Sgt Cook deployed with the UN in Cyprus
The Paviors have received the following report and photographs from Lt Col G E Minton MBE, Commanding Officer of our affiliate, the Third Battalion Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.
‘In December last year, we sent a team of 23 soldiers to Uganda to run a mission rehearsal and validation exercise for a task force of some 1,200 soldiers from the Ugandan Peoples Defence Force who were deployed as part of the African Mission to Somalia. In May, we took some 100 soldiers to Cyprus for pre-mobilisation training for Operation Herrick in Afghanistan. Forty-three of these have now undertaken a further four-and-a-half months training with the units with whom they have deployed to Afghanistan. The majority are with our sister Battalion, 1PWRR. All being well, they should return between March and May next year, having completed a six-month tour in Helmand Province. In September, we were back in Cyprus. This time, the soldiers undertook two weeks of small-arms and marksmanship training, and a wide variety of individual skills courses. These included range-management, kayaking, life-saving, paragliding and parachuting.
White-water rafting in Uganda
In amongst these highlights, we have continued to do our regular core training: once-a-week for two hours and once-a-month for two days. We have staged numerous other events, such as our annual Service of Remembrance and a Regimental Carol service, both in Canterbury Cathedral. We held our Albuhera Dinner at Canterbury in May, and a cocktail party and Beating-the-Retreat at Oldencraig Equestrian Centre in August. However, the highlight of our social calendar was the Inter- Livery Skill-at-Arms Competition in June, from which the Paviors’ team left with a good haul of trophies!
So what of the future? Since the announcement of the Future Reserves 2020 Study, there has been an unprecedented focus on the Territorial Army (TA) as the largest element of the Reserves. Very scant detail has emerged on what this actually means in real terms, but the future looks brighter than it did, with the promise of a greater and more clearly defined role for the TA and, perhaps, more resources. The Battalion has invested considerable time and effort into recruiting and training the next generation. Recruitment-levels have increased significantly and manning-levels are up on this time last year. Both attendance and pass rates on training courses are up. Our main effort in the New Year will be in preparing the next cohort of 50 soldiers for Afghanistan. ’
WO2 Marriot currently deployed on Operation Herrick in Afghanistan
The PWRR band march past at Pirbright Pass Off Parade