Members of The Royal Regiment of Scotland have been sharpening their combat skills ahead of Exercise Steadfast Dart. Sixty personnel from B Company, The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (4 SCOTS) engaged in live fire and tactical exercises at Warcop Ranges in Cumbria, England.
The training included a battalion live fire range package, which encompassed the Annual Combat Marksmanship Test, both night and daytime assault exercises, and concluded with a demanding company attack utilizing night vision equipment.
4 SCOTS, a light mechanized infantry battalion, is gearing up for an upcoming deployment to Romania for Exercise Steadfast Dart, a significant NATO exercise in Eastern Europe. The United Kingdom is taking the lead by contributing the largest contingent of forces, comprising over 2,600 personnel and 730 vehicles, to bolster NATO’s eastern flank.
Throughout the pre-deployment training, the infantry soldiers enhanced their proficiency in drills, range movements, and practical weaponry skills while engaging in live-fire exercises.
Second Lieutenant Simon Owtram, 4 SCOTS Platoon Commander, said:
“The aim of the training was to get the soldiers used to being in a tactical scenario firing live rounds and getting familiar with their surroundings on the range.”
“It builds confidence so they are competent to do what they are trained to do.”
“The Highlanders enjoy it; it’s a good opportunity for them to use the weapons in the way they’re meant to be used.”
The weather presented an additional challenge, with temperatures dropping to minus one degree at Warcop. Soldiers were required to employ mental fortitude to endure the frigid conditions while maintaining their tactical proficiency.
STEADFAST DART 25 (STDT25)
STDT25 is a joint deployment exercise scheduled by The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) and conducted by Joint Force Command Naples (JFCNP) in order to test and train the operational deployment and reinforcement of 2024 Allied Reaction Force (ARF) Elements to NATO Vigilance Area South-East under peacetime condition. STDT25 will focus on the planning and execution of a pre-crisis Multi-domain activity the aim to reinforce the allied forces located in Romania and Bulgaria. NATO has stated that the exercise will flow directly into DACIA 2025 Romanian Employment exercise.
