Page 4 - LBV 2024

Battle Camp
On April 16th, Officer Cadets departed from Cambridge for Ex Blue Urban;
a week-long FIBUA training exercise based at Longmoor Camp. This was a unique opportunity, as urban training is a rare and special occurrence in the OTC given that our regular training activities usually take place in field environments.
To start, we had the privilege of learning the fundamentals of Close Quarters Battle (CQB) from a special forces operative. We formed cells consisting of four members each, and over the course of several hours, practiced room clearance drills, developing skills that would later be used throughout the week. After practicing,
we had the opportunity to demonstrate what we had learned in our cells to the entire group, allowing for feedback on improvement.
One of the most notable features of Longmoor Camp is its underground tunnel system. We were taught how
to effectively traverse a tunnel as a platoon, with each section having their own role. We divided ourselves into
cells once again and navigated blindly through the tunnels. Navigating without visual cues turned out to be more challenging than previously thought, testing our communication, coordination, and adaptability. Nevertheless, it was
a rewarding and fun experience for everyone.
Another one of Longmoor’s features are the trenches which have recently been used to train Ukrainians in trench warfare. While we did not participate
in any trench exercises ourselves, we had the opportunity to walk through the trenches and gain a slight understanding of the environments that those in Ukraine are currently subject to.
For the Stormberg intake group, this marked their first experience in a field setting, making it an especially valuable experience for them. Additionally, the
Inters division had the opportunity to assume leadership roles of Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Section IC and 2IC, with daily position rotations, which contributed to the completion
of Module Bravo. The exercise also contributed to the completion of the Junior division’s Module Alpha.
After our urban training, we moved
to the field for a couple of nights during which we carried out a platoon attack
in the field, led by OCdt Millington as Platoon Commander and OCdt Parks
as Platoon Sergeant. Our attacks throughout the week were in preparation for the final urban assault, by pushing the enemy further into Longmoor village.
I was given the honour of being appointed Platoon Commander alongside OCdt Luck as Platoon Sergeant, where we held responsibility for the final attack on Saturday 20th, which pulled together all the CQB
and urban training we had received throughout the week. After what everyone would agree was a challenging few hours with a significant effort on everyone’s part, we successfully cleared Longmoor Village, marking the end of the Urban Training Package.
Reflecting on the week, there were plenty of fun activities, while maintaining a challenge throughout. We had the opportunity to develop skills that we may not have otherwise acquired which can now be applied in future training exercises. A special thank you goes to all the staff who guided and mentored us throughout the week.
JUO Wiggins
4 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER