Reservists must become even more lethal to double the Army's fighting power by 2027

Reservists are needed now more than ever and should be upskilled to become even more lethal, says the new commander of the 19th Light Brigade, the Army's first fully reservist brigade outside of Northern Ireland since the Second World War.

Speaking to BFBS Forces News, Brigadier Lisa Brooks said: "The threat, the strategic context that we now find ourselves in, all the geo-political frictions and challenges that we see going on across the world, the imperative has changed.

"The training that we are delivering and doing is far different, it is much more focused on a warfighting state."

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Brig Brooks has joined 8th Battalion The Rifles for Exercise Sava Star in Croatia, a country where conscription is being reintroduced. 

Throughout the exercise, they have been working alongside the Croatians honing their skills in conventional warfare – on the ranges, in the trenches, and the kill house.

Although this is the 10th iteration of Sava Star, more recently there has been a marked step change in both the intensity and importance of training like this.

Across Nato, nations are strengthening their forces and, in the UK, the head of the British Army has pledged to double its fighting power in just three years.

More emphasis is now being put on overseas exercises, with reservists, like regulars, needing to be used to working with Nato allies.

Every two years, troops from 19 Brigade will take part in Exercise Rhino Heart – this year held in Germany – operating at brigade level rather than just within their own units.

There is a focus on reducing mobilisation time by training reservists to a higher standard ahead of deployment.

Scaffolder and 8th Battalion The Rifles reservist, Lance Corporal Cefan Ashton, said: "I think the way, not just the British Army is going, but other militaries across the world are depending more on reserves – it makes sense."

Among the ranks on exercise in Croatia are doctors, a Scottish botanist, an Irish postman and a former sheep farmer.

For 8th Battalion's Regimental Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer 1 Lucas Farrell, it is this mix which makes it all work so well.

He told BFBS Forces News: "The variety of professions within the battalion, I think that's what makes an Army reserve unit special."