Mar 17 - Governor, Chief Minister And CBF Visit Gibraltar Regiment Training Exercise
The Governor and Commander in Chief of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Lieutenant General Sir James Dutton, the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Commander British Forces Commodore Ian McGhie visited the Royal Gibraltar Regiment during their annual UK training exercise.
The exercise, known as Jebel Tarik, is a four week mandatory Infantry training exercise involving over 170 Regular and Reserve soldiers. The exercise is a progression stage one to five day and night training which covers both static and field firing up to platoon level. The exercise also ensures the Royal Gibraltar Regiment’s skills are current and they are operationally competent for the next 12 months.
The Governor was extremely impressed with the STANTA ranges which provide the Regiment with a much needed vast environment to practise the skills they have learnt in Gibraltar. The physical size of the training area at Buffadero Training Centre (BTC) in Gibraltar can inhibit some training requirements, the firing range in BTC has a static range of 150 metres whilst the Norfolk training area provides the Regiment with the opportunity to shoot long distance with live ammunition and moving targets with the additional ability to fire heavy weapon systems.
As part of the exercise the Royal Gibraltar Regiment Reserves join their Regular counterparts for two weeks and carry out their mandatory training in order to qualify for their annual bounty.
The Chief Minister was given a tour of their base at Bodney Camp and then taken onto the field to witness a number of training serials including static live firing training, grenade attack training and platoon field attack. The opportunity to see the exercise taking place gave the Chief Minister a deeper understanding of the importance of the annual training camp for Regiment and the need for employers in Gibraltar to be supportive of Reservists, he said:
“As part of my visit I wanted to do two things, I wanted to show the guys in the Regiment the support that they have back home, not just from the political side but also from the people of Gibraltar. I also wanted to learn a little bit about what the training camp entails and being here has allowed me to do that, it’s incredible to see what the guys get up to and how much is demanded of them, this is no holiday camp the guys are working very hard indeed.”
He continued:
“Being here has also given me a chance to see some of the problems that the Regiment are experiencing with the Reserves and the issues that they may have with the private sector making Reserve membership possible, we need to understand that this is an important part of the future of the British Army and help wherever possible. There are also difficulties where the public sector is the employer which I wasn’t aware of, but I have committed myself to the Commanding Officer that I will take up these issues as soon as I get back to Gibraltar to ensure that the public sector sets an example in making it possible for people to play a full part in the Reserves.”
Gibraltar’s facilities as a forward mounting base are ideal given its strategic location and tri-service capability and the Royal Gibraltar Regiment are integral to the delivery of the provision, Commander British Forces Gibraltar, Commodore Ian McGhie said:
“In Gibraltar, amongst other things, we are required to provide a Forward Mounting Base, whereby forces deploying globally can stop off for fuel, ammunition and supplies. In order for us to fulfil that main role we rely on the Royal Gibraltar Regiment to provide a force protection capability, this particular annual training exercise ensures that they are able to complete mandatory training and fulfil this essential role, without the Royal Gibraltar Regiment we would be unable to provide our essential Forward Mounting Base facility.”
The exercise itself has been a welcomed by the soldiers who have been able to take their regular training out of Gibraltar onto an area with a much wider and diverse training ground allowing them to carry out Fighting in a Wooded Area and practise their map reading skills. Training Wing Warrant Officer, WO2 Patrick Canepa said:
“The training programme is going extremely well, moral is high and we are benefiting from the ability to use such a well-equipped training facility. This training is also very useful for soldiers about to undergo career courses in Brecon, it allows them to be on an equal footing with our UK based counterparts before embarking on Leadership training, the whole package has been very useful, we are able to complete mandatory training for both our Regular and Reserve soldiers whilst completing our Reserve Recruit Training Programme.”
For the Reserve Recruits themselves it has been a completely different experience to their usual day jobs. Private Lionel Gomez (24) is a full time Health and Safety Consultant and decided to join the reserves as a personal challenge, he said:
“This is the most challenging thing I have ever done, the training has been extremely difficult but rewarding, naturally we are used to the warmer climate in Gibraltar but they have provided great training and prepared us well, I am really enjoying the experience.”
The Regiment will return to Gibraltar at the end of March when they will concentrate effort on their Regimental commitments and prepare for their bi-annual training exercise to Morocco in October.
