Exercises

Exercise Wildjack Fire: British Troops Hone Bomb Disposal Skills

Soldiers prepare to deal with chemical weapon scenario 200319 CREDIT BFBS.jpg

Soldiers from 33 Engineer Regiment EOD and Search are honing their bomb disposal skills during Exercise Wildjack Fire on the STANTA Training Area, in Norfolk.

Exercise Wildjack Fire is an opportunity for the regiment to brush up on their soldiering skills and develop their specialist role within the British Army.

The exercise is as much about practicing specialist skills as it is a return to basics for the soldiers.

They face various and challenging scenarios they could encounter during deployments.

The situations they face are widespread and challenging from dealing with insurgency style serials to dealing with a chemical threat.

"It's been quite a while since I've put hands on this [kit]," says Corporal Zack Herdman.

"It's good to go back to some of the basics and some of the tasks and remember what you've been taught."

Both regular and reserve squadrons are involved in Exercise Wildjack Fire.

The teams are normally based in five different locations, but on the occasion of the exercise, they come together.

"It's always good to work as a team, especially when sometimes you work with new individuals for the first time," says Captain Adam Richardson.

"These exercises are a fantastic opportunity to understand how other people work and how we work together as a unit."

Soldiers prepare for Ex Wildjack Fire200319 CREDIT BFBS.jpg — Part of the exercise sees soldiers deal with the scenario of a chemical threat.

Operation Herrick in Afghanistan may have ended a few years ago, but EOD and Search is still a key capability needed for deployments.

This exercise is all about developing competent teams who are soldiers first and specialists second.

Image from Ex Wildjack Fire of soldiers communicating 203019 CREDIT BFBS.jpg — Soldiers from 33 Engineer Regiment EOD & Search are taking part in Exercise Wildjack Fire.

It is important, says Lieutenant Colonel Sam Stuthridge, to make sure drills and skills are revised properly before soldiers are sent out to complete tasks.

"We are in a period of readiness, so this for me gives a degree of both confirmation and confidence that my team are ready to deploy with those elements," the soldier says.

For a busy regiment, Exercise Wildjack Fire has been crucial as these engineers maintain their lead as the most capable EOD and search asset worldwide.