From simulated enemy attacks to night time patrols, Royal Yeomanry soldiers have been put through their paces to show they are ready to take the first step on the promotional ladder.
The demanding Army Leadership Development Programme (ALDP), previously referred to as a Potential Non-Commissioned Officers (JNCO) Course, is designed to give junior soldiers the skills and experience to promote from Private to Lance Corporal.
12 Army Reservists from the regiment completed the course that included a mixture of theoretical lessons and a range of packages including leadership training and navigation skills before the final exercise where they applied what they have learnt and proved they were ready for promotion.
Trooper Talbot said: “This course has been a great opportunity to learn more about leadership. I've practiced my leadership skills in a military exercise and developed some of the skills that I already use to help develop our recruits at D Squadron in Telford.”
During the final exercise the soldiers had to react to a range of scenarios from a full-blown section attack to casualty evacuation. They had to work as a team, living in the field for five days as well as demonstrating leadership through basic military tasks such as captured persons management, first aid and military tactics.
Course Officer Captain Mike Crofts said: “The soldiers get the opportunity to learn about leadership theories which they probably already practice day to day as senior troopers. But more than that, they will have learnt a lot about themselves. The final phase in the field lets us see if they have what it takes to lead when they are tired and under pressure, and importantly whether they will set an example to junior soldiers. We set high standards in the Royal Yeomanry and the course has met them head on by remaining focused and successfully completing the course. Well done to them all.”
The Royal Yeomanry is the senior light cavalry regiment in the Army Reserve. It is a reconnaissance regiment with a role that enables it to operate in front of other friendly forces to gather intelligence on the enemy and the local environment.
Around 80 soldiers from the regiment returned from a six-month deployment in April where they had been working with NATO allies in Poland. The reservists provided the reconnaissance capability to the United States 2nd Cavalry Regiment Battlegroup as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) deterrence posture. Also deployed were soldiers from their regular counterparts, 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards.
The Royal Yeomanry and 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards combine to form the light cavalry reconnaissance component of 7th Infantry Brigade who also known as the infamous Desert Rats.