The new Deputy Commander took up post on departure of his predecessor Colonel Polley at the end of December. Colonel Sernberg is no stranger to the Garrison as he spent three years with The Life Guards in Athlone Barracks in the early nineties. “My wife and I spent a very happy time in Sennelager and we are looking forward to returning to An der Grimke. My son, now in his last year at school, was born in St Johannistift hospital so we have considerable ties here and all have great affection for the city. My daughter was also born in Germany, in Münster, when I served with the 4th Royal Tank Regiment in Osnabrück. So we are delighted to be back in Germany.”

Colonel Sernberg has had a varied career in the Army. He was commissioned into his family regiment, the 22nd (CHESHIRE) Regiment, in 1978 while at university studying law. In his early years he spent time in Northern Ireland, Ghana, Hong Kong and Caterham, as well as Osnabrück. He has spent the last 15 years in Army and MOD computer systems, latterly with the Army Recruiting and Training Division in Upavon from where he moves. “My early life was dominated by infantry dismounted soldiering in many parts of the world. I was also lucky enough to spend 18 months as a squadron 2IC and Chieftain tank commander completing a full training year with a Med Man in Canada. I then changed my professional focus to computer systems with the Royal Army Pay Corps, but first as a paymaster, hence The Life Guards. I have spent a number of staff tours in MOD and HQ AG since then, and on exchange with the US Army in Indianapolis. After 15 years of computer systems, I decided that I would enjoy a break. So here I am, and very much looking forward to working as the Deputy Garrison Commander of Paderborn Garrison.”

Colonel Sernberg has been instrumental in a number of major Army and MOD projects. He was part of the JPA team at its inception (he says it is slightly different now!) and worked on the MOD’s Joint Experimentation strategy when the major battle labs at Farnborough were set up. Most recently, he was the leader of a very small team looking at convalescence capability for Defence, now to be implemented as Army Convalescence Centres. He declares some understanding of how the medical and welfare services are delivered as a result. “I have been fortunate in the last 8 months in understanding many aspects of operational casualties and welfare support. This has given me a good foundation for the work of the Deputy Garrison Commander. There is a good team here, and I look forward to working with and for the Garrison.”