Page 19 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
OC
2IC
SSM
C Squadron – The Legion
It has been quite the jam packed 2022 for the Legion. A year of achievement both collective and for individuals. It is going to be a challenge to squeeze all that has been done into one article. To summarise up front; we have validated as part of the LD Battle Group to be held at readiness, conducted a NATO Overseas training exercise, supported the British Army’s main Operational effort for 6 months, con- ducted AT in Poland and the UK, organ- ised and participated in a Battlefield Study to Normandy, provided an enemy sub unit up against A Sqn in Galloway Forest, and entered a team into the Cambrian Patrol.
2022 kicked off as one would wish in the midst of January and February – spending some quality time down in the delights of Salisbury Plain in our open top reconnais- sance vehicles. This was the first oppor- tunity we had as a Sqn to conduct some good old traditional mounted manoeu- vre. Dusting off Levey’s ‘Rough Guide to Recce’ was essential reading for command- ers, complimenting current Lt Cav tactical doctrine, with the principals still remain- ing pretty much the same. Up and down the plain we went, reacquainting with the River Berrill crossings. The wind and rain persisted, through Storms Dudley, Eunice, and Franklin as we entered the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise phase – when the
Sqn fired 4 x NLAWs and 2 x JAVELIN missiles, and were supported by Wildcat Aviation, providing over-head fire. We were even afforded some moments of glo- rious sun, just as a keen young Infantry officer decided to conduct some navigation training through the middle of the live fire template (apparently trying to breach the Sqn’s STAP)... Fortunately, he was stopped and removed, but not until he had received high praise from the Troops, who got to nab an hour or so’s unscheduled sleep.
The next few weeks saw the battle group get validated to be held at readiness for the JEF Light Brigade, followed by a week of ‘optimisation’. This all involved fur- ther battles with the 2 Scots run enemy ‘Taskforce Hannibal’, on the Plain and then pursuing them all the way to Brecon. It was certainly helpful as an SHQ hav-
What a ‘Maint Day’ on exercise should look like...
ing a SSM who’s previous job was as the SSgt Instructor running the Lt Cav tactics course. We always seemed to find the best spots for hides, and practising dispersed SHQs, splitting main and tac, meant that we remained untouched from the enemy as a HQ for the entirety of the exercise. At least until we got to Wales, where we broke new ground, up against an enemy
On the charge through the forest (©Will Addison Photography)
NATO Alliance - C Sqn, LD and 12 Brygada Zmechanizowana, Polish Army
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