A newly qualified platoon commander has tested his mettle in battles with French troops.
Second Lieutenant Ed Stapeley sharpened his skills during intense infantry training with our NATO partners.
Around 120 personnel from 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1 LANCS) deployed to Europe’s most advanced military urban training facility, CENZUB, in northern France
Alongside allies from 152nd Infantry Regiment on Exercise Gaulish, they enhanced their ability to work together and share operational knowledge at the 46-square-mile site, designed to provide state-of-the-art simulation of warfare in real town environments.
Ed’s first exercise since completing his training, it provided the opportunity to put all he has learned to the test in realistic battle scenarios.
Improving fighting skills
He said: “It’s really helped us improve our fighting skills. Working with different tactics, different weapon systems, communicating across languages, and seeing how each other operate was a great learning experience.
I was very keen to build how the platoon operates effectively and efficiently.
“Personally, I was very keen to build how the platoon operates effectively and efficiently. I’m very glad to say that the Non-Commissioned Officers within the platoon offer a great depth of knowledge to build the low-level skills, while I can focus on the larger picture.”
The 25-year-old says this is the only career he ever wanted, and the Infantry felt like the right place after graduating from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where all officers in the British Army are trained to take on the responsibility of leading their soldiers.
The Kingsman identity is strong
He said: “My uncle was in the Army during the 1990s, serving in the Gulf and Northern Ireland. Growing up with him and his advice was a big influence on me and kept me motivated to join and persevere at all times. His influence has now also led my cousin to recently go to Army Training Centre Pirbright.
“Gaining a place at the LANCS has been a massive highlight.
“Gaining a place at the LANCS has been a massive highlight. Being from Kent the regiment hadn’t been on my radar, but following a suggestion to visit from my Sandhurst platoon commander I never looked back. The Kingsman identity is strong and something that I really enjoy being a part of.
“Living three hundred miles from home has been a big shift, but so far, I've really enjoyed it. The Officer’s Mess is always willing to help and have a laugh over a beer or coffee.
Developing others
“In camp, my role largely involves helping the soldiers build themselves as people. For me, a big part in developing them involves looking into civilian qualifications that will aid both their Army careers and civilian lives.
“Alongside this I aim to get them new opportunities that they would likely not have outside the Army such as adventurous training like skiing, which has always been my biggest passion.
“I’m really hoping to share that with the battalion and am aiming to run a 20-plus person ski trip next season.”
World-class training
Later this year, Ed is looking forward to another training exercise at the British Army Training Unit Kenya, further developing his skills in a different environment.
The £70-million headquarters and training facility delivers combined arms, light role infantry battle group exercises to a world-class standard.
A light role infantry battalion, 1 LANCS is one of NATO’s pivotal Army units in the role of Forward Land Forces (FLF) Strategic Reserve, on high alert to deploy rapidly to strengthen frontline forces should conflict break out on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The United Kingdom's commitment to NATO's Forward Land Forces demonstrates our unwavering dedication to collective defence and deterrence. UK units in this role, maintain high alert status and undertake extensive training with allied nations.
This posture underscores the UK's view that deterrence and defence of NATO's eastern members is fundamental to Euro-Atlantic security and, by extension, UK national security.