Page 14 - Cavalry Regiment

14
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
In a desperate bid to start this update without using the fabled phrase ‘It’s been another busy year...’ I plumbed the depths (read shallows) of my knowledge to bring you a blindingly good, innovative and wholly new summative phrase by which to lead into this review of B Sqn’s year. Suffice to say I failed to come up with anything half decent and so, reticent to break with tradition: It has indeed been another busy year for B Sqn personnel. That said, for the Sqn itself this was a year of re-generation both in structure and purpose having provided the backfill for both A and C Sqns’ deployments on the Op Cabrit Main Effort over 2018/19.
The start of the year saw the reconsti- tuted and reinforced B Sqn preparing for its deployment to Kenya as part of the wider Regimental commitment of Opposition Force (OPFOR) against 2 Rifles Battlegroup. Following plenty of mince pies over leave the regenerated Sqn headed out to Stanford Training Area (STANTA) in Thetford for Ex Askari Eaglet. This provided a great chance to bond and form the Sqn teams while developing the dismounted soldiering
Following plenty of mince pies over leave the regenerated
Sqn headed out to Stanford Training Area...
Cdre Smirnoff and Gang
skills which would see the Sqn through a year of largely dismounted focussed reconnaissance activity. Despite the win- try January weather unable to replicate the equally challenging heat of Africa, morale was high, leaving Maj Duncan Wiggins and WO2 Dale Thomas satisfied that the Sqn was ready for a showdown with 2 Rifles in just over a month’s time.
The Squadron flew out to Kenya in early March leaving the cold damp of the UK to enjoy some equatorial sunshine. Working alongside C Sqn and RHQ, B Sqn had a fantastic two months in a test- ing and unique environment operating often in close proximity to lions and other big game, honing their tactical soldiering
abilities with many JNCOs stepping up into command and developing in spades. Numerous successes were notable: the perfect Close Target Reconnaissance achieved with stealth and cunning result- ing in a complete unpicking of 2 Rifles in the follow on attack, CASEVACs aplenty being managed by the SSM, best (TES) shot of the QDG Battle Group awarded to Cpl Barnard AGC and Tpr Thomas 722 receiving the Commander BATUK’s coin. Following the hard-fought (and successful) battles against 2 Rifles, many members of the Sqn found themselves enjoying the brighter side of life in the East African heat on AT. The Sqn col- lectively attended Savage Wilderness, an Adventurous Training concentration,
Ex Askari Eaglet
B Squadron