Training on the equipment used in the operational role is at The Armour Centre at Bovington and Lulworth near Wareham in Dorset. There soldiers are taught to drive a car before qualifying as a Driver, Gunner or Radio Operator on Britain’s Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV). So the Household Cavalry are Guardsmen equipped by the Royal Armoured Corps. During their careers Household Cavalrymen return to The Armour Centre to become Specialist Instructors in the three Armoured individual core crewman skills – Driver, Gunner and Radio Operator – and as AFV Commanders.
Collectively the Household Cavalry Battle Group trains across the world; for example on Salisbury Plain in the UK, or at Suffield on Canada’s prairies.
Recent Operations
From 2003 to 2014 the Household Cavalry Regiment deployed on three operational tours in Iraq and five in Afghanistan.