Page 31 - RSDG Year of 2023

EAGLE AND CARBINE 29
LIGHT AID DETACHMENT
– TWELVE MONTHS SERVING WITH THE BEST LIGHT RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT IN NATO
Captain Danny McNeill – OC LAD SCOTS DG
I am humbled daily to command REME Soldiers and incredibly proud to do so in support of one of the finest Regiments in the British Army. 2023 has been a stellar year for SCOTS DG LAD. Although unrelenting, our tradespersons have performed well across a spectrum of deployments, exercises and ‘other tasks.’ Our Fitter Sections are led by some exceptional SNCOs and, as an LAD, we are proud of how well our JNCOs, and Craftsman have enabled one of the most committed Forecast of Events I have experienced in my noticeably short twenty- three years. Indeed, they have been the engine room for us, and I want to thank them publicly for their efforts.
The mantra ‘Soldier First, Tradesperson Always’ is highly representative of service here because we transi- tioned to Light Cavalry in 2014 and to 7LMBCT in 2022 – particularly within A, B and C Sabre Squadron Fitter Sections where most of our Soldiers are now employed. Every one of them is not only tasked with maintaining the High Mobility Terrain Vehicle (HMTV), PANTHER Command and Liaison Vehicle (PCLV), associated heavy weapons, communication and ISTAR systems; they must also qualify as COYOTE HMTV Drivers, JACKAL HMTV Commanders, Heavy Platform Weapons Operators and
Signallers to operate homogenously within ‘fifth Troops.’ A Changing Concept of Employment (CONEMP) now sees more of the LAD forward necessitated by the arrival of the impressive JACKAL Light Weight Recovery Vehicle (LWRV) and supported by an uplift of Armourers and Tech Elec Soldiers on our 8005 post Integrated Review. As I come to the end of my service with the Corps, I can honestly say that SCOTS DG LAD is certainly the type of place I would have wanted to serve if I had my Zac Efron moment and was ‘17 again’.
The year has not provided much in the way of white space. The highlight has undoubtedly been the five months deployed in Mali with the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission (MINUSMA), initially as the Long-Range Reconnaissance Group and latterly supporting PJHQ’s Theatre Drawdown - Op SOREHAWK. We have subsequently spent six weeks shortly after our return in Germany on Ex ARCADE LEDGER conducting CTC and LFTTX in Hohne and Sennelager. Getting several Soldiers straight from DSEME overseas was a particular highlight of the year for me as a Commander, especially when many of them had never been abroad before arrival in Leuchars. A Sqn Fitters spent four weeks in Oman supporting 2 Royal Anglian as Taskforce HANNIBAL and enjoyed some outstanding