While the eyes of the world are on the Coronation where the Army will have a leading ceremonial role, our soldiers are involved in round-the-clock operational duties across the globe.
There are 3,439 soldiers currently deployed on operations all over the world.
Over the last few months, soldiers have deployed on operations and exercises in the frozen wastes of northern Norway, the tropical jungles of Belize and Jamaica, and the desert heat of Oman.
These deployments tie in with the Army’s purpose which is to fight and win wars on land, to defend the UK and promote prosperity.
As part of the UK’s commitment to NATO, increasing Alliance co-operation in challenging environments is critical to maintaining combat effectiveness, be it in jungle, desert, mountains or tundra.
Across the globe, the Army is showing by its actions how it is lethal, agile, and using cutting edge digital technology on the battlefield following its Future Soldier transformation.
While the UK celebrates the Coronation of King Charles III, the British Army continues to be actively engaged in operational duties across the globe. These deployments show the variety of extraordinary experiences that a career in the Army offers potential recruits.
Our recent and upcoming deployments include:
Exercise Joint Viking – Norway
In March, C Company of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) deployed in Norway’s High North as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
The JEF is a framework of like-minded Northern European nations focused on mutual support and cooperation.
The main goal of Joint Viking was to test the British Army’s ability to operate in demanding winter conditions. It was also important for demonstrating our ability to defend Norway.
2 PARA tested their physical capabilities and mental resilience during the exercise amid deep snow and temperatures dipping below -20C.
The Colchester-based Parachute Regiment is part of 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, the British Army’s Global Response Force, which is held at very high readiness to respond to international crises by parachute, helicopter or air landing.
Approximately 11,800 personnel from six nations took part in Joint Viking, including Norway, UK, Netherlands and the USA, plus observers from across Europe.
Exercise Swift Response – Estonia
This exercise will start the day after the King’s Coronation and will see Support Company (Sp Coy), 2 PARA and 16 Air Assault Brigade’s Pathfinders deploy by parachute into Estonia after preparation in Poland.
In Estonia, the troops will complete an infantry field training Exercise and carry out live fire tactical training.
The British troops will train alongside soldiers from Poland and the Czech Republic, sharing best practices and learning from their fellow NATO members.
Exercise Spring Storm – Estonia
Coming straight after Exercise Swift Response, this exercise will be a joint defensive exercise and the largest annual military training event in Estonia.
The Light Dragoons will act as an ‘enemy’ force for the Estonians to fight against while the Queen’s Royal Hussars will act as a Battle Group within the Estonian Division.
1 Army Air Corps will provide Wildcat and Apache helicopters in support of the Estonian troops.
Around 14,000 personnel will take part from 11 countries, including UK, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland.
The exercise will reinforce the UK’s support to Estonia and NATO as well as demonstrating Allied commitment to the security of the Baltic region.
Exercise Pacific Kukri – Australia
This exercise on the other side of the world is already ongoing while the UK celebrates the King’s Coronation.
The deploying unit is a Light Role Infantry Company, C Coy 1 Royal Gurkha Rifles, who are conducting Infantry actions, both live and blank.
The exercise will culminate with the British Army unit forming part of an Australian Battle Group supported by the Royal Australian Artillery and Royal Australian Engineers.
The exercise demonstrates UK support to bilateral relations with Australia and reinforces the presence of UK Armed Forces in the Indo Pacific region.
Exercise Desert Khanjar – Oman
Towards the end of last year, this desert-based combined UK-led exercise, operating alongside the Royal Army of Oman, took place.
The exercise aimed to develop joint capabilities with Omani forces, including air and land integration and operating in a desert environment.
It comprised of joint activity between land forces, helicopters from 1 (UK) Aviation Brigade, equipped with Wildcat reconnaissance helicopters, support from the Royal Navy, and fighter jets from the Royal Air Force of Oman.
The Land component was made up of over 800 personnel from across the British Army.
Commanded by the UK’s 4th Light Brigade Combat Team, ‘The Black Rats’, the exercise was based around the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Light Mechanised Infantry Battlegroup. This included a squadron from the UK’s The Light Dragoons, a squadron from Oman’s Western Border Security Force, and a range of close support and combat service support units.
Operation Tosca - Cyprus
Soldiers from the Household Cavalry Regiment, which will be prominent during the King’s Coronation, also have a key role to play at present as part of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
The Regiment is patrolling the buffer zone, also known as the “Green Line”, that has divided the Turkish Cypriot North and the Greek Cypriot South for over 40 years.
The peacekeeping mission is one of the longest running United Nations missions with around 260 soldiers from the Household Cavalry Regiment forming the British contribution.
Exercise Red Stripe – Jamaica
In February, over 100 soldiers from No. 2 Company of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards took part in jungle warfare training in the jungles in the foothills of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains.
Whilst training alongside the Jamaican Defence Force, the soldiers were perpetually drenched, often through sweat or wading through river systems, but most often from a daily deluge from the clouds above.
The jungle training proved testing for the troops. Jungle warfare instructors taught survival techniques. These included the construction and setting of traps for food, how to prepare and cook the resulting prey, how to find potable water and how to start a fire to boil it.
But perhaps the most important survival technique the Welsh troops learned was how to navigate safely through the jungle. No easy task given the difficulty of seeing further than just a few metres in daylight with no landscape or contours to orientate and patchy GPS signal through the thick jungle canopy.
The soldiers also completed live firing tactical training in the jungle, along with close target reconnaissance with platoon level camp attacks which led to an overnight ambush against a defended enemy position.
Exercise Mercury Canopy – Belize
There was jungle training with a difference for troops in January when 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals travelled to Belize. This time, instead of testing soldiers to the limits, the jungle was used to provide a stern test for a key piece of Signals equipment - the Multi-Mode Radio (MMR).
The dense and moist vegetation absorbs radio waves and limits line of sight transmission. And like any electronic equipment, radios require careful handling and maintenance to protect them in the hot and humid conditions.
Major Liam Crane, Officer Commanding 216 (Para) Sig Sen, said:
“As a signal squadron, we would normally deploy in support of other units, but Belize has been a fantastic and unique opportunity for us to focus on learning by doing. We have used some of the newest and most advanced technology that the Army has, while surviving in the jungle, to really push the boundaries of expeditionary communications.”
The new MMR is a dual-channel radio, enabling simultaneous voice and data communications over alternative networks. It can be used by ground troops or mounted in vehicles and is operated by other NATO allies, improving our ability to work together.
Exercise Triglav Star – Slovenia
Working alongside specialist mountain infantry from Slovenia and the United States, paratroopers from C (Bruneval) Company, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2PARA) learnt climbing and rope work techniques on the rugged peaks of the Julian Alps.
The training prepared the paratroopers to be able to operate in any environment for their role in the British Army’s global response force, as well as sharing skills and building relationships with NATO allies.
The exercise presented a unique set of tactical and physical challenges, offering a different environment for the soldiers with high-altitude climbs, steep cliff faces and densely wooded slopes.
So, while the UK celebrates the Coronation of King Charles III, the British Army continues to be actively engaged in operational duties across the globe.
These deployments all over the world show the variety of extraordinary experiences that a career in the Army offers potential recruits.