Page 38 - QDG 2023

36 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
A Non-Stop Year for QDG RAP
2023 was another busy year for the QDG RAP (when isn’t it?) with deployments and exercises sending us around the UK
and overseas. We have a small, but extremely capable team. For each of us the year has been personally rewarding, and we’re proud to have repre- sented the regiment
around the world.
To start with a special note, 2023 was
particularly rewarding for Sgt Lee Barter, RN, who received his Joint Commander’s Certificate of Commendation, awarded for his contribution to Force Health Protection during OP NEWCOMBE 3. Huge congratulations! This was thor- oughly deserved.
The year started with the 6-month large-scale, international, Ex WARF- IGHTER in Texas, USA, where I and other elements of the RAP integrated with 3DSR to provide med cover for the largest WARFIGHTER exercise the British Army has been involved in for 30 years.
Cpl Carradus and B Sqn deployed on Ex DESERT WARRIOR in the challenging Kuwaiti desert environment, where they trained alongside 1 Royal Anglian in a number of mounted and dismounted fighting skills and medical training. Later in the year Cpl Carradus also deployed on an STTT in Kenya, with his focus
on providing medical training to the Kenyan Defence Force.
In September I deployed on Ex SCORPION CYCLONE/IRON TITAN in Salisbury Plain with
C Sqn. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time in the field with the Sqn, practicing our green “back to basics” skills as a Sqn, and then having the opportunity to test
Just a quick incision
these as we provided OPFOR against the rest of the Bde.
LCpl Higgins and Cpl Mascall both deployed on Op INTERFLEX where they provided medical care to both UK and international troops. Their medical skills were thoroughly put to the test with a high number and wide variety of medical presentations coming through their doors day in, day out.
LCpl Jon Hiscocks has deployed on Op CABRIT 14 with A Sqn and we look forward to welcoming him back in 2024.
The year ended with Ex DIAMOND- BACK. Cpl Carradus and Sgt Henry had the privilege of working alongside our American colleagues to test and stream- line our MEDEVAC chains with several excellent learning points taken away to inform and implement in the future.
We’ve had to say farewell to a few team members in 2023. Sgt Ryan Henry posted to DMS Whittington, Cpl Matthew Parsley successfully promoted to Sgt and posted to 16 Med Regt, and Sgt Lee Barter has completed his time in the Army. He now begins his new journey training as an electrician. We wish you all the best! We thus welcomed Sgt Krysti-Marie Hanslow to the team in 2023, with whom we all look forward to working with. I will be posting to HQ Sqn in 2024. I appreciate the support and trust that C Sqn granted me, and I look forward to new adventures with HQ Sqn.
RP
Sgt Barter awarded the Joint Commander’s Commendation