Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland have been undertaking urban combat drills as they prepare to deploy to Eastern Europe for a major Nato exercise.
Exercise Spring Storm Deployment
Troops from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots), are set to travel to Estonia for Exercise Spring Storm, a large-scale multinational exercise near the Russian border. The exercise will bring together allied forces from across Europe to test combat readiness, support the assessment of Estonian armed forces, and strengthen regional defences.
Intense Training in England
In preparation, soldiers have spent weeks on Exercise Black Cyclone, training across northern England in harsh conditions similar to those they will face in Estonia. The training pushed troops physically and mentally through high-intensity scenarios, including live firing, urban combat drills, and helicopter exercises using a Chinook aircraft, designed to reflect potential overseas scenarios.
Among those deploying is 18-year-old Fusilier Evan Slater from Viewpark, North Lanarkshire, participating in his first overseas exercise. Having joined the regiment in January, he described the training as intense but valuable. 'It was hard, fast and aggressive, but it’s been good to get straight into it,' he said. 'The urban training was probably my favourite part. I got to be point man, going through the door first, which I’d never done before.'
Slater noted that conditions in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, were among the toughest, but his Scottish upbringing helped. 'It was freezing. But being from Scotland, I’m kind of used to that,' he added. He is now focused on the deployment, saying, 'I’ve been going to the gym more to prepare, especially for the extra pack weight we’ll be carrying. It’s my first time going away on exercise, so I’m looking forward to it.'
Leadership Perspective
Lieutenant Damian Light of 2 Scots emphasised the training's importance. 'Exercise Black Cyclone has given our soldiers a strong foundation for what is to come. 2 Scots have deployed to Estonia before, but this will be a different challenge. The scale will be greater, the conditions will be tougher, and the expectations will be higher. This training has been designed to reflect that. It has pushed our soldiers physically and mentally, ensuring they are ready to operate alongside Nato allies in a demanding and realistic environment.'
The deployment builds on the regiment's recent experience with Nato allies in Eastern Europe, including Exercise Hedgehog, featured in the BBC documentary The Troops. It also coincides with the regiment's 20th anniversary, marked by events across Scotland.
