RESERVIST GUNNERS COMPLETE EXERCISE OMEGA IN CYPRUS

Seven was the number of Reservists who completed a gruelling 2-week exercise OMEGA this November, but luck certainly didn’t play any part in their success. The trainees travelled from all over Britain to take part in the Reservist Gunner qualification course that, for the first time, took place in the Western Sovereign Base Area of Cyprus. Occupying a small training camp on the hills just West of Episkopi Garrison, the course formed part of a larger combined exercise run by 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron and 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron.

With a fully loaded program, the first week was spent on weapon and pyrotechnic training at the Dhekalia and Akrotiri Ranges and as well as throwing grenades, the students completed a series of rifle shoots in order to develop the skills needed to hit targets at distances of 400M; a requirement of the Annual Combat Marksmanship Test. Then, alongside classroom based lessons covering the Orders Process, Communications and Night Vision Aids, the tempo was raised a notch as they prepared for the demands of the field exercise with training covering Patrolling skills, Close Quarter Battle and Section Battle Drills.

Leaving the relative comfort of Radio Sonde Camp for the field phase, the first spots of rain heralded a change in the weather that would add to the hardships of the next few days. Patrolling 5 Km North to their chosen Tactical Harbour Area, the Trainee Gunners erected their shelters in heavy showers and spent their first night under canvas in a violent thunderstorm. The following day the rain continued to fall steadily and the once hard baked and dusty terrain of the training area was transformed into a quagmire of mud making even the simplest tasks of preparing a meal and maintaining equipment a real challenge. But morale remained high and following a number of foot patrols, the troops enjoyed a ride in the Griffin Helicopters of 84 Squadron, who flew them to the West of the area for an overnight Observation Post and despite the worsening weather, that dumped half the month’s rainfall in one night, the students held firm in their over watch positions until the following morning. Exhausted and wet through, the final serials saw the troops complete further battle lessons, an ambush and, at the end of another long day, a final 5 Km patrol back to Camp marked the end of the exercise.

Each of the graduating students were presented with a set of RAF Regiment ‘mudguard’ shoulder badges by the Commander of British Forces Cyprus (the most senior serving officer in the RAF Regiment), Air Vice Marshal Graham Stacey, during a special parade to mark the occasion. 2620 Squadron’s own graduating reservist, LAC Ben Caller said after the parade ‘The last 2 weeks has not been easy and I was frustrated with my shooting, but we all pulled together in the field and it felt great to march back into camp knowing we’d passed the course’.

To find out how you could join 2620 (County of Norfolk) Squadron, call freephone 0800 783 1915 or search 2620 online now.

Photo – The graduating Reservists with the Squadron Commanders and Commander Britsh Forces Cyprus, Left to Right: Leading Aircraftman Graeme Kidd, Aaron Smith, William Malley, OC 2620 Squadron – Squadron Leader Jonathan White, Commander British Forces Cyprus - Air Vice Marshal Graham Stacey, OC 603 Squadron – Squadron Leader Jeff Rodgers, Leading Aircraftman Gordon Kemp, Ben Caller, Caleb Allen, Lawrence Gikubu.