Troops get set to manoeuvre onto Salisbury Plain

Some 400 soldiers are getting ready to manoeuvre onto Salisbury Plain to take part in a week-long final training exercise before deploying to Afghanistan.

Exercise Pashtun Warrior is being run specifically for the Op HERRICK Armoured Infantry Company (AI Coy) to enable them to develop their tactics, techniques and procedures prior to heading overseas.

The exercise is being designed and delivered by the Field Training Unit (FTU) and HQ 4 SCOTS with input from HQ 7 Brigade and theatre Subject Matter Experts. It will also provide a training opportunity for the Brigade Ops Company and Warthog Group to conduct manoeuvre training under the direction of HQ Brigade Manoeuvre Group.

Troops will not use live ammunition on the training, which will feature Battle Exercises and Company Missions. It is being conducted and evaluated using Tactical Engagement Simulation and is the final exercise before the AI Coy deploy to Afghanistan.

Talking about the training exercise, Major Tim Davies, from FTU, said:

“We are very much looking forward to delivering training on Salisbury Plain next week. It will give the soldiers an opportunity to further develop and consolidate their tactics and techniques in advance of their deployment.

“Salisbury Plain is the ideal setting for this exercise as it offers the facilities and diverse terrain required for such training.”

Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) is maintained by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), which delivers the Training Service, enabling Defence training users to live, work, train and deploy at home and overseas. 

Lieutenant Colonel Mark Hiskett, Principal Training Safety Officer, DIO Ops Training South West, said:

“DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations. The size and nature of the Plain means that it offers the only location in the UK capable of supporting complex and technical  mission-specific training such as Exercise Pashtun Warrior.”

At over 38,000 hectares (94,000 acres) Salisbury Plain is the UK’s largest training area and offers first-class and diverse training facilities to enable the British Army to meet its training requirements to prepare for operations worldwide.

Ends

Further information:

Press enquiries to Tony Moran, Communications Manager 0121 311 3879 or email tony.moran572@mod.uk

DIO website: www.gov.uk/dio

Notes to Editors

1. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) is part of the MOD. We are 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.

2. Our work includes providing, supporting and improving: operational units; single living and service family accommodation; training areas and historic military sites. DIO actively manages these and supporting services, such as soft facilities management and guarding, to ensure the needs of Defence are met, value for money is achieved, heritage protected and environmental goals achieved.

3 Picture caption - please credit 'Crown copyright/MOD 2013': Soldiers training on Salisbury Plain

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