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1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Light Aid Detachment REME Capt W Barraclough REME
This has been another busy year but also a rewarding time for the Light Aid Detachment (LAD) with numerous trawls, exercises, and deployments. Even though it has been a fast paced year, made busier with a minimal workforce, we managed a high output of production and team cohesion days.
Every year on the 1st of December the Corps celebrates our patron saint, St Eligius. This event always involves an engineer- ing challenge, and this year it was to build a soapbox car. The competition was across the REME within the Larkhill garrison. Teams from 1 RHA, 14RA, 19RA, 26RA, 32RA and 47RA entered and was the largest celebration for many years. The 1 RHA entry was built by The Chestnut Troop’s Fitter Section built a ‘Dumb and Dumber’ soapbox. Even though it looked amazing, unfortu- nately it didn’t quite perform as well we all hoped and ended up coming in last place. The LAD gained some valuable experience from building the cart and team cohesion. However, the LAD won the most crucial vote of ‘The Best Designed Cart’ - a testament to the fitter section’s work.
In March, the LAD provides equipment support to the Royal School of Artillery to ensure that all their equipment remains ser- viceable over the exercise. This happens twice a year and is all in aid of the FST commanders qualifying for the training year ahead. B Bty and its fitter section was tasked for the role providing key support. The LAD once again worked tirelessly to ensure B Bty and our fitter section deployed and that all AS90 remained firing throughout the exercise and ensured that critical training could continue to take place.
The LAD has been tirelessly working on the Regiment’s fleet making sure that each Battery’s kit is ready to deploy on numer- ous exercises. B Bty deployed on Ex IRON STORM to support the 1MERCIAN battle group as well as ensuring the Bty completed their TQCC (Technical Qualification Current and Competence) and other training objectives. It was also a good chance to teach the newest members of the LAD on how we operate in the field and operate within a battlegroup context. Through the hard work of B Battery’s fitter section, we were able to keep all four AS90 firing throughout the whole exercise.
The remaining members of the LAD were back at camp getting the Regiment’s vehicles ready to deploy on Ex DYNAMIC FRONT in Germany. This is a multinational exercise designed to improve allied abilities and to test their interoperability in different types of environments and scenarios. Showing how capable we were at an international level and keeping the Regiment moving forward.
Throughout the year the LAD had constant rotations of personnel in Germany at the LTF(S) (Land Training Fleet Sennelager) and at SEF(G) (Stored Equipment Fleet Germany). This was to make sure the vehicles were maintained and were in an operational order, so they are ready for different battlegroup training exer- cises. The individual personnel that deployed thoroughly enjoyed their time and have improved their own knowledge on a variety of platforms across the Army.
The LAD deployed onto Pj SPRING GENERATION to Belgium along with some of The Chestnut Troop, where we inspected, repaired, and maintained 28 M109A4 so they could be gifted to
Ukraine. This was a challenging time for the LAD working on unfamiliar equipment and an unfamiliar environment. Which was added to more with the lack of tooling and ST&E (Special Test & Equipment) at the beginning of the deployment. These problems were resolved and work began to progress quickly. There were a couple of troublesome vehicles as usual resulting in some extra production hours and some last-minute problems. But this did not stop the hard work and determination of the LAD and Ch Tp repairing all 28 M109 guns and completing the task well ahead of schedule.
With such a busy year and working hard meeting all the targets the LAD decided to take advantage of the hot weather during the summer. Where we went out for a much-needed team bonding and fun day out at the ‘Aqua Park - New Forest Water Park,’ this was a much-needed re-set ready before the next quarter.
Currently the LAD is working hard to get the Regiment’s fleet ready to deploy on Ex CYPHER DAGGER, which will be commencing in October. The three-week exercise will see the Regiment deploy to complete their TQCC and other training objectives. The full LAD will deploy alongside their respective Btys supporting them. Through- out the exercise the LAD will do some of their own BCS training to improve our own readiness and deployability.
The LAD has also managed to find time to represent itself in several different sporting events. At all different levels from inter Bty Regiment all the way up to Corps level. We have had several members of the LAD competing in the regimental boxing night where SSgt Redman coached the team of fighters. Cpl Leo per- forming exceptionally well, fighting for the Regiment team and at Army championships. Sgt Story and Cpl Chapalapata have both played for the Regimental football team which is coached by WO2 Isle. LCpl Sugden went to play at the Army individu- als squash championships and managed to win the U25 plate competition. SSgt Luckraft played for the Corps rugby team and was lucky enough to go to Washington DC with the Corps rugby team. Some members of the LAD have also represented the LAD in mountain biking and the Regimental tug of war. This was newly formed and coached by WO1(ASM) Wyatt where they participated in their first season gaining 3rd place at the Braemar Highland Games.
Overall, it has been yet another highly busy year for the LAD with the next year looking to be the same, but the men and women of the LAD look forward to the challenges ahead.
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