Trainee infantry soldiers get new range at Catterick
Trainee soldiers in Yorkshire are benefiting from improved facilities, thanks to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) delivering a new state-of-the-art firing range at Catterick Training Area (CTA).
The Herontree North range, which has been built on the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) at the military training area in North Yorkshire, will enhance the capacity of CTA and offer training troops more opportunity to carry out live firing.
Working with Carillion and industry partner Landmarc, DIO delivered the multi-million pound project in just over 18 months. The new range provides two 600-metre, 10-lane electronic target ranges, fitted with the latest Targetry system technology.
After firing the first shot down the range, Brigadier David Maddan, Commandant for the School of Infantry at Catterick Training Area said:
“We’re pleased to take over responsibility for Herontree North range today. The new range provides our soldiers with a state-of-the-art training facility that improves the overall user experience. It also enhances capacity at Catterick by allowing live firing to take place for up to an additional 500 range days per year.”
Tony Crease, DIO Regional Executive Officer for the North Region, said:
“DIO supports our Armed Forces by providing what they need to live, work and train. We have worked closely with experts at Catterick to ensure that we deliver exactly what they need to provide enhanced training to their soldiers.
“The new range was completed in February, but has only just opened due to the amount of rain last year. The range also had no vegetation on it so we rested the ground over an entire growing season. It’s now ready for use.”
Ends
Further information:
Press enquiries to Tony Moran, Senior Communications Officer 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran572@mod.uk
DIO website: www.gov.uk/dio
Twitter: @mod_dio
Read DIO’s blog: https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/
Notes to Editors
1) The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) plays a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces by building, maintaining and servicing what the men and women who serve our country need to live, work, train and deploy on operations. DIO is part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
2) It is responsible for managing and maintaining land and properties, as well as providing related support services, to meet the current and future needs of the MOD and personnel at home and abroad, and to support current operations.
3) Our work includes supporting operational units by providing and improving single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, and its heritage is protected, and to achieve its environmental goals.
4) Picture caption – please credit ‘Crown copyright/MOD 2014’:
An Army Reserve soldier fires at Herontree Ranges.
Brigadier Frank Noble (left) DIO's Head of Service Delivery Training, and Brigadier David Madden, Commandant of the School of Infantry, Catterick, open the new range.
Army Reserve soldiers firing on Herontree Ranges.
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