Page 32 - QDG Vol. 9 No. 2 CREST

30 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
Training Wing
The team here in the Training Wing isn’t a large one with just SSgt Comley, Sgt Hazelwood and Cpl Williams in place to help the ever pragmatic WO2 Griffiths in his ever changing role of TO and TWWO. Even so the team did a sterling job over the year with regard to all internal courses and preparing our soldiers for their external courses to improve the standard of the training within the Regiment.
The big hurdle for the Training Wing was the delivery and support of a complex mounted range package; Ex Eagle’s Fire, and a driver enhancement package; Ex Eagle’s Wheels. A lot of thought had clearly gone into naming both events. After Capt Pearce released version 15 of the admin instruction and numerous meetings of how to get Jackals dropped off in a car park the size of a Kit-Kat we were set and good to go. The Regiment deployed to Lulworth on Ex Eagle’s Fire with our RY paired Squadron along with all the atts and dets deploying to Mali.
The package was split into two with WO2 Beal and SSgt Comley taking the reins running Bindon Range
as the Mounted Close
comms and weapon faults. This turned out to be a massive achievement and saved a lot of time on further night firing days so the RCOs could concentrate their efforts on battle runs.
The ranges themselves ran very smoothly despite the weather as it rained consistently for two days in the summer with constant high winds throughout the package. The weather was worst at 5 Tips where at one point Capt Brockless could be seen contemplating his
career choices.
As a bonus we managed
to get the RY to fire up to LF6, the first time anyone in the RY had gone so far in a range package. As a result of a very well-run range package the Squadrons and the RY gained some
great results whilst maintaining a positive attitude throughout.
Once Ex Eagle’s Fire was complete the Regiment along with atts and dets moved five Jackals and two Coyotes to Braunton Burrows in Devon to start the second phase of the Range and Driver enhance-
Combat subject matter
experts. This firing package
was designed to bring all
soldiers up to the required
level of training prior to
exercises later in the year.
Bindon Range was focused
on all those that needed to
complete Platform Weapon
Operator, the MASTIFF
group, the TES SVs and a
troop of RY. Capt Kite and
Capt Brockless took the
reins of 5 Tips Range with
their priority being A Sqn and all those atts and dets that deployed to Mali later in the year.
Bindon Range was the scene of the night firing where SSgt Comley managed to get all 200 firers through with the constant problems of vehicle breakages,
at one point Capt Brockless could be seen contemplating his career choices
ment package. This part of the exercise was called Ex Eagle’s Wheels which saw, in the first week, the training being focused on crews conducting obsta- cles in Bovington, before moving back to Braunton Burrows for further training delivered by DMIs across the Regiment.
We arrived in good time and in daylight hours to assemble a leaguer ready for the following day. The first morning we were awoken to reveille by Sgt Korovu- lavula’s snoring which ensured crews started bright and early!
The first week saw them progress over ascents, descents, tilt angles and a few more areas as a remind and revise of what the vehicle’s limits and capabil- ities were, along with giving the DMIs confidence that the vehicle crews were competent before moving onto a more advanced training area.
Braunton Burrows is a key enabler hidden in north west Devon which is ideal to train on with the Jackal platform and its natural terrain, unlike Salisbury Plain which sees vehicle crews bogged in after moving 100m. Owned by the Christie Estate but rented by the military, the area is heavily populated by civilians due to it being a prime location for tourists. An area for concern when 100 Welshmen and 20 Jackals turned up.
Overall a very good but busy period for the Training Wing and we see 2022 being just as busy if not busier.
RJC