Tours of Afghanistan

To date, 4th Regiment has completed two tours of Afghanistan. It is in the process of training for the third.
During the last tour in 2010, 4th Regiment was extremely busy. The Regiment found itself dispersed between 56 outstations, across all of Task Force Helmand and the myriad of tasks varied on a daily basis.
Tasks that the Regiment carried out have included the training of Gun Detachments and the preparation of Guns for operations; providing Drivers, Commanders and HMG/GMG Gunners for Combat Logistic Patrols; soldiers for sangar duties; surveillance gathering; as well as the core tasks of providing fire to call signs on the ground.
The Regiment fully expects another eventful and hectic tour on its return in 2012. It is preparing for its next tour with exercises in Kenya and Canada. Prior to deployment, the Regiment will undertake another tough training period of Mission Specific Training in time for its eventual deployment.

Sport and Adventurous Training

The Regiment has a full program of sports and adventurous training that it expects its soldiers to take part in.

The Regimental Football team tends to finish near the top of the Army league each season. The Rugby team has won the inter Gunner championship on a number of occasions. The Regiment also takes part in annual Army wide skiing championships in Norway. It also looks forward to its inter-Battery boxing night later this year.

Batteries also conduct their own adventurous training abroad giving soldiers the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of activities such as safari in Kenya; mountain biking in Canada and climbing in the Alps.

Sport and adventurous training serves a pivotal role in developing a soldier's confidence and team spirit. It is also a fun way of developing physical stamina. It is therefore something the Regiment takes very seriously.

Centre for Personal Development

Throughout a soldier's career, he/she is required to constantly train for and develop him/herself for operations. Therefore, 4th Regiment believes that soldier development is at the core of its business.

The Regiment possesses its own award winning Centre for Personal Development (RA CPD) whose goal is to teach non-military skills in order to enhance a soldier's career. This can range from basic literacy and numeracy through to full A-Levels.

Through the RA CPD, soldiers also have the opportunity to transfer their military skills into civilian qualifications. Soldiers of 4th Regiment have the chance to gain apprenticeships and NVQs in Transport, Distribution, Stores and Warehousing, and Personnel Management to name a few.

Being a mechanized regiment, many soldiers will be given the opportunity to train as drivers. 8t trucks, armoured vehicles, forklifts and artillery guns, to name a few of the vehicles that the soldiers of 4th Regiment drive every day. On operations, they are also capable of operating vehicles such as the new cutting edge patrol vehicles used in Afghanistan.