Page 10 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Regimental Notes... by the Adjutant
2022 was always going to be a signifi- cant year for the Light Dragoons: cel- ebrating thirty years since formation. Few could have predicted the events that have unfolded that have made it a defining year on a global scale – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Throughout all the uncertainty and change that has fallen out of this, there is one constant. The Light Dragoons will be ready to adapt and excel wherever we are required.
The regiment started this year on Salisbury Plain, getting validated as a battlegroup on Exercise WESSEX STORM. All squad- rons deployed on this exercise, for a first truly regimental exercise in over five years. The healthy competition between the Empire, the Guards and the Legion were cast aside as we united against a common enemy: 2 SCOTS. Throughout this exer- cise Light Dragoons were doing what they do best: reconnaissance tasks in austere conditions, projecting at reach, and main- taining a sense of humour throughout. It is a tribute to every soldier in the regiment for our sterling performance, as we subse- quently validated at first opportunity.
Off the back of validation, in May C Squadron went to Poland to complete Exercise DEFENDER, a NATO dem- onstration exercise which was even more significant with Russia’s ongoing activi- ties in Ukraine. The Legion thrived exer- cising alongside other NATO states and finished off with a cracking adventurous
training package at the end in the Polish mountains.
Being on readiness means being prepared for anything and Light Dragoons were ready when the balloon went up. In June with two weeks’ notice, RHQ and head- quarters squadron were tasked to establish a training centre and deliver a basic train- ing package to Ukrainian recruits in the UK. Over the six months we were oversee- ing delivery of training by subunits from 3rd & 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, II Squadron RAF Regiment, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment,
Ranger Regiments as well as the Dutch and Norwegian Armies.
With the focus switching to the war in Ukraine, B Squadron’s deployment to Mali was taken off the cards. Disappointing as it was for the Squadron, they were still able to deploy to Oman as part of a 2 SCOTS battlegroup. This gave the Guards a chance to operate Jackal in the desert, the terrain they were originally designed for and show their prowess as part of an infantry bat- tlegroup. When not exercising, they were able to exploit the local surroundings for
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