TROOPS from the British Army's rapid reaction force have taken part in an aviation skills master class.
Exercise EAGLES FLIGHT 12 has seen 16 Air Assault Brigade soldiers working on Salisbury Plain with RAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and helicopters.
The training was about honing key skills required for the Airborne Task Force (ABTF), which sees the brigade maintain a force ready to deploy anywhere in the world at short notice to do anything from disaster relief to war fighting.
Some 120 troops from Colchesterbased A Company 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, parachuted onto the Everleigh drop zone before being picked up by helicopters to “assault” South Cerney airfield.
The parachute jump was an overhead assault, which sees troops carrying light equipment and weapons jumping from C130s flying at only 600ft (182m).
Troops from 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland also took part in the exercise, which was key training for the unit as it prepares to take over as lead battlegroup for the ABTF.
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