Dexter Cook is the Managing Director of a blinds fabrication company. He is also 2 Lt Cook, an Army Reservist with 124 Transport Squadron, part of the Royal Logistics Corps.
He and some of his fellow reservists from around the country were deployed on Exercise IRON VIPER 19. Using a mix of vehicle platforms, they collected and distributed supplies and materiel from the Midlands down into the South East of England.
Dexter explains: “Using different vehicle platforms to re-supply and sustain the fighting troops tested our skills by taking us out of our comfort zone. Morale remained high despite some heavy rain, wet ground and boggy conditions”.
Loading supplies in boggy conditions
151 Regiment RLC along with other reserve elements from 157 & 154 Regiments RLC, formed a composite Squadron as part of the Non-Regular Deployable Component (NRDC), supporting 10 The Queens Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment RLC. Reserve elements from 2 OSG and 103 Battalion REME were embedded within it providing additional support.
101 Logistic Brigade led the exercise, which lasted a total of 3 weeks, focussing on the role of a Theatre Logistic Regiment in a Divisional warfighting scenario.
The seamless integration of Regulars and Reserves throughout the exercise demonstrated the strong bonds and shared values that exists within the whole force concept.
NRDC Troop Commander 2 Lt James Hancock (commanding green fleet vehicles) said: “The Troops bonded well together and fully integrated with our Regular colleagues. Working together as one team with one vision, we tested our collective skills, meeting every challenge and task that was presented to us”.
124 Transport Squadron is based in Warley Army Reserve Centre, near Brentwood in Essex. To find out more about the squadron, call them on 01277 268960.