Page 27 - KRH Regimental Journal 2021

The Regimental Journal of The King’s Royal Hussars 25
Headquarter Squadron
This year saw HQ Squadron’s first full run out in its new composition (now including Recce Tp and Command Tp – full circle I hear you cry!), the Squadron had a new team at the helm and an uplift in its people and capabilities. The new OC, Maj Mark Black fresh from ICSC(L) joined post Easter leave as Maj Chris Dunn left to tackle the same course. WO2 Joel Thorpe had replaced WO2 Pete Pollard as the SSM with Capt Alec Walton becoming the newly appointed Squadron 2IC. Also supporting the Squadron are our great team of Clerks; Cpl Hudson who also doubles up as the RSM’s driver, LCpl Fallaize and Pte Hail. The Squadron now consisted of 198 people and would see more joining from across the Fd Army to support all of HQ’s many outputs; such as RMP, RL as Bde Recce, Engineers, AS90 and HVM artillery assets, even Military Working Dogs. HQ Squadron would need to support every major training event as well as find space to train its own people, whilst keeping on top of the assurance battle rhythm and integrate the various capbadges joining the KRH battle group for the training year.
The first hurdle for the Squadron was annual ranges at CMR; only one thing truly mattered here and that was winning the burger wars and receiving the prestigious crossed spatulas. With SSgt Marshal and his secret weapon, the ‘CrARRV on tow’ (3 bacon, 3 sausage, 2 egg, 2 hash brown, 2 burgers, haloumi, burger cheese and chicken strips) in the back pocket nobody stood a chance. After fierce competition and the Commanding Officer deliberating for many days it was won; HQ Squadron had the title and SSgt Marshal now goes down in the pages of history. Throughout CMR HQ Squadron also took opportu- nity to hone their low-level skills; this included GPMG and Rifle ACMT, CBRN training, orders and patrolling skills. Ex XXVI ENABLER would also see a full command post set up for BOWMAN PT with data communications being the prior- ity – a vital skill for the forthcoming exercises.
Back from CMR the Squadron deployed on to SPTA. This gave the opportunity to get all the moving parts working in unison, with Command troop, Recce troop, equipment sup- port, medical and combat supplies all getting a run out. The crowning achievement was managing to get a projector screen so the exercising troop could watch the Euros whilst deployed; an important contribution to morale and maintaining the high performance being achieved whilst exercising. We would barely come up for air before shaking out to CMR. This was not the set up that we were normally accustomed to; using existing infrastructure and a blend of concealment kits to make
the exercise feel as realistic as possible we moved into the first ever Ex IRON STORM; the UK version of the well-known exercises run in Canada. The exercise was a huge tasking, force projecting equipment from Tidworth to Pembrokeshire, undertaking LF exercises whilst in Wales, before moving to SPTA for further validation. Unfortunately, the SPTA phase was cut short due to equipment issues. However, not to rest on our laurels the exercise took a synthetic twist, and we were spun up to move into CATT Warminster. The ask for HQ was a sizable one having to move from rations to fresh without the luxury of timelines... unless you call 48 hours to feed c800 personnel a timeline? Not one to shy from the task HQ were able to transition from the field to the CATT carpark, set up a field kitchen and start delivering fresh to the masses. A huge successful feat made possible from the LE network, some out- standing chefs and a ‘can do’ attitude. With the CATT bat- tle won Ex IRON STORM 2 came to end, less the mammoth equipment hand back ruthlessly executed by the RQMS(T) Chris Brown and his team. We then looked forward to the Christmas season and the well-deserved period of festivities. As you can imagine, even in the dark cloud of the pandemic, this was celebrated by all before we embarked on a hard earned 3 week leave period.
With 2022’s calendar brimming with activity it promises to be an all action affair with all hands on deck. The year will see the Sqn operating in the UK, Germany and Poland before the majority deploy on Op CABRIT 11 to Estonia. I have no doubt the Sqn and its fine personnel will continue to support the Regiment’s G3 activity and do so with a smile.
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