Page 94 - Cavalry Regiment

The Regimental Journal of The Light Dragoons
2019 has been another busy year for the Regimental Duty Staff. Cpl Rincon-Barker was temporarily in charge of the guard- room at the start of the year but has since moved on to become a JTAC. He was helped by LCpl Astwood and LCpl Leonard who have also moved on, joining C Sqn and HQ Sqn respectively. Sgt Spurgeon returned from shared parental leave in the summer, fol- lowing the safe delivery of his son. He returned as the new sher- iff in town, the gatekeeper of Gaza Barracks, with his deputy Cpl Atkinson joining at the back end of the year.
Everyone knows the roles and responsibilities of the Regimental Duty Staff and it seems that the junior soldiers like to keep our department extremely busy. From doing daily checks around Gaza Barracks to escorting AWOL soldiers over to the Catterick holding cells, the RDS shy from no challenge they face.
Along with the job of running the regimental PRI Shop Sgt Spurgeon deployed to Salisbury Plain in September to work as an observer mentor on Ex WESSEX STORM. When he arrived back at Gaza the preparation for the regimental remembrance week- end started. This year was particularly poignant as it marked the 10th year anniversary of Operation PANTHER’S CLAW. It was, therefore, even more important that our department got things right. The resulting parade saw serving and veteran LDs stand shoulder-to-shoulder with pride, and what a great weekend it was.
Soon after Sgt Spurgeon found time to go on Ex JORDAN DRAGOON, a demanding two week trekking expedition follow- ing the Jordan Trial. It culminated at the ancient city of Petra, a
phenomenal close to the trip. Towards the end of the year we said farewell to the newly promoted Cpl Astwood and welcomed Cpl Atkinson in his place. We look forward to 2020 and continue to keep things ticking over in the guardroom and additionally help bolster Command troop when they deploy.
JTS
Regimental Duty Staff
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