Reservists Take On A Fictional Foe In Cyprus

Lion Star is an annual training exercise which is designed to be as realistic as possible, because it prepares reservists for possible deployment.

This year it has seen more than 130 part-time troops from 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment undergoing the intensive training in Cyprus.

Exercise Lion Star 6 culminates with an attack against a fictional enemy.

“We’ve been here picking up those pockets of resistance”

The territory they need to recapture is a dam and the enemy is played by British Army regulars.

3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment are among the most operationally experienced Reserve units in the British Army. Known as ‘The Steelbacks’, they were formed in 2006 and have been deployed on numerous operations, including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

One member of the unit was a regular in the Grenadier Guards for 12 years and returned as a reservist.

“After a while I missed the Army, missed the camaraderie which you don’t get anywhere else -  so rather than join full time again I’ll try the reserves “

After more than 4 hours of mock battle the dam is retaken and the exercise is over. But for the reservists, the 2 weeks in Cyprus has been an opportunity to hone their skills.

 “Living the army life and being a soldier“