Page 86 - Light Dragoons 2023 CREST

In August of 2022, Commissioning Course 213 marched up the steps of Old College, out of my life and into the gazette. The LDs were lucky enough to have snatched three 2Lts in the form of Sam Chrisp, Frankie Lennon, and Will Ferguson – all of whom were promptly sent to the autumn PCBC course.
The soul searching at RMAS continues, and changes come thick and fast – almost exclusively for the good. Lessons have been learnt and improvements continue to be made. We have real talent coming through the pipeline, and Lt Cav con- tinues to be an attractive prospect for the OCdts, despite a squeeze on numbers.
Moving on from ‘cadet facing’ roles resulted in a hop back to Old College to take part in the swan song of Marne Coy – the defence engagement wing of the RMAS brand. Under the new commandant there has been a switch back to RMAS’s raison d’etre – that being actually training offic- ers, and so our little excuse to go abroad will wind up in Dec 2022.
Not before an STTT to Baghdad though, to capitalise on the RMAS brand. A good deal of current Iraqi 3-stars have fond memories of torment from their RMAS platoon staff in the 1980s, which has seen instructors requested to help with a bit of professional military education at both 1st Iraqi Military College at Al-Rustamiyah, Baghdad, and the Police Special Division HQ in the IZ.
The four-man team whistled through Bassingbourn before being sent via Qatar Airways to British Embassy Baghdad.
You can see that recent RMAS graduates are
17 Pl, Ypres Coy, CC213 after the March and Shoot competition
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
RMAS Platoon Command
held in high esteem here. A perfect example is OCdt, now 2Lt, Ali – who commissioned from my platoon in RMAS in August, only to be taught by me again on his home turf. He was high quality at RMAS, and is flying at Al Rustamiyah, as a Pl Comd there him- self – taking Iraqi Officer Cadets through what looks to be a gruelling 2.5 year train- ing course.
Polite and willing to a man – and they were all men – the students were even polite enough to endure my lecture on planning considerations for public order, despite hav- ing dealt with some pretty significant unrest in August of this year. But the ongoing DE value that RMAS has, built on both short engagements like this and through the international students sent to Camberley, is still pretty impressive and allows us to keep
excellent relationships with the movers and shakers at the top of the Iraqi Army and Special Division CoC.
Next term sees me move across to Pl Comd for Cadre 2023, so watch this space as to more LD representation at the SNCO level – something that would be an excellent boost for the regiment and the RAC – which is still underrepresented at the Academy.
The LOUTs remain a great bunch, and the mess a diverse, lively, and energetic place. Long
Capt Paddy Bernard in Baghdad
84
(From L to R) 2Lt Will Ferguson, Capt Paddy Bernard, 2Lt Frankie Lennon, and 2Lt Sam Chrisp behind an incorrect LD flag after Ex DYNAMIC VICTORY, HTA, Germany.
may it continue.
PAFB