Page 41 - 1RHA 2023

1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Ex WARFIGHTER 23-4 Maj A Chalmers BC O (HQ) Bty
Ex WARFIGHTER (WFX) is 3 UK Division’s main training event which seeks to validate the Division within a US Corps at training level Hotel. A small contingent from O HQ
Battery and the Chestnut Troop deployed to Fort Hood Texas to act as the LOCONs on the exercise, putting the Division’s plans into action in a simulated setting.
The importance of the LOCON role became apparent immedi- ately during the training phase. The exercise is conducted against a free playing enemy; the World Class OPFOR, is unscripted and develops in an unbound fashion. The Division as the pri- mary training audience, therefore live and die by the actions of the LOCONs either mistakes or benefitting from their seizing of opportunities. However, the LOCON’s key task is to competently carry out actions planned and executed by the primary training audience staff– the primary purpose of WFX is to test those pro- cesses. Winning remains important as we “fight for the soul of Warfighing in the British Army” (GOC 3 UK XX).
The exercise was full on with the
LOCON teams manning 24 hrs in 12
hr shifts, staring at computer screens moving the icons to fight the battle. Additionally, to meet the requirements
many of the team were acting in roles
1 or 2 up. Sgt Broatch and Bdr Cottrell were playing Adjts commanding multiple FDCs, the WOCIS was the Regt 2IC and BSM Byrne was CO 19 RA within 12ABCT conducting planning cycles and fighting the battle. All those mentioned received individ- ual recognition for their efforts on the exercise from GOC 3UK Div or Comd 1 DRS BCT.
The key to success in the LOCON was having
a fast fingered ‘Puckster’ to move in the simu- lator and an appetite for front footed aggression such as that displayed by Sgt Kelshaw working to 5 RIFLES as 20 ABCT within a US Division. The exercise was a huge success with the Divi- sion being validated and importantly that the 1 DRS BCT construct was proven as the most lethal
Sgt Broatch learning more about Americas ‘favourite pastime’
A war memorial to the fallen
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Red Sky in the morning, tornado warning?
organisation on the battlefield. Apart from just the LOCON team, we had augmentees backfilling the Division with SSgt Robson provid- ing air advice to the JAGIC and Sgt Limbu sustaining the Division as the lead chef in the deployed kitchen.
After a long couple of weeks in PED red windowless rooms there was an opportunity for the troops to get out and explore a bit of Texas and there were some valiant efforts at line dancing and a lot of BBQ food eaten. That being said, the team were accommodated in large mar- quees which did not stand up to the Texas weather patterns, which
saw syren alerts for tornados and storms that required us to leave the accommodation and seek shelter in hard cover. The exercise as a whole was very rewarding, knowing that we were contributing significantly to training and
testing the Warfighting Division.