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Welbeck Challenge (June 2011)

After an early 0400hrs wake up and a quick breakfast 10e Lower Sixth (LVI) departed for Longmoor Training Camp to begin what would be their final Exercise of the year. Having slept during the coach journey we all eagerly unloaded our bergens from the coach, and after a brief tour of the accommodation we got straight into our tasks for the day.

The Exercise consisted of a 5-day round robin of military activities followed by a 24 hour Exercise in the field to put to use all that we had been taught over the week and the year’s worth of military training we had done back at Welbeck College. The year group was split into 5 platoons - here is an account of what 4 platoon got up to during the week:-

Wasting no time at all 4 platoon began the week with a day of sports which included a challenging obstacle course, being taken for a run around the camp by a PT instructor and a lesson on orienteering followed by an interplatoon competition for the quickest time to reach all the checkpoints. The obstacle course was particularly physically demanding with its 12 foot high walls and 20 foot high rope bridge, however the whole platoon made it through the course unscathed and rather hoping for a chance to do it again!

After a well earned nights sleep 4 platoon were up at 0630hrs the next day and headed over to the canteen for a surprisingly nice breakfast. We patrolled through the camp's woodland to find that today we’d be doing command tasks prepared by 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment. This day allowed us to practise and refine our leadership skills and did end in a few people getting rather wet! We really enjoyed the opportunity to speak to the Gurkhas and ask them all manner of questions about their selection process, culture and most of all their 'kukris' (the Gurkha’s traditional knife).

The next day was the day that we had all been looking forward to - a chance to prove how good a shot we were on the Dismounted Close Combat Target Range (DCCT). The platoon took it in turns using the high-tech shooting simulator in an attempt to get the highest score out of a possible 200. Having shot the L98A1 down ranges as far as 300 metres we all anticipated the results for the highest score, and by the end of the week Matthew Edwards emerged as the best shot in the Year with a score of 198 out of 200! That evening we listened to a talk by a Major from the Royal Engineers before retiring to bed.

Day 4 began with a brief march to the centre of the training area, and upon arrival it became apparent that our instructors would not go easy on us. A few hill runs later we sat exhausted and listened to the first few theory lessons of the day including Target Identification, Fire Control Orders, Patrol Formations, Battle Drills and finally Movement under Fire. After a quick lunch in the rain we were issued 10 rounds each for a section attack on an enemy position. For many of us this was our first opportunity to fire blanks at enemy targets and it proved to be very rewarding to execute all the theory of the day.

Our last day before the final exercise started with the biggest possible breakfast we could manage in order to prepare ourselves for the 24 hours we’d be spending learning survival in the woods. We set out with the bare minimum - no food, a maximum of 3 layers of clothing and no shelter! During the day we were taught how to make traps, build shelters and start fires with little more than a flint and steel. Eating was the biggest challenge as our dinner was looking at us from within the chicken boxes. We were taught how to kill, prepare and then cook the chickens which, despite the smell, was a great experience. The night was dry yet very cold however a joint effort from everyone in their group ensured our fires were burning all through the night until 0600 the next morning providing us with essential warmth.

After our 0600hrs wakeup we dismantled our shelters made from branches and ferns and headed back to camp for one last breakfast. This was followed by final preparations for deployment on the final exercise. Our mission was to take out enemy positions that were preventing our allied forces from pursuing the retreating enemy. From deployment onwards we were purely tactical and had to use the whole week's lessons to carry out the normal tasks that a platoon would take if moving into an occupied area. During the 24 hours we set up protected harbour areas in which to sleep (despite how little sleep we actually got!) and conducted reconnaissance patrols throughout the night. At 0430hrs the platoon packed up and under our Platoon Commander set out for the final attack. We were all very excited and after a very well executed assault on two enemy positions and 1,500 blank rounds later we marched for several kilometres until we could see the reassuringly familiar coach that meant we had completed Exercise Welbeck Challenge.

The experience as a whole was a fantastic opportunity for the whole of the LVI to get an insight into the Royal Logistic Corps and the Gurkhas and allowed us to explore our own abilities, both physical and mental.

I'm sure I can say on behalf of the LVI that this was our most enjoyable exercise yet, and we are all eagerly looking forward to next year and the exercises that will come with it.

Jordan Gask, Alanbrooke 10E

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