Page 11 - Falcon Issue 1 2024

It is a genuine honour to provide
a quick snapshot of 2 RANGER activity for the inaugural issue of our Regimental magazine - The Falcon Journal. By way of an introduction, 2 RANGER has conducted most of its operations in East Africa, although this year it deployed soldiers to over twenty different countries in several operational theatres. In East Africa, our focus was on countering the threat posed by al Shabab in Kenya and Somalia. This Al Qaeda affiliate remain, “the largest, wealthiest and most lethal in the world” according
to the US Secretary of State for Defense. In practical terms, this has meant training, advising, assisting,
and enabling a variety of Partner Forces in Kenya and Somalia. We
have also deployed in support of other activities across Western and Southern Africa. Elsewhere, the Battalion has been involved with a variety of recent operations in Eastern Europe and the Baltic States. Likewise, it has contributed to training the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the UK as part of Operation INTERFLEX.
In terms of wider capability development, 2 RANGER also developed a specific course for its operations in East Africa – the East Africa Patrols Course. This combined patrolling, language and tracking skills with other regional specifics such as the use of non-traditional logistics (camels and light aircraft resupply!). Outside of this, we conducted a variety of training activity in locations across the world - from the jungles of Hawaii to the mountains of Nepal and plenty in between.
Briefing VIPs at the Defence & Security Equipment International Expo
11
COMMANDING OFFICER’S INTRO
What have we learned over the
last year? First, you can’t use old maps to navigate new worlds. Fresh and innovative thinking by outstanding Officers and soldiers is the secret sauce to demonstrating quite how powerful this organisation can be. Second,
this approach requires a bedrock of excellence at the fundamentals. As Charlie Munger observed “success
is taking a simple idea and taking it seriously,” our basics are no different and allow us to accomplish the impossible by all means.
Fresh and innovative thinking by outstanding Officers
and soldiers is the secret sauce to demonstrating quite how powerful this organisation can be
2 RANGER Medals Parade