Page 20 - Falcon Issue 1 2024

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A COMPANY
2023 has been a challenging but exciting year for A Coy 3 RANGER. Having set the conditions for success in 2022, the Coy has continued to develop its capabilities and its ability to conduct special operations across a spectrum of operating environments.
The first quarter of 2023 saw A Coy complete its Training Rotation with Combat Ready Validation on Ex DIAMONDBACK at the US National Training Centre, Fort Irwin, California. An austere and challenging environment, the exercise saw the Coy conduct all aspects of Special Operations in support of the US 11th Armoured Cavalry Regiment against the US Army’s most modernised and well equipped Brigade Combat Team; 2nd Bde, 3rd US Inf Division. The Coy performed admirably in spite of the unexpected drop in temperature showing that we can operate in the deep for an extended duration, with small teams delivering operational effect.
Combat Ready Validation was followed by the handover of responsibility for the Operations South Coy between A and C Coys. As the Ops South Coy, A Coy has deployed repeatedly with an average cadence of month on, month off exercises
and operations. Deployments have included; two iterations
of Ex COMBINED RESOLVE at the Joint Multinational Training Centre, Hohenfels; two iterations of Ex DALMATIAN FALCON working alongside the Croatian 1st Special Forces Group; three deployments to Romania; two deployments to Georgia including Ex AGILE SPIRIT 23; and two iterations of hosting partner forces in the UK under Op LAWBOOK. With each deployment, A Coy has developed our own and our partner’s capabilities, learnt lessons that support the continued development of Land Special Operations and reinforced the reputation of the Ranger Regiment across Europe and with our US counterparts.
2024 looks to be as challenging and rewarding as 2023 has been. A Coy will continue its operational cadence deploying again to Georgia, Romania, and Albania and adding Greece and Turkey to the portfolio all before May 24. In May 24, A Coy will conduct a handover with C Coy relinquishing responsibility for AO(S) and moving into the Contingency and Training Cycles of the Ranger Operational Readiness Mechanism.
With our Croatian and American partners
B COMPANY
B Company have spent a busy 2023 on operations in Northern Europe, deploying on 22 named operations in 7 countries, countless multi- national exercises and maintained training and promotion courses for our personnel, while saying goodbye to the previous OC and CSM, Maj Thorogood and WO2 Atherton. B Company is immensely proud of its achievements with different partner forces this year, the descriptions of which can be found in the articles below. The situation in Ukraine serves as a poignant and daily reminder of the value and the necessity of the Teams’ work in Europe and it is a privilege to work alongside so many talented, conscientious and hardworking partners in pursuit of meaningful and worthwhile goals.
One of the highlights of 2023 is continuing support to Op INTERFLEX, the MOD’s effort to train Ukrainian troops in the UK. Everyone involved has felt the weight of this responsibility and has felt privileged to provide whatever help they can and can feel rightly proud of their contribution. B Company Teams have deployed to Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovakia, Sweden, Finland, America and Canada to deepen bonds with our key allies. The Company has invested significant time in extreme cold weather training, often done with highly specialised partners in the high north and are now regularly asked to contribute guest instructors on their courses.
At the time of writing B Company is reaching the end of its Operations Cycle and is preparing to hand over responsibility to D Company. B Company will then undertake a contingency phase and then another training cycle through summer 2024. We are also fast approaching the second anniversary of the Ranger Regiment, and
the unit has come a long way in that relatively short space of time. B Company has a proud LANCS heritage but is now augmented with Mercians, Royal Yorks, Scots, Royal Engineers, Guards, RAMC, RLS and SPS, all of whom are excellent ambassadors for their parent cap badges as well as the Rangers.
The Ranger Regiment continues to develop and is nearing its conceptual and operational headmark. We still rely on and appreciate the support we receive from other units. The opportunities personnel get for operational deployments, well-resourced training and mixing with other cap badges is outstanding and leads to significant personal and professional development.
Cpl Jones and Cpl Peach conducting a live Stalk onto a simulated enemy position
A Coy takes part in a sniper competition
The Team Commander checks in with the KASP LO
On Patrol