Page 40 - The KRH Year of 2023 (CREST Sharing)

40 The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars
Catering
Albeit being employed within the different messes, the KRH chefs have achieved so much this year. They participated in a range of activities this year including deploying on last minute trawls to support different battle- groups, mess dinner nights, slap up meals on the tank park and deployments to the UK and abroad and the routine in Tidworth Garrison – never a dull moment!
Returning from Estonia gave a welcome respite for many of the members of the catering department, most who were completing a second or third tour of CABRIT. It wasn’t long before the Regiment swung back into life and the chefs once again found themselves at the centre of Regimental life – dinner parties for the battlegroup, support to IRON CYCLONE and a frantic summer scramble until leave.
The autumn proved to be no less busy, all three messes had a busy social calendar which we duly supported. Excellent cooking by the junior chefs earned the praise of the Commanding Officer, Garrison Commander and even the GOC 3 (UK) Div for their efforts. As well as high-end cooking, the catering department made miracles happen on the tank park, providing food for the Regiment on the tank park for Op TEAMWORK in September and then reprising their role for the Christmas function.
Another busy, but very rewarding year. We expect next year to be no different but will continue to serve the Regiment as
JS
best as we are able.
Gym
2023 has been a fantastic year for the gymnasium and its staff, it has seen the uplift of new gym equipment allowing the unit PT staff to conduct, deliver and develop the unit physical training to a higher standard on the return from OP CABRIT 11 deployment.
The KRH battlegroup returned from a successful deployment on OP CABRIT 11 in March where they deservingly indulged in 6 weeks Post Operational Tour Leave. On their return the Regiment’s PT staff hit the ground running (literally) in their training delivery to ensure all Regimental personnel were cor- rectly conditioned after POTL in time to deploy to Castlemartin Ranges and onto Ex IRON CYCLONE. The unit PTIs made a seamless adaptation to their new squadrons and ensured that all their squadron personnel were not only physically robust but also physically conditioned to pass their upcoming annual Physical Assessment.
The KRH wasted no time in camp as they moved to CMR to conduct their annual range packages, and the unit PT staff wasted no time in ensuring safe, specific, and progressively challenging PT took place making use of the difficult and undulating terrain for PT. The Regimental fitness test week came thick and fast for the PT team as they had only 5 days to ensure the Regiment was green and fit to deploy on Ex IC. Due to the summer months, it was early doors delivery for the PT staff to ensure the safety of the unit from the summer heat. The RFTs testing was conducted in the early morning with a 0600 step off time, the hard work and commitment of the PT staff was recognised as the unit deployed onto Ex IC with 92% of the Regiment fully green on their fitness test.
The Unit returned from Ex IC and summer leave to spend the majority of September through to December taking part in Regimental sports, Adventurous Training in Germany, Inverness and the Brecon Beacons. This saw soldiers testing their mental and physical limits as they took part in moun- tain climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and parachuting. The unit also held its annual Old Comrades Cup event see- ing squadron competitors scoring points toward their overall squadron score in football, hockey, cross-country and touch rugby, with the finale being the Regimental inter-squadron boxing night.
To finish a busy year the KRH were selected by 12ABCT to pilot the new British Army Close Combat Survivability train- ing package. This saw over 40 soldiers of all ranks from across the Regiment take part in a 3 day training programme deliv- ered by 16AABCT instructors, training KRH soldiers on how to close down, engage and win against an enemy in close quar- ters, with scenarios that included 2vs1, 3vs1 weapon retention and contact striking this kind of training not only built soldiers courage and confidence but also improved their physical and mental robustness, giving them key skill to take away mov- ing forward and for a select few the opportunity to attend the trainer course which will see them become Close Combat Instructors for 12ABCT.
All in all, this has been an outstanding year of sport and training for the Unit and with a busy 2024 ahead, there is no doubt there is more success in sports and physical training just around the corner.
RP