Find out what happened when A Company were deployed to Jamaica

In May 2008, A 'Grenadier' Company deployed to Jamaica on the much anticipated Exercise Red Stripe.

This is a regular annual Army exercise which takes place at the same time as Exercise Calypso Hop and the Jamaican Defence Force.

Both countries send a company strength group to be hosted by the other nation.

Jungle school

While A Company looked forward to a jungle school, being taught how to build shelters, living off the land and drinking from coconuts, the Jamaicans had Magilligan and Salisbury Plain to comprehend.

It is fair to say that we had the better deal on paper. It may also account for the amount of rum that landed in air freight with their advance party!

A Company did not waste time once they were on the ground. Soon they were into the jungle and after the short jungle school where they were taught the basics, it was onto:

• patrolling skills

• live firing, and

• exercises

River patrol

Even rivers did not stop patrols. It did not take long for soldiers to become accustomed to the wet/dry drills that the Jungle demands.

Washing facilities, however, came at a premium.

Whilst on exercise the company had to wash themselves and their kit in the rivers, for a few days it was interesting but after a while the novelty value ran out.

Morale, however, was always kept high and at the end of the exercise if the beach and the bars were not enough there was also adventure training.

With sun, sea, sand, sailing and scuba diving on offer, it was a memorable experience and well worth the time and effort.