Page 19 - QDG 2023

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
17
What an exercise. Working with the Americans was an eye-opener. At one point we stood atop a spur on a 4000ft mountain, the lead scouts of 2,500 soldiers from 3rd Armoured Brigade Combat Team looking out over an area of operations 50km by 50km. In the far distance, three armoured infantry battal- ions were conducting a break in to a town; to our left an armoured regiment was getting to grips with a minefield whilst another put down covering fire on a spoiling attack of T72s; meanwhile drones swarmed, radios failed, the recon got stuck in a CBRN attack and of the 15 fuel tankers to keep the brigade moving, only 2 survived from a devastating air attack on the logistics battalion. Truly, I do not think I will ever see such a chaotic and incredible scene again. Needless to say, B Sqn excelled themselves. Observation by Comd 3UKXX and Gen Catermole endorsed this; and an invita- tion to return to the 4-10 Cavalry Ball to a certain Troop Leader perhaps demonstrates the lengths to
which we committed to the bilateral relationship. There
humble they come across, I assure you everyone was tested. If it wasn’t trying to make sense of nonsense;
or persuade the RAF to let
us onto the plane home (honestly); battling the heat, scorpions etc, then it was putting out fires on buses (honestly) or doing 8 hour round trips to deliver some quality adventurous training and sightseeing across 4 different states. My humble thanks – and I mean that – to all those (not just the Sabre Sqns – we see you HQ!) involved in delivering that extraordinary success.
Further well dones to Tpr Kirkman who deployed onto the gruelling Danish Patrols Competition; the B Sqn eques- trian team coming back 2nd from the European Cavalry Endurance ride; and to all out there – there isn’t space to commend everyone but you know who you are. As this journal goes
to edit, B Sqn lead the RAC in Alpine racing
in Verbier; the first ever RAC Woman’s Nordic Biathlon team heads to Ruhpol- ding for the Army Champs; and the Nordic Biathlon team nail first in the Brigade. Now: Operation CABRIT. A wise man once said “We’re recce; you’re only as good as the handover” and we will cement the great work done by A Sqn in Poland into a resounding Dragoon success for C Sqn to assume. The task hasn’t changed much since our forebears of the KDG and Queen’s Bays stood at vedette opposite the Russians (it is a bit further East now), but it is no less serious. I thank all those who have made it such a pleasure and privilege for me to command these fine Dragoons and I look forward as we charge, sabres drawn – and with a Lance leading, into the fray of assuming Eagle Troop on
Truly, I do not think I will ever see such a chaotic and incredible scene again.
Operation CABRIT.
AP 9/12L
Maj O’Shea opens his laptop ‘And you think that capbadge is buffed?’
was countless challenge and no matter how
I thought this was a beach trip...