Newsletter Summer 2020 Edition
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THE REGIMENTAL NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2020 EDITION Introduction Welcome to our July Newsletter. As you will read, COVID-19 still dominates, but things are changing and for the Battalions their focus is moving inexorably to restoring military capability and preparing for exercises and operations. They have acquitted themselves superbly throughout the crisis with their professionalism, willingness, compassion, and of course sense of humour, being the hallmarks of their success. Undoubtedly, their performance has further enhanced our reputation. Our growing reputation is further evidenced by our excellent recruiting figures, both for Kingsmen and officers. Indeed, at RHQ when we interview potential officers starting out on their careers it is now no surprise when asking why they want to join to be told ‘because of your reputation’. Recruiting is also a team game and from the Kingsman in a Battalion, to the enthusiasm and salesmanship of the Regimental Support Team, to the excellent instructors we have at ITC and RMAS, all have played their part. In this edition, we have attempted to give a wider perspective and add colour, by looking at some of our most recently joined officers and giving the thoughts of our Sandhurst platoon commander. But we are not insular, and in the King’s Division we have forged a great bond with our two sister regiments, with three working as one being a truism not a slogan. Finally, RHQ has begun returning to the workplace on a blended basis. Whilst good to be back, the commute was not missed, and we will be working a blended pattern. The shop is also clearing its backlog of orders but for the time being any further orders should be made online. But as you have seen with the Regimental facemask, we remain innovative and up for the challenge. 1st Battalion 1 LANCS has spent the summer working hard to support the NHS and communities in the North West of England. Amongst a myriad of tasks, they have helped set up temporary treatment facilities, run COVID-19 mobile testing sites across the North West and have provided test kit drop-off and collection services for some of the worst affected elements of the UK care The Drum Major leads a lesson on the system. infantry assault bridge construction. The disruption COVID-19 has caused to the Battalion’s warfighting training has been significant. However, the Military Op RESCRIPT Aid to Civilian Authorities (MACA) tasks it was given have provided an All four 1 LANCS manoeuvre unprecedented opportunity for the companies have deployed troops in Battalion to assist, and be seen assisting, support of the Defence response to our home communities. COVID-19. 1. 1 This has been enabled by HQ company. In the opening weeks of the operation, 1 LANCS was directed to stand-up over 400 personnel to be ready to assist local authorities. As a first response, a number of liaison officers were embedded in local authority resilience forums. The Battalion also received a large uplift to its civilian vehicle fleet in order to move such a sizeable force. The first tasks it received were to help establish Patient Recovery Centres in Cumbria and assist in the construction of the Project NIGHTINGALE hospital in Manchester. The majority of activity Somme Company quad bike training that followed was the provision of COVID-19 testing. This initially saw A quad bike course has just been the Battalion providing ‘assisted completed and the Battalion has testing’ at Regional Test Centres but, as recently taken delivery of four Foxhound the national testing strategy developed, vehicles, which will be used for it was the Kingsman themselves who delivering crew training by the end of provided ‘self-test’ facilities at pop-up July. Somme Company was training high sites using specially modified vans. 1 priority for 4 Brigade, with sniper, LANCS deployed the very first of these reconnaissance and assault pioneer Mobile Testing Units and helped cadres being essential to the develop the capability for it to be maintenance of these specialist weapons replicated across the country. capabilities within the Battalion. The Battalion has run Mobile Testing Units every day since the concept was launched, but is now in the process of handing over this role to a commercial team. It is expected that by the end of July, we will have delivered 40,000 tests at Mobile Testing sites, and many thousands more at fixed sites. Also significant is the effort of the specially- qualified instructors who have trained many other military units and civilian companies in performing COVID-19 testing. Training Very little military training has been conducted by 1 LANCS. However, as restrictions on activity were eased, Establishing an infantry assault bridge routine training has gradually recommenced. In camp, the MT Three cadres were conducted in the platoon have, systematically started south and north of England and also one driver theory training and testing, in Scotland. These have ensured that the along with practical driver training and Battalion will continue to field credible conversion courses. warfighting capability into 2021. 1. 2 Similar anti-tank and machine-gun well-earned leave when it finally gets cadres will run in late 2020, as will a home. mortar cadre, that will combine The Battalion’s focus is gradually shifting mortarmen from all three battalions in from supporting UK Operations, to the Regiment. training for warfighting and a potential Burma Company has led the way in a overseas deployment in 2021. The return to warfighting training for the remainder of 2020 will see increasing rifle companies and has been individual and platoon-level warfighting conducting platoon-level training in training as we prepare for validation as a the Peak District. Battlegroup in early 2021. 2nd Battalion The last three months have been a very varied time for the Battalion. April saw it fully dispersed and working from home during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Battalion has, subsequently, maintained a high level of readiness to provide assistance to Op RESCRIPT. Despite this, a varied program of training was conducted - from Armoured Fighting Vehicle recognition to navigation theory. There were also a number of very competitive fitness leagues that made use of ‘Strava’ Quad bike training and ‘Boxfit’ apps. Anzio and Corunna companies will do similar once they have been released from their UK Operations duties. The 1 LANCS CIS platoon have been busy training themselves, and the Battalion HQ, to use the latest version of the Army’s tactical radio system and the software used in command posts. Overseas Platoons In early June, the Battalion welcomed back most of the Kingsmen who formed the initial Cyprus Reinforcement Platoon. A new platoon has now taken the role of supporting 2 MERCIAN, and will remain in Cyprus until the Battalion moves there in 2022. A second independent platoon remains stoic in Kenya, delivering security to the Explaining the test procedure to a member of the public British Army Training Unit there following a significant delay to their The main concern throughout the return as a result of COVID-19. This lockdown period has been for the platoon is now scheduled to recover to welfare of the Battalion and their families the UK in late July and will take some - many of whom are key workers. 1. 3 The lockdown has represented the longest sustained period some had spent at home in many years and the chain of command has been keen for personnel to be able to make the most of this time. Mid-June saw the Battalion being tasked to provide four Mobile Testing Units (MTUs) which travel around the North-West setting up COVID-19 testing sites, generally in car parks with a gazebo for shelter. Weather Contact drills at Weeton conditions have been typically varied, The remainder of July should see the with teams spending the day out in handing over of the MTU task to civilian everything from blazing temperatures to contractors before the Battalion takes pouring rain and howling wind. They summer leave and Arnhem Company have done so without complaint, begins training whilst Blenheim knowing that what they are doing is of Company deploy on operations. Chindit great importance. Company will be busy on individual Those who come for a test do so courses and supporting the above, whilst because they are concerned that they Arroyo - recently renamed from have the virus - as such they are Headquarters to Enabling company - will sometimes extremely scared, and the be mainly occupied with moving the Battalion’s Kingsmen have done a Battalion from Weeton to Pirbright in fantastic job of reassuring people and November. talking them through the test. It has been an excellent opportunity for them to get out into the communities that they serve and often live in. 4th Battalion The Specialised Infantry rotation Over the last few months, 4 LANCS has continues to see the companies rolling continued training by online and virtual through 8 months of training, means, despite the difficulties faced operations and contingency. Blenheim during lock-down. Routine trawls to Company are soon to take up the baton support operations and exercises initially from Chindit as the operational ceased, but the Battalion’s commitment company, which will see them to remain ready, responsive and resilient deploying on tasks all over the world in endured. small teams to work with Partner Forces. The lockdown has resulted in them missing a considerable amount of training time, including the bulk of their main training event - an exercise in Kenya, which was unfortunately cut short. Since training has been able to restart, they have been training as well as circumstances will allow. They have conducted vehicle contact drills on the Weeton Training Area, ranges and a road move from Weeton to Nesscliffe, Shropshire – stepping off straight into a strike operation.