Page 14 - QDG Vol. 9 No. 2 CREST

12
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
it is clear
to me that without this year we would not be the trained and ready force that we now are
No wise men here...
September 21: Final Exercise
The Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX) came upon us quickly, and with weather disparate to Mali and a very luscious leaguer (100m from ample beds and functioning bathrooms) we commenced the final part of our PDT alongside the Royal Irish. So, with Mali being six times the size of the UK, Thetford Training Area was “perfect” for conducting our Long Range Reconnaissance Peacekeeping training. The five weeks started with live ranges, progressing from a Squadron raid through a quarry to a night time Leaguer defence.
After a thorough Live to Blank, we commenced a period of RSOI, in which we rehearsed the skills we had learned over the preceding months. This quickly ironed out any issues, being instructed by our Observer Mentors. Recently and unexpectedly unemployed from the Op TORAL desk, these fine individuals did an excellent job of ensuring that the serials planned for Kabul city streets could equally carry over and replicate the vast deserts of Mali. Nevertheless, as we were frequently told, they were there to help and not to hinder, so better to keep them on side. As we swiftly took on board and ignored a lot of advice and continued to ace our Light Cavalry tactics we moved through the Final Training Exercise (FTX) into the MRX. This was the final Go/No Go for the Battle Group, starting with a road move to Bassingbourne Barracks. This was the final straw for quite a few
wagons, with Lt Allington
barely making it out the gates
before he stuttered to a halt.
As ever the REME LAD gave
hard graft to get the wagons
back up and running and
A Sqn rallied to display
our newly acquired peace-
keeping skills. We undertook
Key Leader Engagements
(KLEs), Casual conversa-
tion (CASCONs) and village assessments with ease
and confidence as well as
reacting to IED strikes and mass casualty incidents with clear command and control. UN caps at the ready, A Sqn and ultimately the LRRG battlegroup were mission ready for Mali.
December 21: Op NEWCOMBE and beyond
And so, at the beginning of December, we finally undertook the task for which we spent 2021 away from our homes and families. At this point, the vast majority of our soldiers traded our green and pleasant land for an arid, austere and unfamiliar environment. The past month has been spent firstly learning to live with the heat, a sharp contrast to the climate that we leave behind; thankfully December sees highs of only mid-30s. Beyond this, we have deployed on multiple patrols, whilst also making every effort to maintain morale. Of particular mention was Christmas Day, which for most
comprised of a fairly non-tra- ditional beach volleyball competition. More signifi- cantly, we were at this point able to rightly congratulate a number of our soldiers for their excellent performance: LCpl Haden was awarded the Mann Trophy for best Tpr/LCpl in the Regiment, whilst Tprs Furley, Cox, and Williams 216 were promoted to LCpl, a deservedly happy end to the year.
And with that, we finally say adieu to 2021. The drumbeat of activity remains high as we progress onto longer and more interesting operations in the Sahel, and 2022 has much promise ahead. A few parting comments from me remain, however. No doubt many readers, chiefly friends and family of those in A Squadron, will be all too aware of how eventful but demanding 2021 was for all involved, serviceperson or civilian. Nevertheless, it is clear to me that without this year we would not be the trained and ready force that we now are. We should be proud of this, as I am proud to be the Officer Commanding of the soldiers of A Squadron. I am grateful to all those who have enabled this via their own sacrifices – without your support it would have been an insurmountable task. We now all look forward to 2022 and the year ahead.
JC