Tri-Service
British Soldier's Eight Nation Army
As Armed Forces Day approaches, thousands of British service personnel are overseas.
Some will be operating alongside units from different countries but few soldiers work as closely with other nations as Company Sergeant Major Dan Crossley.
From 1 NATO Signal Battalion’s base at Wesel, he is responsible for the smooth running of an eight nation maintenance and support company.
Since 1st NATO Signal Battalion is one of the Alliance's three multinational communications units, Sergeant Major Crossley aims to set an example in how he communicates.
Barking orders, he says, isn’t always the best way to get things done:
“I’ve learned diplomacy, you know, how to speak to people, how to encourage them... and it’s nice to work with other people... English is my first language. It isn’t the first language for everyone else. Items can get lost in translation so to be able to put your point across well is a challenge. Speak slowly.”
English is the Battalion’s official language even for German soldiers in their own country.
Christian Stelten is a German Army Feldwebel - the equivalent of a Staff Sergeant.
Like others here he has to take orders from a British Army Sergeant Major:
“It’s what I expected because I know the Britain as a quite good military attitude and I like it because I also grow up in a military environment and I like to work because you can talk about anything with him.”
His workplace may be international but Dan Crossley says he never forgets that he’s a British soldier.
Equally this rare Army posting is one the Company Sergeant Major won’t forget either.
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