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First Fusiliers and trainees embrace new training system

Exercise Cyclone Fist

The Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) in Wiltshire provided the ideal setting for a recent mixed urban and rural training initiative, combining personnel from 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1RRF) and trainees from the Combined Arms Manoeuvre School (CAMS).

CAMS is based at Warminster, Wiltshire and delivers specialist weapons training to Officers and Soldiers of the Field Army.

This initiative forms part of the new three-phase Land Training System (LTS), which aims to improve the training of our soldiers and prepare them to fight and win wars on land.

LTS has three elements which progressively elevate soldiers from foundational skills to operational effectiveness in complex environments, ensuring the British Army maintains high combat readiness:

Focuses on individual and collective training, giving soldiers the core competencies needed.

Builds on Tradewind, with more complex scenario-based exercises – Cyclone integrates other support functions such as logistics and fires.

The aim is to encourage soldiers to refine their tactical skills and decision-making in more dynamic contexts.

Each year, every sub-unit of the British Army must take part in a Cyclone event. This part integrates trade tactical training, modernisation, special to arms training and validation in a combined arms context.

Involves high intensity, brigade-level training in near-realistic combat scenarios. 

Storm tests resilience, adaptability and strategic coordination which aims to prepare forces for deployment and combat conditions with the highest readiness.

LTS is also designed to integrate the tuition of trainees alongside the yearly Battle Craft Syllabus (BCS) undertaken by a Battlegroup and sub-units (small groups which are self-supporting).

Length

6.34m

Max speed

75 kph

Height

2.78m

The use of weapon systems to create a specific effect on a target, either lethal or nonlethal.

A Brigade in the British Army typically consists of 3,000 to 5,000 personnel and commanded by a brigadier. It comprises several battalions or regiments, which can include a mix of infantry, armoured, artillery, engineers, and support units. The brigade serves as the primary operational-level unit, capable of independent action or functioning within a larger division. Its role is to conduct sustained military operations, combining diverse capabilities to achieve tactical and strategic objectives. Flexible and scalable, a brigade is key to deploying a balanced force in combat, peacekeeping, or humanitarian missions.)

Commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, a battlegroup is a flexible, task-organised military unit designed to accomplish specific operational objectives. It typically consists of around 600 to 1,000 personnel, built around a core unit, such as an infantry battalion or armoured regiment. This core is reinforced with attachments from other units, including tanks, artillery, engineers, logistics, medical teams, and reconnaissance elements, tailored to meet the mission’s requirements.

The battlegroup functions as a self-sufficient combined arms formation, capable of conducting offensive, defensive, and stability operations. Its strength lies in its ability to integrate diverse capabilities, ensuring adaptability in complex combat environments. The battlegroup operates under a brigade’s command structure but possesses enough autonomy to execute tactical decisions independently.

Its key role is to deliver a balanced and versatile fighting force, whether in high-intensity conflict, peacekeeping, or disaster response. By combining firepower, mobility, protection, and support, the battlegroup can respond rapidly and effectively to dynamic battlefield challenges.

This is an annual training opportunity for us as an Armoured Infantry Battlegroup, we use this opportunity to work on and improve our individual and collective armoured infantry skills.

Lieutenant Colonel James Fern, Commanding Officer, 1RRF

The phase that we’ve just completed, is in conjunction with CAMS which involves training junior commanders to ensure they are fully competent and can both operate and command Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV) tactically and safely.

Lieutenant Colonel James Fern, Commanding Officer, 1 RRF

1st Battalion the Royal Regiment Fusiliers have been involved with both Tradewind and Cyclone elements of LTS which is enabling the tactical phase of multiple armoured courses involving CAMS students.

Our Fusiliers have been playing enemy for the CAMS courses. It has been a fantastic training opportunity for them to practice mounted and dismounted skills in a rural and urban environment. It has also been especially beneficial to those who have just joined the regiment to work with armour and see the benefit of Combined Arms.

Second Lieutenant Keeley Lloyd-Janes, Platoon Commander, X Company, 1RRF

Lieutenant Colonel Fern adds:

“Next, we take a step forward by bringing the Battlegroup together. This is where we start to integrate and operate as a sub-unit within a Battlegroup context combined with armoured infantry, armour, tanks, engineers, bringing all the elements of a combined Arms Battlegroup together.

“This is all about setting the standards and showing that we are prepared to deploy and war fight, wherever and whenever required to do so. There is an element about getting the basics right and it starts with being able to operate safely and then being able to conduct Combined Arms Manoeuvre.”

Copehill Down village on SPTA provides the perfect backdrop for this type of urban training. Consisting of mock, purpose-built houses, shops and even a pub and petrol station, it lends itself well to building attacks, casualty extractions and is the ideal setting for infantry training and those aspiring to be Commanders in Warrior AFV or Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank on CAMS courses.

Training by adopting the LTS format makes more efficient use of a Unit’s time and resources. It also ensures regular training, and the bonus is that it gets more people trained with less effort, faster.

Captain Shearer, Chief Instructor for Armoured Infantry at CAMS, said:

“So, as part of the LTS we’ve been running Exercise Iron Fist. It’s designed to train both armoured units and armoured infantry units, whilst doing so alongside trainees from CAMS wishing to advance in their careers.

We have been carrying out several serials across different terrains enabling our new crew commanders, platoon commanders, and troop leaders to get used to operating with armoured vehicles, becoming familiarised with their roles, and then being placed in a more complex environment. This then culminates in a final urban attack.”

Speed

Can reach a maximum speed of 59 km/h (37 mph) on road, 40 km/h (25 mph) off-road

Engine

Perkins CV12-6A V12 diesel 26.1 litres, 1,200 bhp (890 kW)

Fuel Capacity

1,592 litres (350 imp gal; 421 US gal)

Operational Range

550 km (340 mi) on road, 250 km (160 mi) off-road on internal fuel

Mass

62.5 tonnes (61.5 long tons; 68.9 short tons), with a combat-ready weight of 75.0 tonnes (73.8 long tons; 82.7 short tons) with add-on armour modules.

I’ve been on the Armoured Infantry Commanders Course, learning how to command a Warrior AFV and integrating with the Challenger 2 Tank in a series of tactical environments. We are perfecting our training and providing fire support. This is all part of our job role for career progression. We use the Warrior to clear through areas where armour might not be able to reach, like dense woodblocks.

Cpl Jimmy Williams, 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh

Lieutenant Colonel Fern reflects on Exercise Cyclone Fist and how his personnel and CAMS trainees are benefiting from this new combined training:

“Ultimately this is all to assure our warfighting readiness for the next 12 months.

“This is what our soldiers join the Army for, this is what they want to do and this is what was on the recruiting poster. We’re now giving them that opportunity to have the adventure, to have the experiences and do something a little bit different that’s not your average 9-5.”

A member of First Fusiliers taking part in the Armoured Infantry Crew Commanders Course at Copehill Down Village.

A member of 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers fires his Sharpshooter Rifle from the window whilst taking part in the Armoured Infantry Crew Commanders Course at Copehill Down Village.

The commander of the Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle confirms his plan with the vehicle's gunner.

A driver of a Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

A Challenger Two Main Battle Tank during the urban section of the course.

A member of 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers fires his Sharpshooter Rifle from the window whilst taking part in the Armoured Infantry Crew Commanders Course at Copehill Down Village.

A Lance Corporal taking part in the Armoured Infantry Crew Commanders Course.

Member of First Fusiliers taking part in the Armoured Infantry Crew Commanders Course at Copehill Down Village.