Page 116 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

The Zambian Defence Force undergoing a self-defence lesson
Lt Hancock finds his feet with some early morning Zambian PT
The ZAMBATT assembles prior to their attachment
THE TEAM NEEDED A BREAK AND IT WAS FANTASTIC TO GET AWAY AND SEE ONE OF THE SEVEN NATURAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD
ZAMBIA STTT 2019
In January 2019, I deployed to Zambia as part of a Short-Term Training Team (STTT). The team consisted of nine soldiers from a variety of cap badges, including The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Light Dragoon’s, Royal Engineers, Royal Military Police, Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Logistics Corps. The team’s goal was to support and assist the Zambian Defence Forces (ZDF) in their Pre-Deployment Training, prior to their departure to the Central African Republic (CAR) on ZAMBATT V, a United Nations peace- keeping operation.
On arrival in Lusaka, the capital, we were met by members of the British Army Peace Support Team, who provided us with vehicles and equipment. We made our way to a farm, which would be our home for the next several months, before visiting Nanking training area, where the 1200 ZDF troops would be based on their arrival. The first two weeks were spent getting to understand the country and its culture. We had meetings with senior Zambian Army and Air Force Officers, UN personnel and the US 101st Airborne team, completed a briefing package, had an introduction to the ZDF weapons systems, assisted with a UN instructor training package and tried to get used to the heat!
The training was split into three parts: basic, specialist and confirmatory. The basic package saw the UK team split amongst the four Rifle Companies, a staff Officer course and a Non-Commissioned Officer course, which I helped run. We covered the
fundamentals of leadership, navigation, orders and the six section battle drills. By the end of the course they had improved dramatically and had even created their own chant, inspired by Sergeant Cook, a member of the British Team.
Soon, a French team arrived and the specialist courses started. During this time the Military Police, Medics and Engineers were put through their paces, while the Infantry spent time on the ranges getting used to their new weapon, the Galil. The team was, again, divided so that we could add as much value as possible. As 2IC, I spent much of my time ensuring that each of the courses was being run to a high standard and preparing a week-long course, which would ensure every Platoon was tested on the skills that they had learnt and were ready for the final exercise. Over this week-long course each Company rotated through stands, covering Close Quarter Battle, navigation, patrolling, working with Armoured Personnel Carriers and helicopters, key leader engagement and crowd control. After successfully completing this, we were invited to take part in their final test before the last part of training started, an endurance march through the hills, which we gladly took part in. We soon realised that we should have listened to their advice about not taking weight, as we sprinted up hills for the next several hours.
We had a short window to get some rest and went south, on some questionable roads, to visit Victoria Falls. The team needed a break and it was fantastic
114 SIXTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES