Page 44 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Getting scoped out
The week finished with a competition in which sniper pairs stalked onto shoot- ing positions on the edge of a ravine and hit targetry 400m – 950m away: a mix of steel targets, balloons, and balloons filled with glitter for extra points. We culmi- nated with prize giving: Sgt al-Kalbani won Best Shot, whilst WO2 al-Hatmi and SSgt al-Katri won Best Tactical Pair. They were awarded trophies we had engraved in Muscat.
We were incredibly lucky to have the weekends to explore Oman. The British Embassy put us up in a 5-star hotel with pools, restaurants and quaint shops. We wandered the ancient souks and forts of Muttrah; hiked the plush Wadi Shab in meltingly hot 48°C heat; walked Nizwa fort and market; visited Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque and took a
day’s boat trip to snorkel with sea turtles in the Daymaniat Islands.
There were many high- lights: Cpl Burnett and Lt Digby getting hand- made double-breasted linen suits from a local tailor; Cpl McCarthy los-
High value targeting on the dam
ing his phone three times (once in his car, once in his pocket, and once – finally – in the sea); or swimming in a plunge pool at the mouth of Wadi Shab with many over- weight Saudi Arabians bobbing around in life jackets. After a particularly delicious traditional meal of beef wrapped in palm leaves, smoked underground with spices for 48hrs, served with fragrant rice as we sat on low cushions in the Omani fashion, an unimpressed LCpl Withers remarked, “It’s basically just a korma in a stress position.”
Generally, though, we had an amazing time. The Omanis were gracious hosts, and we are extremely grateful to WO2 Morgan and Lt Col Perkins from the British Army Loan Service Team and the British Embassy for all they did to facili- tate our STTT. Despite all the graft which went on behind the scenes, it was a high-
light for all of us. In fact, I am surprised Cpl DuPlessis managed to drag himself
Shooting watermelons through car windscreens
home from Oman at all.
JND
Swimming in Wadi Shab
Lads! Lads! Mosque! Mosque!
Prepping the enemy targets
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Tops off at the Daymaniat Islands
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