Page 61 - QDG Year of 2020

ATC Pirbright
2020 has been an unusual and chal- lenging year for us all, Basic Training was no exception during a COVID Pandemic and National lockdown. Training had to be quickly tailored to online learning to keep Recruits as current as possible, enabling them to continue training when they returned. Most learning switched to Zoom, making the instructors feel more like teachers in a school rather than instructors at Phase 1! Lessons were conducted, from fieldcraft basics all the way to ‘Joe Wicks Style’ PT Sessions. Capt Byrd was fundamental in the planning and implementation for the return of Recruits to camp post-lock- down. This included strict
Force health Protection measures and a rigid sani- tation and briefing area for over 1,600 Recruits. Sadly, this was to be one of his final acts as he leaves the army to see how many feathers he can ruffle in London! Best wishes and good luck from us all at ATC(P) !
This year, Maj Jones
‘The involver’ moved from
Initial Training Group to
the Defence Academy at Shrivenham. Now that both
Maj Jones and Capt Byrd
have left ATC(P), it has been up to Sgt Warner to hold the QDG flag high. By the end of 2021 he will have trained over 350 Recruits, an achievement in its own, even more so during a pandemic.
Sgt Warner describes the topography of the lunar surface
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 59
RATD
Although a slightly quieter year for the Reconnaissance and Armoured Tactics Division in Warminster, it has still been a hive of activity and had a continuing QDG presence. Capt Max Carter handed over to Capt Ed Hind just before Lockdown 1.0 and Sgt Panks handed over his role later in the summer. Both individuals were instrumental in making the Light Cavalry Commanders Course as relevant and as testing as it is today.
Whilst the rest of the Division were working from home during the summer, the Light Cavalry Training Team were preparing to deliver a Reserve Commanders Course predominantly for the Royal Yeomanry ahead of their deployment on Op CABRIT later in the year. This came with its own difficulties, mainly COVID related but also having only
two weeks to train the students to the required standard ahead of their Pre-Deployment
Training. Ten newly qual-
training. After the gruelling six-week course, seven young, thrusting Troop Leaders returned to QDG ready to take on whatever was put in front
ified Royal Yeomanry Troop Leaders and Crew Commanders returned to CASSINO TP and are currently deployed as part of eFP(P).
After the gruelling six- week course, seven young, thrusting Troop Leaders returned to QDG
of them.
The Light Cavalry
Training Team are looking ahead at a busier year, delivering bigger and longer course to both Regular and Reserve Commanders. The main effort remains delivering safe and relevant training but will continue to adapt the courses content in line with how the field army is operating both in the UK and overseas.
EJMH
Shortly after summer
leave a bumper Regular
course was upon the
Light Cavalry Training
Team, many of whom
had had their course
cancelled earlier in the
summer. Twenty-three
students from across the
Regular Light Cavalry
Regiments headed to Warmin- ster for the final element of their
Lessons were conducted, from fieldcraft basics all the way to ‘Joe Wicks Style’ PT Sessions
While Training Recruits, Sgt Warner has also helped re-design the Navigation training pan-Army and pilot a new Basic Training course for the Army as a whole.
An unusual year all round, providing a multitude of challenges that both Capt Byrd and Sgt Warner have
risen too, ensuring the QDG name is continued to be held in high esteem at ATC Pirbright.
TW
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