Page 27 - RSDG Year of 2023

EAGLE AND CARBINE 25
Internally we saw WO2 Kevin Taylor move to the Welfare Officer, and he was replaced as HQ SSM by the newly promoted WO2 David Steel. WO2 Mark Hallam moved into the MTWO post on promotion. Promotions were also welcomed by SSgt Gordon Prescott, SSgt Jordan Stodart and Cpl John Ferrans.
Ex WESSEX STORM was the ‘Driving Test’ we were all looking forward to in our own little ways. The first week deployed saw us being hit by 2 named storms and the field outside Avon Camp turn into a mud bath. We all knew from that point it was going to be grim! The troops set about the exercise with a panache that was commented on by the observor mentor staff saying that we were ‘Eager to get on with it and keen to learn’ in the background you could hear the mutterings of ‘Can we switch the wagons on? It’s freezing’ The troops attacked every mission with determination and the will to show how good we are. At the time of writing, we are still awaiting the final report from the Training Staff but we were told that we achieved everything we were required to and more with accolades coming in for just about everything we done, The highest vehicle availability thanks to the REME and contrary to the second in commands attempts to delete vehicles
at every turn! The best unit in regards to being able to hide not only the physical vehicles on the area but also reduce our radio usage to a point we were undetectable by people actively hunting us and BGHQ were a highly effective planning team. All of these comments were greatly received by the troops who were by the end, cold, wet, tired and looking forward to Christmas and seeing our families and friends.
With Christmas fast approaching the Squadron are again spread across the globe. We have soldiers and officers in Sri Lanka on a Rugby tour, we have troops Skiing, Stalking and returning vehicles across the UK and dodging trawls. We sent Officers and SNCOs to the E Sqn day in London and then to the Regimental Dinner and managed to have a few parties in Leuchars before going on some well-earned leave. The last 12 months have been a culmination of training and recovery from Mali and the mindset change from Peacekeeping to War Fighting. We had gone to Salisbury Plain and proved our worth in showing that we are the best Light Cavalry Regiment and proud to be Second to None.