Page 22 - QDG Year of 2020

20
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
HQ Squadron
So, where do I start for the year 2020... Last year’s journal told you what was planned for the future and how we were going to be tested as a regiment on CSTTX in Germany and Wessex Storm 1/20 on Salisbury Plain (SPTA). Luckily, we were able to get all of this done before the mighty COVID -19 changed
the world...
So how did we do it – The year started
with us driving to Folkestone and then Calais to Sennelager – to which many reading this would have experienced for many years- via the Tunnel La Marche. The journey was boring as ever spending far too much time on an army bus with no toilet. Luckily with today’s drivers’ hours policy we often had to stop, if we didn’t then Capt Matt Hansen MTO would throw his teddy in the corner and like every MTO they become masters at reciting policy back at you. Having endured the taunts of that journey we arrived in good order for what would be a long and testing two weeks. The Regi- mental Second In Command at the helm Maj Trigger Time Tyson (TTT) cracking the 7 Questions whip. After erecting the Drash tent under darkness we were ready for the first Frago...
Long days and even longer nights ensured our orders processes and execution processes were improved to a decent standard, which took us to where we needed to be for Wessex Storm 1/20. That said, we did manage to get one night off to revisit the old haunts of Sennelager – The Senne Eck bar which has seen many brawls and shenani- gans over the years. It was also great to see one of the Regiment’s characters Sgt Minty Kendal who has now settled like many other QDGs in the area. The return journey started well when the Adjt couldn’t find his passport – but hey that’s DE admin for you... With a short turn around in RBSM, we soon departed for SPTA which would see the regiment be tested in the conventional environment on Wessex Storm 1/20. Many legends reading this article would think ‘What is
all the fuss about’ - A1/2 Ech deploying – well, due to the OP HERRICK (Afghan- istan) era this has not been exercised for several years and the SQEP experience was lacking, the last time this concept was tested was in 2013. However, after some night-time reading and concep- tual study periods, we were soon back in the game. This saw the BGLO (me) pulling my hair out ensuring the Battle Group (BG) was ‘Fit to Fight’ replen- ished, recuperated and organised within the Echelons. The QMs department on both sides worked tirelessly to ensure we were set up for success, whether this was taking over vehicles from the Land Training Fleet (LTF) to ensuring all soldiers had the right kit and equipment to deploy. Our accommodation was in West Down Camp (WDC) and believe me when I say, it has not changed its infrastructure from when it was built -post World War 2. The QM as B Ech ensured all our needs were catered for – however, what he couldn’t sort out was having to run across open ground with a towel and flip flops for a lukewarm shower...
We hit the ground running straight into the All Ranks Briefings (ARB) and then the TES training, which was headed up by HQ SSM, Mr Gavin Griffiths - this was the second time he was assigned in this role, previously on WS 4/19, but it was better than being ROG SSM. We spent
a week conducting Battle preparation and getting the vehicles camouflaged (covered in scrim) – cutting up vehicle cam kits ensuring that the QM(T) did not see us. On the day of the races we all deployed and endured a challenging exercise which tested QDG BG to its limits – the weather not being on our side as we experienced the worst weather for years with three storms making SPTA even more exciting, and very much testing our driving skills. This exercise was the first time we trained closely with 7 Bde Headquarters, we were able to operate in our core role as reconnaissance soldiers whilst exercising the echelons in all its functions including the Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and the Medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), using our own Regimental Aid Post (RAP). During some of the serials on the CASEVAC proce- dures QDG RAP were highlighted as best practice, the regiment had to get to grips with ground MEDEVAC unlike Afghanistan where it was all done by helicopter. Well done Sgt Lee and her team. Communications were becoming challenging throughout the exercise, this tested then BSM SSgt Hamilton now RSWO and RSO Capt Campbell, only those two individuals know exactly how they succeeded guaranteeing that we had communications throughout. After gruelling weather and two weeks
In the rear with the gear