Clarke, Officer Commanding 216 (Para) Sig Sqn, said: “Signaller Farminer should be proud to have earned his promotion at the end of such a physically and mentally arduous competition.

“The event gave our junior soldiers a chance to show their character and be judged fairly against each other across every discipline of soldiering. I was impressed by the abilities and effort put in by all who took part.” 

216 (Para) Sig Sqn is trained to deploy by parachute or helicopter to provide specialist communications support to 16 Air Assault Brigade, the British Army’s rapid reaction force.