Page 26 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
The Light Aid Detachment really has been put through its paces to provide continued support to The Light Dragoons through an exceptionally busy period. Both as a collective and individually, there has been excellent performance from the department to support operations and deliver on at home.
The focus for the year has clearly been the deployment on Op Newcombe where the LAD had to cohere a deployed force of 26 personnel from across eight differ- ent units, including specialists to support Mobile Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (MUAS), Multi Demain Sensing System and Explosive Ordnance Disposal remote controlled vehicles. During the operation the LAD had to draw on past experiences to conduct high levels of repair to allow the Task Group to continue advancing even with extended and stretched logistic lines of communication. Deploying for up to a month at a time, at reach and range, with no additional support in theatre on a wide and varied fleet from Robotic Combat Vehicles and MUAS to Mastiff, Jackal and Coyote and Foxhound, this was no easy task. During the deployment the LAD
continued to provide support in the UK, deploying personnel on Op Rescript in support of mass testing and on Ex Askari Storm in support of the Brigade, as well as deploying individual augmentees on Op Toral in support of 2 Scots .
On return from the operations, the LAD had to re-establish and prepare for the readiness commitments of the future. This required a surge in training activ- ity due to a high turnover of personnel. It also required a significant effort to rebuild a base unit fleet. Once again, the depart- ment continued to deliver the highest out- put standards to achieve the required start states for the Regimental and Squadron training events. While this training activ- ity and regeneration were taking place a large cohort of the LAD deployed in sup- port of the MACA task to collect data on the recent evacuees from Op Pitting.
The LAD in its entirety deployed to Castlemartin ranges to complete the annual gunnery camp, with uplift from Babcock allowing the Fitter Sections to further embed their relationships with their affiliated Sqns. On return from
south west Wales, the LAD centralised for a mammoth effort to take over, inspect and repair multiple platforms. This provided an opportunity to once again prove the professionalism and passion that the sol- diers of the LAD have.
Despite this incredibly busy period the LAD has managed to perform well at sports at all levels, from Regimental to Army. With the LAD having a runner- up for the Army Sportsperson of the Year for Army Rugby League, representation at Army Taekwondo through to Corps fishing and Regimental football.
The department is now preparing to sup- port and train on Ex Wessex Storm, the post exercise fleet regeneration in prepara- tion to deploy elements on Ex Defender 22 and assuming readiness commitments and the challenges that brings. There is no doubt that the skills and experience gained by the LAD means that they will rise to the challenge and deliver another exceptional year in support of The Light Dragoons.
Light Aid Detachment
Arte et Marte
SW
Yet another wheel off!
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