Page 15 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2019

REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
The course developed cam and concealment skills to new heights
weather conditions and long cold days tested the soldiers. Their ability to concentrate, learn, and pass their Sniper ACMT was a credit to their will to pass the course. The lads were spurred on by LCpl Graham’s constant reminders about how to achieve ex- cellence and professionalism in harsh weather conditions: “Aim small miss small” and “This is as easy as it gets”.
In week seven SSgt Quinn was asked to join the team and be- came lead instructor for the course and Cpl Hughes replaced LCpl Graham. In week seven to nine the soldiers were now in to their third phase of the course. Described as ‘skills weeks’, this was to put the practise they had learnt from the ‘sniper knowl- edge’ in week two into practice in order to pass all the tests in week ten. Once again three hard, cold, gruelling weeks of crawl- ing (stalking), playing hide and seek with objects (observa- tion), night navigation exercises (three a week), ending in
a 72-hr subsurface observation post. The soldiers were starting to feel the burden of becoming a sniper and injuries had taken their toll on course numbers – yet the six Royal Lancers remained fighting fit and ready for the final hurdle.
With pressure through the roof, all six faced the final week and a barrage of tests – all had to be passed if a student was to earn their sniper badge. The first two soldiers from the course
to achieve their sniper badge were Tpr Abbs and Tpr Southam; both passed all their tests first time and with high marks.
Later that week three more of The
Royal Lancer soldiers passed with minimal fuss and all five could return to regimental duty as ful- ly-fledged snipers.
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