LIVING under canvas and covered in camouflage cream is a far cry from his normal office work – but it’s what drew Warrington’s Tony Green to become a gunner in the Territorial Army.
Gunner Green was with more than 100 soldiers from 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery taking part in Exercise Leopard Star, the annual deployment camp for the regiment, part of which was to man two gun positions each set up with three 105mm light guns. The soldiers were not dampened by the weather in northern Germany and were clearly enjoying the opportunity to fire nearly 500 rounds of ammunition during the exercise period.
Tony’s normal day job is as a recruitment officer with a major retail chain – so TA training makes a big change.
He said: “This is the first time that I have been out of the country on a training exercise as we normally fire at Otterburn. This exercise will help with our role as the TA becomes the Army Reserves.”
As their new role within the changing British Army, Army 2020 and Future Reserves 2020, takes shape the regiment is training hard to ensure that the soldiers are fit and militarily competent to take their place on contingency operations.
Lt Col Richard Jordan, commanding officer of 103 Regiment said: “Army 2020 and Future Reserves 2020 formalises the relationship we have always had with our regular regiments. Whilst it is referred to as ‘pairing’ in the documents it is more of a ‘marriage’ as there is a more formal contract.
“This gives us greater direction for training and also adds a greater sense of purpose to the soldiers and their training as they can see when their skills will be required to support training and operations.”
Tony was keen to recommend life as a reservist.
He said: “My employers are quite fair. I take a week’s holiday and they let me have a week. I am really enjoying it here. It provides an all round experience and it feels more like a deployment as we have had to travel further and then go out into the field.”
Tony swaps office for life under canvas
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