Page 19 - QDG Year of 2020

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
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Marilyn Monroe
As the world and the UK began to emerge from self-isolation in the summer of 2020, the Regiment managed to head north to Warcop to conduct a three-week Regimental Range Package. These three weeks involved troops progressing from their annual military firing assessment, up to a Section Attack dismounted and from learning how to fire the platform heavy weapons of the .50 cal or Grenade Machine Gun up to a mounted Troop attack. For C Squadron, it proved an excellent opportunity for each rank to build up confidence and their skills on a range of weapon mounted systems. It also provided an opportunity for the Squadron to come together in COVID 19 suitable ways and operate again as a Squadron. A mention must go to Sgt Humphreys, LCpl Fletcher and Trooper Sell who secured the accolade of the best crew in C Squadron; a well-de- served win. As these ranges finished, the Squadron headed back south and prepared for some well-earned summer leave. Just prior to the Squadron going on leave, Major David Hoey finished his two years as Officer Commanding C Squadron and handed over to Major Bryn Williams; a small tank park parade signified the moment before everyone dispersed on leave.
Back to the Plain
In a similar manner to the start of the year, the return from summer leave, saw C Squadron return to Salisbury Plain to conduct another Regimental exercise. Although this time, the QDG Battle Group were not being validated, but it was the turn of the individual troops, who took part in Exercise MULLENS CUP 2020. C Squadron entered two teams into this competition, one headed up by Lieutenant Cooper and Corporal Pugh and the other by Lieutenant Lewis and Sergeant Humphreys. The exercise was an excellent competition which tested both mounted and dismounted skills in a challenging and arduous setting.
Not bogged in, honest
OrKESTREL Manoeuvres in the Dark
The competition was fierce throughout as every troop in the QDG wanted to win, not only for their Troop but also for Squadron pride. In the end C Squadron won the Mullens Cup, with both troops performing excellently and winning the dismounted and mounted competi- tions. Lieutenant Lewis and Sergeant Humphreys won the overall competition which also included a March and Shoot competition, testing the troops on their ability to shoot straight after a gruelling march.
Onwards and upwards, and upwards, and upwards
After three years of ‘flying’ a desk, all Staff Officers find themselves rapidly, and often uncomfortably, back in the midst of the fast tempo of a Squadron training cycle. For the new Officer Commanding C Squadron, Major Bryn Williams, this was the week-long Survive, Escape, Resist and Evade (SERE) week in Otter- burn. This Regimental exercise took place at the end of September in the hilly training estate in Northumberland
A cracking squadron photo
and was designed to be a patrol and survival competition. Initially the compe- tition saw troops master the basics of survival, such as building and lighting fires, designing an improvised shelter, identifying clean water and generally learning how to live off the surroundings. After these lessons, the Squadron split down into four-person teams, centred around crew positions and set off, team by team, on a 45km patrol over the vast hills of Otterburn training estate. This not only tested the team’s survival skills, but
also their fitness, stamina and, critically, navigation. Whilst only carrying essential survival equipment, the teams carried around 20kg on their backs and had only 36 hours to complete the patrol. They had to pass six checkpoints and complete four survival related challenges along the route. These challenges were based on the lessons previously learnt and were designed to put into practice their new skills.
It is certainly safe to say that C Squadron had to endure the worst of the weather and the most challenging night-time conditions. That said, it was an excellent exercise and well organ- ised by Captain Charlie Byrd. We will not mention that Captain Hugo Chaplin, the C Squadron second-in-command, did, on numerous occasions have to resort to his blue force tracker for a few navi- gational prompts; I will leave that for another day.