Page 90 - Journal Compilation

14 EAGLE AND CARBINE
C SQUADRON
2015 has proven itself to be a tremendously busy year for C Squadron. It has been an enjoyable yet testing and challenging period. Yet regardless of the tasks and activities the squadron has undertaken, it has consist- ently conducted itself with the utmost professionalism and zeal. The year has been marked by a number of signi cant events including an intense period of con- tinued Light Cavalry conversion training, which built upon the strong foundations laid down at the end of last year. Other key events have included a period of re-basing and celebrations for both Waterloo 200 and the Regimental Coming Home events.
The rst squadron training event of the year was aptly named after the composer of the Light Cavalry Overture, Franz Von Suppé. Ex VON SUPPÉ’s CHALLENGE commenced barely a week after Christmas leave on a cold January morning. It saw the entire squadron (four sabre troops with a squadron headquarters) deploy for nine days on to the Bergen- Hohne training area. The intent of the exercise was to collectively train to troop level competence of likely Light Cavalry tasks. As such, over three days, each troop rotated through various mounted and dis- mounted serials, in both rural and urban environ- ments. This included practicing the conduct of a
screen, a scout and a raid. There then followed a much appreciated pause in the exercise by way of a squadron maintenance day at Glynn Hughes barracks, before all troops commenced a four day con rmatory test phase.
The rural part of this test phase focused upon the core skills: the conduct of a screen, a scout and convoy pro- tection, replenishment drills and troop level recovery tasks. A close target reconnaissance was undertaken, ensuring that maximum use of the training area was being utilised and that patrolling skills were being honed at all times. A day was spent in Glynn Hughes barracks conducting urban operations in amongst the derelict former military hospital. The exercise ended in a dawn raid on an enemy position before recovering back to the comforts of Fallingbostel camp. All troops demonstrated that they had unequivocally grasped the fundamentals of what it is to be a Light Cavalry soldier and had smiles on their faces to prove it. Everybody put in strong performances throughout the exercise, but the prize for the best performing troop was awarded to 2nd Troop, led by Mr Mitchell and Sergeant Ah Sing.
In early February hot on the heels of Ex VON SUPPÉ’s CHALLENGE, the squadron took part in Regimental ranges. The rst week was spent conducting dis-
C Sqn HQ on a chilly Sennelager morning