A FLAG-lowering ceremony last Friday marked the handover of the British Forces Germany (BFG) base in Bielefeld.

Catterick Barracks has been the last remaining headquarters for BFG since 2013.

The UK is keeping a training presence in the country, however, despite all major field and combat units having left Germany.

RED BERET FOR ROYAL ARTILLERY OFFICER rosie

A FEMALE Gunner officer last week became the first woman to complete the gruelling Parachute Regiment selection course.

Captain Rosie Wild, 28, is the first woman to pass the All Arms Pre-Parachute Selection, more commonly known as ‘P company’ – the toughest military selection course outside the Special Forces. A former Sword of Honour winner at Sandhurst and an Army Triathlete, Rosie will serve with 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Artillery.

WATCHKEEPER MILESTONE ACHIEVED

WHILE flying goes on in Boscombe Down, the team from 47 Regiment RA in Cyprus have flown concurrent flights from one aerodrome; an important accelerator to operational readiness and further development in Watchkeeper’s capability.

Concurrent flight has been an important step in the quickly shortening route to operational readiness.

DIVING SAPPERS

THE diving teams from 26 Regiment RE are having their underwater engineering skills put to test during Exercise ROGUISH BUOY 20.

Tasks included underwater cutting over two days and a night dive. This was to replicate clearing a port of obstructions to allow shipping movements.

Continuing with deep diving to 30m and dexterity tasks. This is to replicate recovering a piece of military hardware at depth followed by underwater demolitions for obstacle removal and an underwater lifting and recovery task.

GAMBIAN DEPLOYMENT

CRAFTSMEN from of 17 Field Company of Tidworth based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion REME have just returned from a recce in preparation for Ex KAMBRA SUN 20.

This is a company size partnered overseas exercise in The Gambia.

They met their Gambian counterparts, saw the training real estate and are in a great place to finalise the planning and execution of a challenging and hugely rewarding exercise.