Page 56 - Cavalry Regiment

A SQUADRON
Major RHG Anderson
A Squadron started 2019 conducting Mission Specific Training in pursuit of achieving the collective ‘start state’ to deploy to Poland on Operation CABRIT. The British Army commitment to Operation CABRIT fol- lowed the decision at the Warsaw Summit in 2016 that NATO forces would contribute to a standing pres- ence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. This took the form of ‘enhanced Forward Presence’ (eFP) multi-national Battle Groups. The UK is the frame- work nation in Estonia and has also committed a Light Cavalry sub-unit to the American led Battle Group in north-east Poland.
With little time between Christmas leave and deploy- ment, the tempo was pacey. Of greatest importance was ensuring the squadron attained the mandated live firing qualifications by day and by night, dis- mounted and mounted. This activity was integrated with the Regimental live fire ranges in a snowy and windy Warcop, and in a wet and windy Lulworth. Commander 51st Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Lindsay, visited squadron ranges in Warcop and closely fol- lowed a live fire section attack commanded by Cpl Thapa Magar. The section attack was live-streamed on social media by a representative from Army Media and Comms and started the media coverage for the up- coming deployment in earnest. Special mention must also go to Sgt Jarrett; during the mounted ranges in Lulworth his robust planning and response to a myr- iad of challenges really stood out and was instrumen-
Jackal live firing
tal in ensuring that all crews attained the necessary qualifications.
At the time, the Brexit date was set for 29 March 19. The deployment date was therefore brought forward from April to mid-March in order to ‘get A Squadron in’ and avoid any potential bureaucratic challenges faced by deploying afterwards.
As a standing Light Cavalry task, The Light Dragoons and 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, have each com- pleted a one-year deployment on Operation CABRIT. A Squadron started the SCOTS DG yearlong com-
EAGLE AND CARBINE 9
A Squadron on parade in Poland