Page 46 - The Light Dragoon 2024

Like all activities that bring the Regiment together away from camp, the chance to get to Germany to exercise in the Combined Arms Tactical Trainer was happily snapped up. The Regiment (begrudgingly) got on the coaches for the overnight ferry crossing and long drive to Paderborn. The fact that the annual Libori fair was in town was of course - purely co-incidental (and would only enhance the training benefit).
In the simulators, vehicle crews got to grips with working on vehicles. This was particu- larly welcome for C Sqn which did not deploy on Ex Spring Storm earlier in the year and had spent more time dismounted than mounted. The training progressed through crew, troop, and squadron level exercises, all managed by Capt Montgomery-Stuart, demonstrating his finest Sainsbury’s customer service voice over the Tannoy. The limitations of training areas, qualifications and vehicle avail- ability all evaporated, and it proved to be excellent training. Particularly useful was a lack of restriction on vehicle commanders, as there were no real-life safety concerns forbidding unqualified commanders. This allowed entire squadrons to operate one up, giving crew commanders chances to command a troop and young officers to command a squadron.
In the afternoons and evenings, there was plenty of chance for extracurricular activity. The CO took several of the keen (and MS hungry) on a walk over the hills, through the folk festivals and touring the many happy inns who provided much needed refreshment. The five-a-side football pitch rapidly became a fifteen-a-side football pitch in ever escalating games of “friendly” matches. The fair was in town, and the Ops Officer’s lack of drinking ability was ably
Officers and Seniors enjoy the delights of the Libori Festival.
masked by the Adjt’s even lower capacity. Fortunately, no-one got into (too much) trouble, although some of the old and bold were tempted by the pure nostalgia of their previous experience in Germany! Sadly none of the young ladies were tempted by the extraordinary dancing from Capt Riall...
While in Germany the Regiment also hosted a Bde study day, which studied the
Battle for Paderborn in the Second World War and looked at how 4 Brigade would fight similar battles today. Not wishing to stress the mental faculties of so many of the Army’s finest minds – a slap-up barbeque and a couple of beers helped old friends reconnect, revitalised the soul and showed everyone why you don’t trust infantry units to host parties.
EJB
The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Combined Arms Tactical Trainer
Assistant Editor showing the locals some of Newcastles finest moves
Crew Commanders hard at work
44