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13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC COLCHESTER CO: Lt Col M Genko • Adjt: Capt O Stilgoe • RSM: WO1 R Falls 13 Air Assault Support Regiment has had an excellent quarter with members of the Regt deploying on a mixture of collective training exercises as well as adventure training and battlefield study packages. Ex NORMANDY REVERENCE In Mar 2019, 100 members of the Regt deployed on a one-week battlefield study to Normandy, as part of the commemoration of Normandy 75. The focus of this study was three-fold: To commemorate the D-Day landings; the importance of airborne operations in its success and understanding the role that logistics played in enabling this gargantuan undertaking. Following a study day Colchester, a mixture of historian and soldierled stands took the group to sites including: Arromanches les Bains, Merville battery, Omaha beach, Point Du Hoc and Caen. The groups were provided with highly detailed accounts from individuals that took part in Op OVERLORD. Most notable was tracing the steps of OC 82 Sqn’s grandfather, who took part in the assault of Omaha beach. This was an eye-opening experience for many of the young soldiers and officers who learned the reality of what is expected of them in full scale war. Along with the occasional jaunt into Bayeux or Caen, other highlights included the 360-degree cinema in Arromanches les Bains, Pegasus bridge, the Mulberry harbours and the airborne museum in St-Mere-Eglise. This was a great opportunity to learn fundamental military history and reflect on personal accounts. Ex DRAGON FISH In Mar 2019, members of the Regt deployed to the Mediterranean island of Malta on Ex DRAGON FISH. This was an adventure training SCUBA diving package, aimed at qualifying participants to both BSAC Ocean and Sports 50
Diver levels. The exercise began with equipment and pool sessions and for some, a certain level of fear had to be overcome. Following this, the group prepared for their first dive in open water. Malta had been battered by the worst storm for 37 years the week prior to our arrival, causing extensive damage to many sea front buildings and promenades. This devastation made for interesting dives, with the team identifying many sunken treasures, including a BMW M3 next to the wreck of HMS Maori some 15m below the surface. The group became increasingly confident in their abilities and depth progression. The highlight for many during the course were the dives at Cirkewwa. This dive site offers some of the best wildlife on the island, two wrecks to explore and a short swim through cave system. On completion of the Ocean Diver course, the group had a day of R&R in the island’s capital, Valletta and explored the fortified city that has been occupied, conquered and recaptured by several empires. Well rested, the divers began the BSAC
8 One of the groups pose for a photo in front of a Sherman tank
Sports Diver phase of the exercise. Lessons complete and exams passed, the last dive was to be at the Blue Grotto; an impressive open cave system and wall dive. Crystal clear water, a cloudless sky and an abundance of wildlife made for a memorable dive. A great end to the exercise! In other news Ex DECISIVE DAKOTA saw members of 47 AD Sqn deploy on a second battlefield study to Normandy, with JNCOs taking the lead on many of the stands. In Dec 2018, two members of 65 Logistic Support Troop deployed on Ex CARIBBEAN EXPRESS as crew aboard the Joint Services Adventure Sailing Training, Challenge 72 yacht. This proved to be a very testing experience as the vessel battled extreme weather across the Caribbean, eventually returning to Grenada. Look forward The Regt is preparing for Ex SWIFT RESPONSE, which will be 16 Bde’s priority exercise for 2019. This will see the 3 Para BG deploy to Croatia in June and with it both RHQ and 82 Sqn. Additionally, members of the Regt will parachute into France in Jun for the Normandy 75th anniversary. 8 A close encounter on Ex DRAGON FISH
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