British soldiers from 49 Squadron, 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search (EOD)), collaborated with American and Polish forces during Exercise Steadfast Defender.
According to a press release from the British Army, the exercise took place in Estonia, featuring over 2,300 soldiers, sailors, and aviators from four NATO nations.
The British contingent, led by 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team (16 Air Asslt BCT), integrated with light reconnaissance troops from the US Army’s 1st Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment (1-73 CAV), and a company of Polish paratroopers from 6 Batalion Powietrznodesantowy (6 BPD).
Major Marcin Pająk of the Polish Army emphasized the importance of this cooperation, stating, “Each nation has different capabilities, and through cooperation, we can complement each other.”
The exercise also saw the US Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 8 (EODMU 8) working closely with 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD&S). Chief Petty Officer Preston Lee of EODMU 8 highlighted the value of these joint operations, saying, “We might be in the fight together one day, and this training is about building relationships and understanding before it comes to that.”
In the air, British paratroopers jumped from US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft, earning their US Army jump wings, while British 4 Regiment Air Army Corps Battlegroup provided airlift for Polish and US soldiers using Chinook helicopters.
An Apache pilot from the British Army noted the significance of this collaboration in a quote from the aforementioned press release, saying, “It’s been fantastic to show our allies what this state-of-the-art attack helicopter can do.”
Exercise Steadfast Defender 24, part of NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War, involved 90,000 troops from all 32 NATO allies.
Which Brits jumped from USAF C-17s? Paras from 2 PARA or 3 PARA?
Is 49 Squadron, 33 Engineer Regiment now in 16 AA BCT?
When did 4 Regt AAC start flying Chinooks?
4 Reg must have nicked them from the RAF?? This story’s not big on fact checking is it!!
The best surmise is that RAF Chinooks were placed under command of 4 Regt AAC Battle Group, despite this being very much out of the ordinary.
Calling Daniele, calling Daniele!
…or the FSB.
Excuse me, Spy?
I’ve replied to what I think you’re alluding to on the Farage thread.
Do go and have a read if you’re game.
The EOD Regs, 33, 101, have their component Sqns allocated to differing areas of the Army, like the rest of Field Army Troops.
Some to 3 Div, 1 Div, 16, 3Cdo, DSF, and so on.
11 EOD RLC differs as it is primarily for UK EOD,IED role only, including a SF element.
I have not memorized 33s Sqns off by heart!!
I’m out at mo so cannot peruse the data base to check, but 49 Sqn RE probably is allocated to 16. Doesn’t mean it’s part of the Bde.
Its the same with things like UAV Sqn and HVM Sqn, they’re all allocated to differing areas.
Sure. Maybe that EOD Sqn was just chopped for this exercise. I don’t recall an EOD sqn routinely being chopped to 16 AA Bde in my time
An RE EOD Sqn, a RA SHORAD Sqn, a RMP P Coy, and a RA TUAS Sqn are all assigned to 16 AA Bde. Assume some of their members will be para trained as well.
Thanks Daniele. My recollection is that the vast majority of personnel in such units assigned to 16 AA Bde were Para-trained, but I was in Colchester in 2006-2009 and things may be different now.
It’s not mandatory, as most of the CS and CSS units are heavy enough not to be able to be straight up air dropped anyway, and are more “Air Assault” than “Parachute” in role.
But the Paras of course have slightly fragile egos, so being in Colchester without having done P-Coy can be a bit miserable.
Yep, in my era in Colchester (2004-2006) certain posts on the Establishment in the CS/CSS units in 16AA Bde were designated to be filled by a para trained individual but many others chose to undertake P Coy (to fit in/get street cred/esprit de Corps) etc. I guess that it would be much harder now for such folk to do so, given the cost of parachute training and limited jump aircraft numbers.
Certain posts were designated in the Establishment document as being para-trained but many others chose to undergo para training. Not sure if that is the case now.
So, just checked what I have:
Firstly, second regiment is 35, not 101 as I said, my brain was thinking of the old set up when 101 was a hybrid Reg and 35 was not an EOD formation.
On 33, the EOD Sqn I have that supports 16/3Cdo is actually 821, not 49.
33 also supports, supported, CT / MCT teams, as part of the TRF.
Thanks Daniele. My recollection from the 2004/2006 era when I was in Colchester, was that an EOD sqn was not routinely chopped to 16 AA Bde.
Great to have the update.
(Unrelated, 7 Para RHA is the gift that keeps on giving for trolling XD)
Yep. I was COS Colchester Garrison 2006-2009 (less 6 months for a tour in Afghan). We routinely referred to them as either 7 Para or 7 RHA.
Where do you find the time? Are you on a branch line with a parliamentary service 😉
🙄😏😆
No mate.
Parliamentary service? Actually, yes.
There is one train that “upstairs” don’t like getting delayed due to who gets on it.
Lots of important people from all their estates and mansions in the Home Counties apparently.
In London from 6th, once I settle in, let’s go for a tea!
I’ll mail you, mate.
4 Reg AAC doesn’t, as you know.
It said 4 AAC BG, so assume in JHC/JAC, 1 Aviation Bde the RAF SHF dets are allocated direct to AAC battlegroups in the field.
Makes sense, as many want them OpCom by the army anyway.
It’s the first time I’ve heard the BG term used around the AAC – but it makes sense; TASKORG the battlefield helicopters around one HQ element in the same way we do with other arms. Surprised it hasn’t happened before, but I suspect it’s because the command element used to be held at Divisional HQ (or Bde for 16AA / 3Cdo Bde and on HERRICK)
I am familiar with the concept of a BG, but have never heard of RAF assets coming under command of an army brigade. Maybe things have changed.
Helicopters are all Purple anyway, makes sense.
They’re not paras. 1, 2, or 3 para are paras
And 7
Nope, just the 3 battalions can be classed as 100% para, anyone else is attached
Nice opinion, but the Army disagrees with you.
(Also you forgot about 4).
I am 1 Para, aka the first battalion of the parachute regiment. There are 3 regular battalions, 1 2 and 3. 4Para is territorial. There is no 7 para that’s royal horse artillery. To be a true para, you have to come from 1,2 or 3 para and do the full training passing p company, getting wings and earning the parachute regiment cap badge. 7 parachute battalion royal horse artillery wear the artillery cap badge because that is their parent regiment, same as 9 squadron royal engineers. Both wear the maroon beret and will have passed p company all arms and gain their wings but they remain artillery or engineers but are permanently attached. There is no other way to get a parachute regiment cap badge other than being 1, 2, 3 or 4 para but 100% paras are full time I.e 1 2 or 3
Oh dear, sorry to hear that you’ve been misinformed.
7 is 7 PARA RHA.
They’re still Paras. I suggest you get over yourself 😂
RHA = Royal Horse Artillery therefore hats. As a 1Para vet I know exactly what I’m talking about. You do not, obviously a civvie hat or wannabee. Can’t be bothered 26th you anymore
Hey, what’s the bit that comes before RHA in 7?
Oh yeah.
Para.
Clearly you’re just bitter and sad. Deal with it.
(Also a walt since you claim to be a Para but don’t know that 7 Para are Paras, and you didn’t know about 4th Battalion lol)
Agreed but 9 sqn are still Paras and the para regiments need the to operate effectively
Why did the PARAS have to earn there Jumps wings from the yanks . They already have earned the Jump wings that’s the reason why after PCOY we went to jump
School. The PARAS are already proficient . No doubt the lads out of Colchester
I was in 3 para in the eighties/early nineties and we deployed to fort Bragg and jumped into the Mojave dessert for one exercise. We were there for twelve weeks I think. We were all awarded our US wings as we used their equipment which is different from ours, although we did six jumps in all not just the one, including from the back of a chinook. US counterparts certainly didn’t have the same physical testing such as P Coy so it was a lot easier for soldiers to gain their wings and certainly an lot easier to become airborne soldiers.
Outrage over nothing? They chose to earn American jump wings in addition to their British ones.
Just like some infantry soldiers choose to get the EIB or US Ranger tabs, or American soldiers come do the Commando course. It’s all a bit of fun.
Seriously the lack of chill…
My apologies for coming across abit over the top . We have been doing joint Exercises with the Americans for years . Iam just glad we got our Pegasus back . In 2015 after having to wear the budgie 🤣🤣🤣 . We earnt our wings anyway but it is good we can do joint exercises using different equipment it was just abit of a bad day. I read to much into it my apologies to you all
If you do ‘a course’ you get the badge. What’s not to like?
No-one is saying our lads are not proficient until they have jumped with the US.
To do the US Jumps as well, and get their US wings indicate the greater proficiency and versatility of our lads. Just got call the US wings a souvenir if it bothers you.
Getting foreign Jump wings after parachute training with a foreign army has happened for decades.
Totally agree you had operation quick response with HAHO drops which are a lot different to static line drops . Since the 16AA came into being the structure of the PARA regiment has changed I remember my static line jump
Out the back of a C17 . Five day drops and two nighttime drops one with full gear . My point is . The need for PARA regiment in my opinion some of the best trained lads in the world. It’s just the whole structure of the PARA regiment changed . Hence the change in the delivery method of the troops . There is joint training operations happening all the time . Operation rattle snake was another . The whole infrastructure has changed in the para regiment me personally I don’t think for the best . The delivery methods had to change . In my opinion that isn’t down to tactics it’s down us not having us I mean the UK not having the infrastructure in place to support the PARAS properly . I believe we are gearing up for a major conflict I just hope and pray our lads get the support we need my apologies for coming across as being disrespectful that wasn’t my intention
Thanks mate. All very clear.
Again my apologies being disrespectful wasn’t my intention
No apologies necessary, my friend. I wasn’t an airborne warrior myself but supported 16 AA Bde from Colchestr Garrison HQ and got to know many who wore the maroon lid.
So I was attached to the AAC from 3 Para ,many many years ago flying Gazelle and Lynx ,I’m aware they went to be,replaced with Apache and that other one I can’t remember the bloody name of . Must admit I never heard tell of ‘Chinooks ‘ appearing at any point !!! Also ,as ex para ,which battalion jumped 2 or 3 para . I assume the Engineers are the para trained unit are they . When I was in ,it was 9 Sqn R.E. and the best bunch of insane nutters you could ever meet .
You probably mean Wildcat, just 34 of which “replaced” 150 plus Lynx and Gazelle.
9 Sqn RE are still there, but the Close Support Engineer side has been expanded into 23 Regiment RE, of which 9 Sqn are a part.
The RE in the article are actually from 33 RE, an EOD formation that has sub unit/s attached to 16 AA Bde, as do other Regiments from the CS CSS side. Elements of all these have para trained elements.
Thankyou for that information. Yes Wildcat is the name I was looking for .I’d totally blanked ,but recognised it as soon a I read your reply . Are 9 Sqn still the bunch of nutters they used to be ? I’m assuming you’re part of the Brigade ,are you . We thought we were mental in 3 Para ,but they beat us at it every Airborne Forces weekend, that was in Aldershot then .The structure has somewhat changed since my day day . We had a cover-all unit called …1 Logistics Regiment, or to us …1Log Reg.For 3 years ,I flew Scout ,then Lynx and Gazelle ,all of ’79 for one . I know …….old knacker !!!! 😂😂 I was the first army helicopter on scene at Warrenpoint when 2 Para got hit 18 dead I think I remember. Never ever wanted to see or smell anything like that again ,sickening, it wasn’t full bodies we were picking up . I did get to see and smell it though ,in the Falklands War. However ,I ramble ,thankyou for the Wildcat nudge to my memory, they must be good to fly . All the very best to you Daniele ,you sound like a very nice person .
Thank you, Tony.
No, I have not been in the military, or the MoD. I’m a researcher, that is all.
There is a well known UKDJ poster who calls himself Airborne, with whom you should speak.
Respect, for your service.