The British Army
A British infantry regiment, based at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, has hosted a live firing exercise with French Foreign Legionnaires integrated into their manoeuvres.
The 120 legionnaires from the 2nd Regiment the Foreign Legion, based in Nimes, were taking part in Exercise Border Storm being run by the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1 LANCS) on the Otterburn Training Area in Northumberland.
The live firing exercise with mortars and small arms fire included section and platoon attacks culminating with full company attacks including the fellow NATO soldiers.
Major Matt Adams, Second in Command of 1 LANCS, said they had already been training with the French soldiers at using an operations in built up areas base in the Champagne region which had already proved very successful.
“This is a reciprocal arrangement where we are conducting live firing exercises and testing our skills as a combined force,” He said. “We have the opportunity to integrate their headquarters into my own HQ which allows me to understand how they plan and operate.
“It is a two-way exchange of ideas where we can gauge the amount of input from both sides. It means they cam some into the HQ and we can bolt them straight on to the plans. The same applies at company level and although there are some small national differences it has to be appreciated we both operate already under the same NATO rules and regulations.”
Images by Sgt Brian Gamble; Crown copyright