BATTALION
Southern Comfort
Silver Lining
Prestigious win in Wales despite
the rainclouds
A team from the ARRC Support
Battalion has won a coveted silver
medal at the international ‘Cambrian
Patrol’ competition held in Brecon,
Wales – despite enduring “some of
the worst weather conditions in
recent decades”.
The exercise is the premier patrolling
event of the British Army, with
competitors from 37 international
armies coming to test their military
skills in the Brecon Beacons.
Lieutenant Halliday credits their
success due to “good training, good
preparation, and good teammates.”
It was his second time entering the
competition, and his second silver
medal. His simple advice to future
competitors is to “prepare early, and
seek advice as to what to expect”.
The ARRC Support Battalion has been
training in the United States alongside
NATO allies during a major combat
exercise in Louisiana.
Troops from the Battalion’s 14
Squadron Group have been exercising
with the U.S. 101st Airborne Division on
Exercise ‘Rattlesnake’ held at Fort Polk.
At the time this edition of the imjin
went to print, a platoon of Royal
Gurkha Rifles, a troop of Royal
Engineers, and a troop of Royal Logistic
Corps drivers had integrated into the
famous U.S. division for the final two-
week test phase of the exercise.
ON THE BAYOU
This training has been conducted by a
few British units since 2016, but never
by anyone other than light role infantry.
It is also believed to be one of the
largest deployments of British Gurkha
soldiers to exercise in the USA.
And the Gurkha troops have been
currying favour in Louisiana by holding
a ‘Messing’ event (pictured), where they
served authentic Nepalese cuisine to
their U.S. hosts.
MEDAL
The Support Battalion’s team was
led by Lieutenant Nathan Halliday
(pictured second from right). He told
the imjin: “It was exhausting, but
absolutely phenomenal.”
For the full report from Exercise
Rattlesnake see the next edition
of the Imjin – or visit the ARRC
Support Battalion on Facebook.
On the run Fight Night
Three members of the Support
Battalion have represented the
Royal Logistic Corps at the British
Army Cross-Country championships
held at Tidworth. The Support Battalion boxing team
are the reigning 1st (UK) Signal Brigade
boxing champions, after success at
the Inter-Unit tournament held
in Stafford.
The runners were selected to run
for the RLC team by the Junior
Cross-Country team manager,
Capt Blair Thomson. Captain Sammie Evans said: “It was an
epic show of courage, determination,
discipline, and controlled aggression –
all qualities essential in soldiering.”
Lance Corporal Ashley Kinnen and
Private Umesh Magar ran for the
senior male team, and Private Bikash
Rai ran for the Junior RLC team.
A number of other Battalion athletes
had qualified for the Logistic Corps
team, but were unable to compete
due to exercise commitments.
Captain Thomson said: “Although
the RLC team were not victorious, all
the runners should be congratulated
on their efforts in some arduous
conditions.”
12
SUMMER 2019 the imjin
Champ – Private Max Tripe RLC in the ring
ARRC Support Battalion
The Support Battalion of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) is a high
readiness, expeditionary, all arms unit that provides close support to
Headquarters ARRC. The Battalion is a multi-capbadge unit consisting of
infanty, Royal Engineers, Pioneers, and logisticians, combined with the full
range of supporting arms.
The primary role of the Battalion is to deliver force projection, protection
and sustainment to deployed elements of HQ ARRC. In peacetime, the
Battalion delivers force preparation for all elements of the HQ and wider
ARRC Group, and for all NATO participating nations.
@ARRCSpBn
ARRC Support Battalion