Page 84 - Journal Compilation

8 EAGLE AND CARBINE
A SQUADRON
A Squadron arrived in 2015 as a largely individu- ally trained, competent at Troop level, Light Cavalry Squadron. The months of hard work and to an extent uncertainty in the new role had begun to subside with a clear view of the route ahead – live ring, con rma- tory exercises, rebasing to Scotland, followed by public and Regimental events over the summer and settling in to and training in our new home.
Having been the rst squadron through the Light Cavalry conversion pipeline, A Squadron could con- centrate on getting ready as the Regiment’s rst mounted Light Cavalry Squadron to conduct live r- ing in early February. This live ring was far, far dif- ferent from that of Challenger 2 days. Endless ammo bashing was gone, but in its place the need to produce a nimbler and more creative range period. Put simply, it was new to us all and the standard Army centralised direction on how to run a range package for Jackals was not in place. Out was the 120mm, in were the Heavy Machine Guns (12.7mm) and Grenade Machine Guns (40mm). The core of how the squadron ran the activity remained the same though with the usual adherence to standards, early morning sprints to the end of the ring point and SQMS burgers. Top score was awarded to Squadron Sergeant Major Rigby – well done to him.
Coupled onto the mounted live ring was the dis- mounted live ring. Five days working up to section daylight attack on a xed arc range. What was really notable was the exponential rise in soldiers’ con dence in their weapons, how they used them and how they worked as a team. Many readers will know a section
attack can become physically exhausting very quickly, but the enthusiasm, aggression and will to learn showed that with enough time our soldiers can come up to the standard of, and perhaps even better than, your average infantryman for whom this was bread and butter work. The squadron completed its ranges as a con dent and competent group. Well done to Captain Pyman for keeping the range conduct on show – a busy fortnight for him being sustained by multiple frickies which in turn made it a busy fortnight for the SQMS. It also signalled a good-bye to Bergen Hohne ranges, a place many of us had got to know well over the years and in many respects will miss as a training experience.
Ranges having been the main activity of the spring term, further activity prior to Easter also entailed sup- port to other squadrons in their main conversion train- ing events, and many soldiers showed a great deal of resilience in being committed to back- ll and mentor these squadrons and troops. The end result meant that some soldiers boosted their soldiering practise with up to a third of the time between January and April in the eld. Come Easter, all deserved a break.
At around that point rebasing began to hit home, with the considerable work required to move the squad- ron and ourselves in good order. But not before the squadron deployed ‘at reach’ to Sennelager Training Area – somewhere most know and love from years of training. The squadron had great weather for its time in the eld (somewhat a relief when your ride does not have a roof), and all enjoyed the experience and challenge of competing in troop tests – a kind of giant
LCpl Tibbles teaching JAVELIN to A Sqn