Page 27 - The Wish Stream Year of 2020 Crest

Ex SLIM’S STAND is the final field exercise undertaken in the Intermediate Term of the Regular Commissioning Course. It is a
5-night exercise in Thetford, Norfolk; the first one in which OCdts experience operating in a defen- sive environment. Of course, with defence comes digging, and after a night TAB into position, this is exactly how the exercise starts. OCdts must dig and construct trenches to Stage 3, a 36-hour endeavour, as well as establishing line commu- nications between all levels of command, then constructing obstacles in dead ground and the surrounding woodland. The aim of these activi- ties is to give the OCdts the best chance of con- trolling how the enemy might attack. This is also the first exercise in which OCdts are introduced to the role of Company 2IC, where not only their tactical knowledge is put to the test, but their administration and organisational skills at com- pany level are challenged. For those not in com- mand appointments, the focus is to complete the trenches as quickly as possible; once com- plete they can finally enjoy a bit of sleep! Though labour-intensive, the USAF base at Lakenheath provided a steady stream of fast air and Ospreys overhead, keeping those digging entertained.
Once the digging phase is completed, OCdts then move into routine in the trenches, albeit briefly, as the enemy soon attacks. Despite being a defen- sive exercise, from this point onwards there is a marked shift towards offensive actions, with raids and recces conducted at night, and counterat- tacks carried out each day to prevent the enemy’s
Not posed in the slightest. Out of shot, a mug of precious hot chocolate gets ‘sprinkles’.
"Luke...I am your father, over.”
The old ones never die (or get any better).
Exercise SLIM’S STAND
advance. This was to ensure OCdts maintained the offensive spirit and did not give the enemy any advantage. The enemy on this exercise had more at their disposal than previously experienced, and it was not long before chemical weapons were used against OCdts. On the penultimate day of the exercise, no sooner had stand down been called and the morning routine begun, than the loud bangs of bat sims were heard, swiftly fol- lowed by shouts of “GAS GAS GAS!”. Time to don your respirator and prepare to be uncomfort- able until the threat has passed...
While hard work initially, the exercise was a refreshing change from purely offensive opera- tions. It opened our eyes to the broad spectrum of considerations required in defence, and the need to seamlessly move from establishing a defensively sound location to offensive opera- tions in order to control the enemy. Finally, the exercise was a good example of how all the ele- ments of the Army come together in a far more tangible way than on exercises so far. The logisti- cal support to move defensive stores and combat supplies, the communications prowess needed to provide more than one way to pass informa- tion, the engineering expertise to create trenches and shape the enemy’s movement into our kill- ing areas, the support from artillery in depth, the intelligence on which to base our planning and operations; the list goes on. As we approach the Regimental Selection Boards and move towards the Senior Term and Stabilisation Operations, this insight provides a valuable context.
OCdt Walsh
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