Paratroopers find their challenge in France

Three paratroopers on their first overseas training have spoken of how the Army has given them the challenge they were looking for in life.

Privates Bailey Hackett, Zack Lago, and Ned Land deployed with 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on Exercise Orion. The manoeuvres saw British and French airborne forces training on the St Cyr-Coëtquidan training area in northwest France to be ready to respond to global crises together.

Zack and Ned both joined the Colchester-based battalion last summer, starting their careers at the Army Foundation College Harrogate before attending Infantry Training Centre Catterick. 

Zack, 18 from Bedford, said: “My grandad served and I grew up on his stories and wanted to have some of those experiences myself. He was in the Royal Marines, and I wanted to do something different but at the same level. Joining the Paras was the hardest challenge that I could set myself, and I’m getting what I wanted from it.

“It’s been interesting to work with the French, to see how they do the same job us as but slightly differently.”

Ned, 18 from Richmond in North Yorkshire, joined the Army “to challenge myself, get out and about, and do something interesting”.

“This exercise has been what being a paratrooper is all about,” he said. “We parachuted in, and have been moving around the area, living in woodblocks, and both launching attacks and defending positions.

“It was only ever going to be the Paras for me, because they’re the best infantry unit and I wanted the biggest challenge - it's certainly delivering for me so far.”

Bailey, 22 from Leigh, said it was “great to get stuck in” after arriving at 2 PARA in December from ITC Catterick.

“I’ve really been accepted into the battalion, and it’s good to get overseas early and show everyone what I’m about,” he said. “The main thing that I’ve learnt so far is that you’ve got to work out how to be comfortable being uncomfortable!

“My dad was in the Army, and he said it made a big difference to him in life. I wanted to give it go and challenge myself.”

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