Page 86 - RSDG Year of 2022 CREST

94 EAGLE AND CARBINE
Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry
In what has been another busy period for the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, we have been fortunate enough to support our paired regiment, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, whilst experiencing meaningful external engagement activity, some sport, overseas Adventurous Training (AT), support to operational deployments, our own overseas Annual Deployment Exercise (ADE) and exercise our newly-bestowed Freedom of the City of Edinburgh.
Exercise NORTHERN LIGHTS is an annual event, planned, conducted and assured by the collective University Officer Training Corps, under the banner of the RMAS Group. Each year, typically in September, although for the 21’ iteration it fell in October, the Cadets conduct a patrol competition, drill competition and various sports all to decide who will run out the eventual winner. In line with our engagement efforts, we were once again invited to deliver a stand and showcase our weapon systems, sights, comms kit and the Jackal (JKL) platform to the Cadets. This activity taps into a rich seam of talent, where those who are interested can express an interest in the regiment, and wider RAC with a view to transfer to us or select the RAC should they elect to commission in time.
In a similar vein, reinforcing the success of our engagement with the Scouts UK, we again were able to deliver the Scouts Mechanic Badge to Scout groups across Scotland, both at lower key hosted events, and the significant Scouts Takeover Weekend in the summer where following a period of training, the Scouts are tested and if successful awarded the British Army sponsored Mechanics Badge to proudly wear on their sleeve, as is the tradition. So successful has the initiative been that the Girl Guides, traditionally an organisation not previously known for its engagement with the British Army, has elected to also run a Guide’s Takeover Weekend where once again, the Light Cavalry contribution will be to deliver the badge and showcase our capabilities.
Qualification as a gunner is vital ground for our people, and our newest batch of subalterns were no exception as they braved the ferocious wind and rain of Magilligan Training Camp in late 21 to qualify as Platform Weapon Operators (PWO Cse). Never has the phrase ‘if it ain’t raining, it ain’t training’ been more apt, as the PWO Cse managed to bracket the period of Storms Arwen and Barra on the exposed northern tip of Northern Ireland. Despite the weather, the firers delivered some excellent results by day and night both from the elevated gunner’s position and from the
commander’s crew protection weapon mount, leaving as qualified gunners, albeit in need of a drying room.
With January 22 looming, we were lucky enough to be able to deploy some of our personnel to France, to undertake Exercise SNOW FOX. This annual skiing event sees personnel from across the RAC and wider forces community come together to contest a series of ski-based disciplines. Credible performances all round saw the team finish in the medals and attract the attention of the Army Sports Control Board, which we hope in time will reap some rewards.
Remaining on the sporting theme, we turned our attention to rugby, and support to the British Army in Scotland (BAiS) squad. The squad, made up from players and management from across Units in Scotland, operate under the banner of the Army Rugby Union, and the regiment has a significant stake therein. With SNIY personnel filling the posts of Director of Rugby, Head Coach and Captain, together with the other players in the squad, the BAiS team contested matches against competitive civilian clubs through January and each month into May, when they crossed swords with both the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy in Scotland at the Scottish Inter-Services competition, held at the Oriam Stadium, Edinburgh. Running out eventual winners, they beat the Royal Navy 36 – 3 and the Royal Air Force 24 – 5 to take their place alongside the Army Men’s and Women’s 1st XV, the Army Masters and Army 7’s teams in the winner’s circle for a clean sweep in 2022.
Maintaining currency as a signaller, driver, commander or gunner requires time on target, availability of the required resource to train, and an environment in which to do so. February 22 saw just that, at Barry Budden Training Camp. Delivering a combined courses camp, we were able to both qualify new signallers, drivers, commanders and gunners, and re-qualified those who needed to reacquaint themselves with their trade.
As Easter approached, it became clear that the Regiment were to have a significant honour bestowed upon it. The Lord Lieutenant of Edinburgh had sought and received authority to grant the Freedom of the City of Edinburgh to us. In keeping with the tradition of this revered accolade, we were invited to march through the streets with bayonets fixed and drums beating and did so in Apr 22. Mustering on the esplanade at the Castle, the Regiment formed up behind our own Pipes and Drums, and that of the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, before marching to