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and incorporate drones into the training programme.
There was strategic and tactical impor- tance for Op INTERFLEX. Due to the political interest, our TDU received over 30 high profile visits ranging from Boris Johnson, The Secretary of State for Defence to BBC journalist Stacey Dooley! Overall, this was an amazing opportunity for the regiment to contribute to defences main effort. The commitment of all those on Op INTERFLEX should not be under- stated. Those involved experienced long hours, lost weekends and leave. However, the lasting relationships formed with the AFU and our sub-units along with job satisfaction made it utterly worthwhile. By December we had successfully handed over our commitment to the follow-on forces for a well-earned Christmas Leave.
September saw B Sqn ‘The Guards’ touching down in Duqm, Oman, for a 3 month deployment. The Guards had been assigned to 2 SCOTS battlegroup for EX KHANJAR OMAN, the aim of which was to form ever closer ties with the Omani Armed forces and further the develop- ment of the Land Regional Hub. After a period of acclimatisation, the Guards found themselves hastily preparing for their first exercise in the desert which con- stituted BCS as well as force on force ele- ments. The Guards proved their mounted prowess in a scenario-based environment, all while maintaining a suitably calm and relaxed composure, quite to the confusion of 2 SCOTS. Following the end of the first exercise time was set aside for cultural and sporting pursuits. Three cricketing XI’s, made up from 2SCOTS, the Guards, and the attached arms, travelled to Muscat to
play in a round robin tournament at the international stadium. The Guards nar- rowly lost in the final, though it must be noted that only one member of our regi- mental cricket side was present! A cultural tripwasbolsteredontothebackendof the tournament, allowing all to experience a few days of civilisation by the sea before returning to the heart of dustiness. Very quickly, exercise came around again but this time it was for the main event – EX DESERT KHANJAR. The Guards found themselves performing the familiar cycle of exercises past; advance to clear, screen, CTR, raid. The exercise was protracted and difficult to manage due to the lack of TES and other resources, however, the Guards continually garnered praise from the BGHQ - An accolade that few in the BG could claim for themselves. Though the exercise may have had its periods of idleness, the Guards always found a way to fill them. Morale remained very high throughout, helped by the utilisation of a mobile gym, volleyball court, music and above all, tanning – all of which was viewed by a bedraggled muster of increas- ingly jealous jocks! As the final whis- tle blew on Ex DESERT KHANJAR, the Guards breathed a sigh of relief and switched fire to the prospect of ranges. A short and expertly run range package soon ensued with the final rounds going down range just in time for lunch on the 30th November. All the Guards had ahead of them now was a week of adventure train- ing on the golden beaches of Muscat. With food shipped in every night from a local hotel, canvas tent flaps catching in the breeze, and the Western sun setting over picturesque mountain crests across the bay, the Guards exhaled breaths of con- tentment at the end of a marvellous three
months. Arriving in good order back to a freezing cold English winter, the minds of every soldier cast a nostalgic glance back down the long, sandy road to Duqm.
In 2023, C Sqn will be deploying in February on Ex ASKARI STORM to sup- port 1CG exercise. The remainder of the regiment will be deploying on Ex SPRING STORM in Estonia in May. The regi- ment will then look to enjoy a summer in England prior to preparing for Operations in the new year. The regiment will no doubt continue to distinguish itself in what proves to be another busy, eventful but rewarding year. Viret in Aeternum. Merebimur.
EJBE
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
The calm post-storm. C Sqn mustered after a successful raid
CO and Stacey Dooley, who was making a documentary on the LD task
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