AN ACTION PACKED WINTER FOR QUEEN’S UOTC

Undeterred by the harsh weather conditions, Queen’s UOTC have had an action-packed winter and share some of their ventures with us in this article.

EXERCISE NORDIC BLUEBELL

Exercise Nordic Bluebell took place in Sjusjoen, Norway approx. 180km North of Oslo and involved One instructor and 7 Officer Cadets from QUOTC, as part of the wider exercise, which was conducted by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers(REME) as part of their Nordic Biathlon Race Training and Development Camp.

The goal of the Officer Cadets was to develop their Nordic Skiing technique of Skate 1, 2 and 3 along with completing a Race at the end of the Training Camp. Another goal was to develop our understanding and awareness of the Army Winter Sports Association (AWSA) and the REME.  During the training camp Officer Cadets set their own personal goals to achieve.

The Officer Cadets attended two different training sessions a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon led by REME Nordic Skiing instructors.  The first couple of sessions consisted of the basic Nordic Skiing principles; how to hold your poles, taking skis on and off but the most important was balance.  After a lot of falling over in the first few sessions we had Skate 1 under our belts or should I say skis. Skate 1 is a skating technique used to get up steep hills.  After Skate 1 we moved onto Skate 2, a skating action used when on flat ground, which proved challenging but with practice and encouragement from one another we were able to conquer it.  Having learnt the basics of Nordic skiing we had proven to our instructors that we were ready to move on to a World Championship Circuit that is known as the Monaco of the Biathlon World Cup Series. 

At the World Championship Circuit, we got the opportunity to go around the whole circuit including ‘Big Bertha’, a massive hill which we all had to try and get up using the Skate 2 technique.  We were glad to hear that Big Bertha was not going to be in our race circuit. We observed a biathlon race of experienced Nordic skiers, then we got to go to the range and shoot the small-bore rifles at a 50-meter range.  We also furthered our skating abilities through skate 3 and free skate.  This is a more advanced skating technique used when going downhill or when you are going at a fast pace. 

On race day, the course was a total of 10km (3 laps) and each lap included four energy draining hills.  All of the Officer Cadets did themselves proud and showed that they could put into practice what they had learnt throughout the week within a racing environment.  They also showed that they could physically compete against a regular para unit who also participated in the race which is an excellent achievement. 

EXERCISE LIGHTNING STRIKE

A team of 10 Officer Cadets travelled to Blandford Camp, the home of the Royal Corps of Signals, for the Exercise Lightning Strike competition. The team competed in a round robin event consisting of 12 stands, run by different Regiments with the Signals. Some of these stands included a mile and a half log run by the Paras; radio set-up, wiring and radio use; scenarios such as planning what to do when called in to help civilians with flooding and other such events; a cable laying race; escape capture; memory games; and a live firing and hostage rescue situation with the Special Forces Communicators.

The long, physical day ended with the “Final Race” that was a makeshift assault course under fire, through smoke, to the end of the course, then a casualty extraction back through the course.

That evening the team attended a black tie dinner in the Officers’ Mess with all the other teams and Signals Officers. Overall, the Queen’s team managed to get in the top three, narrowly missing out on first place.

 

EXERCISE COMBAT SAPPER

Queen’s UOTC headed over to Gibraltar Barracks, Camberley, for the annual Royal Engineers UOTC familiarisation visit. Each year UOTCs gather to compete in a series of Royal Engineer focused tasks in an effort to introduce Officer Cadets to what the Engineers have to offer, and to perhaps come home with as much silverware as possible. For ourselves this was of particular importance, as we have a Royal Engineer Commanding Officer and Permanent Staff Instructor (PSI), both of whom wanted to see us maintain the MGOB (bridge building) title for the second year in a row.

Flying over on the Friday night, we were quickly orientated to the camp. After a brief period in the officer’s mess with a couple of complimentary welcome drinks it was to bed ready for the long day to follow.

It was a 6am start and the classic army fry up to start the day, although it was small portions all round as the first event to follow was the ‘Functional Fitness Test’ which, unknown to us at the time, Queens won! Moving straight from fitness we went onto the demolitions demonstration. Getting some hands-on experience, we were taught how to prepare the wires, a small charge and the electronics to ignite it. Then under supervision from our Royal Engineer corporals and from a safe distance we set off our battle simulation charges.

A short drive later brought us back into the main camp for our command tasks. Moving through a series of engineer themed tasks we built a self-standing structure, navigated a mine field and solved puzzles. Though we did not come first in this aspect Queen’s still fared better than most.

The next task was the event we really came for – the bridge build. Anxious to maintain our title it was a best effort to put our bridge up the fastest, a goal that we achieved, moving us immediately into the head-to-head bridge building race to follow the next day.

The Saturday finished with the raft building, a quick Royal Engineer’s presentation on the jobs and roles within the corps, and a social that evening – taking liberty of the free beer and pizza provided.

Waking up with sore backs and sore heads on the final day, the routine began as the previous did – up, breakfast and then down to the water again for the raft race and bridge building finale. We also made our way around a series of stands showcasing the various aspects available within the Royal Corps of Engineers, such as the Gurkha Engineers, Army Divers, Armoured Engineers and bomb Disposal to name a few. Though cold, the weather held up well, which was much appreciated as we moved onto the raft race, assisted by two Officer Cadets from Liverpool UOTC. Sadly, our poor raft assembly and rowing skills didn’t see us fair well here, although the raft did not come apart which can be considered a ‘success’. Our goal anyway lay in the final task to come – the bridge build.

It was a max effort race to get the structure up before our rivals, a task we achieved in brilliant time, taking home the MGOB title for the second year in a row! Go Queens!

SHAMROCK PARADE 2018

During the events of the Boer War there was an action on the 1st March 1900 with the ending of the siege of Ladysmith as British troops entered the town. However her Majesty Queen Victoria on hearing of the dreadful losses that her Irish Regiments suffered during the conflict sent the following telegram:

“I have heard with the deepest concern of the heavy loss sustained by my brave Irish soldiers. I desire to express my sympathy and my admiration of the splendid fighting qualities which they have exhibited throughout these trying operations.”

On the 14 March 1900 the following order was issued:

“Her Majesty the Queen is pleased to order that in future on Saint Patrick’s Day all ranks in Her Majesty’s Irish Regiments shall wear as a distinction a sprig of shamrock in their head-dress to commemorate the gallantry of Her Irish soldiers during the recent battles in South Africa.”

On Friday 16th March 2018 we continued this tradition by holding our annual St Patrick’s Day parade in the grounds of Tyrone House. It is an event that is enjoyed by both Cadets and Staff as they look forward to a break from work and studies to get together on the cusp of the Easter Holidays. This year we had the privilege of being presented with our Shamrocks by the current QUOTC Honorary Colonel Col I G D Moles OBE QVRM TD, his wife and Col N C Tougher (Comd OTC RMAS Group).

The night began with guests being treated to an Irish coffee reception in the foyer of Tyrone House.  The Officer Cadets then took part in a parade in front of the Colonel, dignitaries and their own families and friends. After a short reading on the history of St Patrick, the Corps’ Padre talked about the importance of celebrating St Patrick’s Day, with a few subtle hints regarding the recent triumph by the now infamous Irish Rugby Team! Next came the shamrock presentation for all Regular and Reserve staff and the Officer Cadets before everybody retired into the main drill hall for a warming traditional Irish stew, a display of Irish dancing and music from the Brewery Boys.

Overall the night as always was a fantastic celebration of our heritage as an Irish Corps wherein we celebrate not only our uniqueness but our diversity. A sense of belonging with of course a few well deserved pint s of Guinness thrown in for good measure. Sláinte!

 

EASTER CAMP

Easter Camp is the OTC’s annual adventure to Magilligan camp, where we look to consolidate the training that has taken place over the academic year. Different programmes are run for A Company and B Company:

A Company: 

For A Company this focuses on the conceptual aspects of officer training, the estimate and orders processes, and on command and control of troops on the ground.

Saturday began with EX DUNE EAGLE, an assessed Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT).  Each syndicate received a set of Company Commander’s Orders and from there we were sent to conduct a 7 Questions Estimate. We were able to get eyes on the enemy and think about how we would conduct our attack on the three positions we could see.

After an hour of estimate writing we briefed our plans to the Directing Staff who provided us with valuable debrief points which we will be able to apply on future TEWTs. We then had a further hour to write our orders which were again briefed to our Directing Staff.  Everyone learned a great deal and having the Sandhurst Platoon guys along and one-to-one debriefs from the Directing Staff made understanding what is quite a complicated process that bit easier. 

Once we completed EX DUNE EAGLE we moved into our Field Training Exercise (FTX) phase, EX DUNE RAIDER.  The objective was the same one on which we had conducted our Estimates and Orders for EX DUNE EAGLE so this was a great chance to see if the plans we had come up with during the day were actually workable. 

After a confirmatory recce the Platoon Commander was able to write his final orders and, after some much needed rest, we moved out to conduct our final attack.

The attack went well and we had definitely got the mechanics right, however the Directing Staff were on hand to provide us with hot debriefs on our tactics and to throw in a few ‘events’ to make us think on the spot. 

With the enemy defeated and the Magilligan area saved, we moved back to camp to clean weapons and return kit.  Above all we got a few hours of well-earned rest.

On Monday the Shooting Team headed to the range to begin preparation for the AROSC in Bisley this summer, blowing out the cobwebs and ensuring that their rifles were properly zeroed.  The rest of the company took part in a NAVEX before returning to camp for the caubeen parade for B Company.

 

B Company:

B Company’s training was centred on a 36 hour Offensive Ops exercise, Ex NORTHERN STRIKE. It was a consolidation of the training undertaken by the Company over the course of 7 weekends this year, as part of Module A of the Commissioning Course (Short). 

A platoon of 37 cadets formed up in a hollow square ready to deploy. Amongst their number were four recently attested Officer Cadets, including one who would go from attestation to a Platoon Attack in only four days! After a thorough pre-deployment kit check, the Cadets sat in on the O Group to hear OC’s Orders. While a lot of the terminology was new to the cadets, this is a process that they will certainly get used to during their Module B training next year.

The platoon deployed onto the Dry Training Area and established a hasty linear harbour from which they had to make a withdrawal after coming under attack from ‘enemy forces’ just before first light. Once they had regrouped at their RV, the cadets had the opportunity to tuck into a hearty breakfast from their ration packs and complete their morning admin prior to the training serials commencing.

Under the direction of the Instructors, initial training centred around section attacks. After a remind and revise period on the Six Section Battle Drills and a section attack theory lesson, each section patrolled along an attack lane, designed to become more challenging with each attack.

The cadets settled into harbour routine (and most importantly more food from those rations) before being tasked to conduct Recces, the result of which provided key intelligence on the enemy.

A 0530hrs Reveille was followed by a 3km insertion “tab” across the training area to the Form-Up Point, from where the Platoon launched a deliberate attack, with an attached Fire Support Group from C Company, 2 R IRISH. The sound of the GPMG (SF) section providing overhead fire as the first position was assaulted was something that the cadets will certainly remember!

Following the successful destruction of the enemy, the Platoon reorganised only to be ‘mortared’ by enemy reinforcements, resulting in the cadets withdrawing under contact along a 500m attack lane before End Ex was called and the obligatory Platoon photograph taken.

A tab back to camp, brunch, post exercise admin and drill rehearsals followed before the cadets retired for an early night in a much appreciated warm and comfortable bed.

Day four of Easter Camp saw the Corps come together for an orienteering event, assisted as ever by the Corp’s Orienteering specialist.

The cadets were then taken for a final drill rehearsal before receiving their caubeen from the Commanding Officer and formally progressing into A Company. The Corps then marched off and enjoyed a well-deserved social evening in the Mess.

 

Overall, Easter Camp was both physically and mentally challenging, however all of the Officer Cadets felt a great deal of achievement. We all learned a great deal which we will now use in the challenging environment which Gibraltar presents in the summer.

Many thanks to all of the officer cadets who contributed to these excellent, informative reports.