Page 87 - Cavalry Regiment

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
The year started after a much-deserved rest for both the Troop and BGHQ’s tent, affectionately dubbed “The Beast”. After the epic adventures of WESSEX STORM, the year before, 2019 promised to be a quiet year of relative calm and stability during the Regiment’s Readiness year. In April, Capt Rose handed over to Capt Johnson as RSO. The Troop managed to get up to HMNB Clyde to get a look at Her Majesty’s nuclear submarines and the work that goes in to keeping the UK’s nuclear deterrent continu- ously at sea. Shortly after this trip, we said goodbye to the BSM Staff Brewer for an extended Kenyan holiday as CSM in Kifaru Barracks, BATUK.
In his absence, Comd Tp set up the newly reconditioned Beast for the first of many BGHQ training sessions in CAST(N). This would be the first period of collective training for BGHQ since being validated for their readiness period the previous winter. With a completely new BGHQ team, the RSWO got the chance to tell lots of great stories about this one time on WESSEX STORM.
Shortly after this, Comd Tp deployed on their first Operation since HERRICK 16, providing A Sqn’s vanguard troop during the UK’s response to the Whaley Bridge Dam emergency, Op INITIATE. The waders and sandbagging were order of the day for the relief efforts to divert Todbrook Reservoir. As summer leave ended and the rains lifted the Troop were warn off for the hotter deployment as part of the Regimental deployment and prepared to deploy to the Sahel in 2020. This put additional emphasis on the annual mounted exercise, Ex GALLOPING DRAGOON.
For the exercise, Comd Tp managed to call in every favour from across the Army to cobble together a Bowman uplifted fleet and
train on BCIP 5.6 a full 6 months before the Regiment’s antici- pated uplift. The experience taught everyone across the regiment the utility of HF in long range communications as well as some innovative antenna configurations. However, with the RSO’s favourite HF antenna coming in at 34m and a full morning to con- struct, the search was on to find a more suitable solution for Mali.
That only left the Bowman uplift proper as outstanding busi- ness in 2019. After drawing up a hasty plan, the BSM and RSO scarpered to Warminster leaving Sgt (now Staff) Garsrud and Cpl Atkinson to deliver the training. The countless unit collects, mini-CASTs and favour wringing are testament to a troop that will work tirelessly to get the job done.
As Capt Johnson is handing over to Capt Quicke and Staff Garsrud now in the seat from Staff Brewer after recovering from his crash in the Kirkcudbright rally the Troop looks very different for 2020. I wish all the troop well as they prepare for their upcoming deployment to Mali as well as Cpl Felix, LCpl Fensome who will deployed to Poland on Op CABRIT. I am sure you will all join me in congratulating Danielle and Tpr Hardman after their wedding and the birth of their daughter Emmie-Mae in May.
AAAJ
Command Troop
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