Page 8 - Light Dragoons 2022 CREST

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
Introduction by the Commanding Officer
How wonderful it has been to come home to the regiment into which I first commissioned, to serve again with those I grew up with, to rediscover the distinct character that binds us, and to a regiment that remains a master of its trade. This year the Light Dragoons have once again proved themselves on operations, been validated as ready for combat world- wide, won and had fun. I’m confident that your impression from this introduction and the following pages is that our regi- ment remains in rude health.
Last year was defined by the Light Dragoons’ deployment to Mali followed by its reunification in Catterick. The regi- ment served on Operation Newcombe 1 in highly demanding conditions to improve the lives of the local population in Mali and reinforce the UK’s contributions to supranational institutions. Its reputation in Defence was sky-high as a result. In September we paraded as a regiment for the first time in almost two years, reorgan- ized with three balanced sabre squadrons and the headquarters, preparing to train to be held at very high readiness.
Emerging from the Covid-19 restrictions allowed us to enjoy each other’s’ com- pany once more. Familiar routines were resumed: we paraded and worked as nor- mal, the messes hosted parties (including a re-invigorated Corporals’ Mess), and extra- curricular activity re-started. Our regi- ment retained the RAC boxing trophy in a whitewash and we retained the Bismarck Challenge Cup, the 1st (United Kingdom) Division loaded march competition.
Her Majesty’s Government’s 2021 Integrated Review left us largely
unchanged, and we remain very relevant. We are just under 400 strong now and we are still mounted on Jackal and Coyote High Mobility Truck Variants; a modern and highly capable vehicle. We are rela- tively cheap and easy to deploy and can sustain ourselves for long periods, mak- ing us highly employable. We will stay in Gaza Barracks in Catterick as part of 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in 1st (United Kingdom) Division. We have what we need to play our part.
Our part for 2022 and 2023 is to be at very high readiness for operations. On the same day as Russia invaded Ukraine we started the test phase of a very demanding exer- cise on Salisbury Plain and in South Wales, which culminated in us being validated as combat-ready for operations. The exer- cise saw us fighting an enemy simulating Russia and we were tasked with missions that I can imagine taking place in eastern Ukraine as I write. Our women and men performed extremely well and received extraordinary accolades. We are now held at ten- or thirty-days’ notice to move until June 2023, and I suspect Russia’s actions will define the next few decades of our military careers.
Looking forward, there is plenty of good trade to be had. On current plans the Legion will be in Poland in May on Exercise Defender 22, in a demonstration of NATO’s ability to deploy across Europe and fight. In the autumn the Guards head to Oman for up to four months, fol- lowed by deployment to Mali in mid-2023 on Operation Newcombe 6. The Light Dragoons Battle Group is then due to fol- low them in late 2023, potentially after a battle group deployment to train in Kenya.
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What will happen remains to be seen, given that events often derail plans, but the Light Dragoons will be ready to rise to the fight.
Finally, in the year of our regiment’s thirti- eth birthday, and the centenary of the for- mation of our antecedent regiments, I look forward to seeing as many members of the regiment’s wider family as possible at our Light Dragoons 30 day in Gaza Barracks on 23rd July 2022. I hope to see the serving regiment, its forebears and their families will come together in a celebration of our history and culture.
JMH
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