A Day in the Life: Tom De Ritter – Currently at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), Canada
Who is out at BATUS, Canada?
Currently playing the role of the opposing force or ‘OPFOR’ (enemy) for Exercise PRAIRIE STORM (PS3), are: Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR): Regimental Headquarters, A and B Squadrons, with some members of C and D Squadrons also deployed. HCR is leading the OPFOR Battle Group, however, there are other regiments present helping to complement our capabilities: an infantry company from 1st Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and a number of Royal Artillery and Royal Engineer attachments.
How long do you stay in Canada for?
Ex PS3 is scheduled to last until 1 Oct 2014, at which point members of RHQ and B Squadron will start to fly home. However, those in A Squadron are staying out in Canada to help run Ex PRAIRIE STORM 4: a dismounted exercise that will see A Squadron act again as OPFOR , this time for the benefit an infantry Battle Group led by 4th Bn The Rifles.
What is the purpose of the Regiment going to BATUS?
HCR is in Canada to help train the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment by providing a robust and authentic enemy force. Our soldiers gain tactical experience by posing questions to the ‘good guys’.
What does one typically do on a day-to-day basis at BATUS?
When deployed on the prairie (training area), the day to day programme will be fast paced as the OPFOR try to outwit and subsequently defeat the 1 YORKS BG. Back in camp, and when not on exercise, days will be spent preparing for the exercise from about 20 Sep 2014. In the preceding weeks there will certainly be more of an emphasis on specific training to exploit any perceived or imagined weaknesses of the training troops, this year made up from soldiers from 1 YORKS and C Sqn The King’s Royal Hussars.
Where do you stay?
All those deployed are currently accommodated in Camp Crowfoot, an offshoot base of the Canadian Forces Base Suffield (CFB SUFFIELD). The closest town is Medicine Hat, Alberta, with Calgary, Alberta a 2.5 hour drive away.
How will you utilise your training in the coming weeks?
The main body flew out on 22 Aug 14. Presently the Regiment is gearing up with some Artillery training, followed by a training exercise that will set us up for the start of PS 3.
Lt Tom De Ritter, A Squadron HCR
