RMA-RMC-Impact-Report-2023-24 - Flipbook - Page 21
Never above you, never below you, always by your side
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Over the past few years RMA – The
Royal Marines Charity (RMA) has hosted
Troop Reunions at Commando Training
Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) to
coincide with The King’s Squad Pass
Out Parades.
The opportunity has proved so popular
that dates can often be secured up
to a year in advance, drawing RMA
Members from around the globe.
They stand shoulder-to-shoulder with
those whom they passed out with to
witness the passing out of the newest
Royal Marines.
We have been able to welcome 51 Troop
Reunions through the gates of CTCRM in
2022. The 611 RMA Members that took
part were given tours of camp to see the
changes that had happened since they
were last there, and gain insight into the
ways in which training has changed since
they passed out, and why.
Reunions provide face-to-face
meetings with old comrades that don’t
impose the same restrictions that a
phone call might. They allow people
to reconnect and recall memories
from their time in the Corps, whilst
watching the newest faces embark on
their journey.
The reunions are facilitated by the
RMA at no cost to veterans and Service
personnel. Not only do reunions allow
former Royal Marines the opportunity
to remember who they once were in
the light of who they are now, but also
provide a platform to talk about difficult
subjects. They also highlight potential
individuals that may need support from
RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
www.rma-trmc.org
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Reunions
RMA Fijian
Commando Brothers UK
Single Cap Badge
Associations’ Network
On 21st January 2022, the family
of Seleni Kalidole Vuetaki laid his
body to rest at the Minster Church
of St Andrew in Plymouth.
RMA proudly spearheaded the
launch of a tri-service Single Cap
Badge Associations’ Network
(SCAN), representing a combined
community of over a quarter of a
million members. Membership has
quickly grown to 28 Associations that
cover all three Armed Services.
‘Leni’ — as he was known during his
time in the Royal Marines — sadly lost
his life to COVID 19 and was taken from
his friends and family before his time.
His traditional Fijian funeral was a
magnificent celebration of his life.
Leni was well liked by those that knew
him, which was evident with the
many people that had attended his
funeral to pay their final respects.
As an Association, this was the first
time that we had been invited to
attend a traditional Fijian funeral, and
we were struck by the powerful sense
of community and brotherhood that
bonded Leni’s family and friends.
Our branch, for all Fijian Commandos
and their spouses, along with those
who attempt to keep the Commando
ethos within the community,
provides growth and assistance for
all its members. Its mission is to teach
Fijian cultural heritage within the
younger Commando community and
promote the Royal Marines back in
the Fiji Islands, which has historically
been a recruitment ground.
As well as fostering and maintaining
good relations within the Royal Marines,
Army and Navy Commandos and their
families, we are also happy to assist
where we can with other branches in
order to maintain a good relationship
with the wider RMA Community.
SCAN was formed to enable and
encourage mutual support, assist
the improvement of each member
Association’s membership offer,
and improve member participation
through the exchange of information,
ideas and best practice. High on
its list of common priorities is the
worrying impact of the increasing
cost of living, the need to tackle
loneliness and isolation and how to
better reach vulnerable veterans.
It is united in agreeing the importance
of identifying common opportunities
and challenges that are better tackled
together, calling on Cobseo’s assistance
where appropriate. SCAN will also act
as a communication bridge between
the Ministry of Defence, the Office for
Veterans’ Affairs and the communities
of the member associations in
striving to make the UK the best
place in the world to be a veteran.
Jonathan Ball, RMA – The Royal Marines
Charity’s Chief Executive, said: “This
new Associations’ community is about
helping each other to become more
effective in serving our communities
and, by joining together, becoming
stronger in representing them.”
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