'It's made a marked difference'

Ex Scorpian Cyclone preps cavalry for combined drills

Members of A Squadron, The Royal Lancers have been gearing up to join colleagues from the Household Cavalry and 3rd Deep Recce Strike Brigade on Exercise Titan Storm.

A series of Trade Wind and Cyclone packages – which included virtual drills in Catterick and Sennelager, plus a 17-day stint on Salisbury Plain last month – brought personnel up to speed individually and collectively.

The final outing saw them meeting training level charlie by operating as a squadron in daylight and at night across a variety of tactical scenarios.

Officer commanding Maj Andrew Meeke (RL) said they were now in good shape to embark upon the forthcoming combined arms manoeuvres.

“By the time we go on Titan Storm we’ll have had two solid weeks on the actual vehicles and a further almost four weeks of simulated training, as well as a couple of smaller exercises on our back area,” he explained.

“It’s made a marked difference. Looking back, there have been times in the army when we’ve been doing so many things at once.

“Last year was one of those times because the regiment did three concurrent operational tours.

“But this year the squadron has been entirely left alone. We knew where our protected windows were and could focus on getting ourselves ready.”

Lessons from the Cyclone pathway would be fed back to the Combat Manoeuvre Centre so the process could be refined for future rotations, added Maj Meeke.

Lt Sam Vance (RL) agreed that the space to concentrate on core business after the operational commitments of 2024 had been beneficial.

“It’s been quite thick and fast,” he said of the process.

“There’s been a lot of stuff thrown at us pretty quickly, but I think that’s the best way to do it.

“To be able to get an entire squadron to this point since January, all organically trained and ready to go onto Salisbury Plain, is quite an achievement I think.”

Meanwhile, Sgt Luke Robinson, a Royal Engineer attached to the squadron’s guided weapons troop, was looking forward to his first brigade-level exercise in a number of years.

“It’s been a big learning curve for everyone, but I think the training has been more organised and the whole programme has gone well,” he said.

“Everyone has had a positive approach and been open minded going into it, so I think it’s fully prepared us for the next phase.”