Page 12 - RSDG Year of 2023

10 EAGLE AND CARBINE
If 2022 was characterised by change and uncertainty, 2023 has been relatively stable by comparison. That is to say that, whilst certainly no less busy, A Sqn has been in the privileged position this year of focussing inward, hitting frequent and important milestones, ensuring that we are in the best possible position to take up readiness as a validated and confident reconnaissance squadron at the very forefront of the UK’s commitment to NATO. Along the way, we have soldiered in some ten different countries, on five separate continents, proving light cavalry versatility, tenacity, and good humour through everything that the Army has to offer.
The year started with teams split across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East simultaneously. Following the difficult decision to downsize the Mali commitment to only 42 of our 79 personnel, two composite troops and our enablers deployed as a Coy/Sqn group with C Coy 2 SCOTS to protect the drawdown of the UK’s MINUSMA contingent. This deployment will be covered in greater depth elsewhere, but the half sqn under Capt Luke Lambert, SQMS Andy Stewart, and Tiffy ‘Scotty’ Wykes performed admirably, both inside and outside the wire. The skills they picked up during MST and their recce mindset shone through in patrolling around Gao, and their dedication to preparing their portion of c. £350 million of kit for repatriation was superb. A different tour to that which they were expecting perhaps, but one of which every A Sqn soldier can be extremely proud. In addition, particular mention must be made of A Sqn fitters, who won a commendation from the Chief Scientific Advisor to Defence for their engineering work in the Mali build up, deployment, and recovery; the first time this prestigious award has been won by the REME and testament to their untiring and critical work to keep us on the road.
For the remaining 37 within A Sqn, rapid replanning generated fantastic opportunity from a less-than-perfect situation. Rory Edwards deployed 10 skiers to Alpbach/ Verbier/Serre Chevalier at pace, with our team performing admirably at both Divisional and RAC Championships. He then went on to debut at the Army Championships himself, with Tpr Billy ‘Bean Juice’ Haigh taking a raft of awards for top novice skier in a stellar first season. Elsewhere, SHQ and three troops (now bolstered by an attached C Sqn troop under Lt Fraser Jefferies and Sgt ‘Sniper Smudge’ Smith) headed out to Oman alongside the 2 R ANGLIAN Battlegroup.
A SQUADRON
Maj H Foster