Tony's break from the office – under canvas

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WARRINGTON Territorial Army soldier Tony Green has been enjoying a break from his everyday office job – living under canvas and covered in camouflage cream.
It’s a far cry from his work as a recruitment officer with a major retail chain – but it’s one of the reasons why he decided to become a gunner in the TA.
Tony was one of more than 100 soldiers from 103rd Regiment Royal Artillery taking part in Exercise Leopard Star, the annual deployment camp for the regiment, part of which was to man two gun positions each set up with three 105mm light guns.
The soldiers were not dampened by the weather in Northern Germany and clearly enjoyed the opportunity to fire nearly 500 rounds of ammunition during the exercise period.
Said Tony: “This is the first time that I have been out of the country on a training exercise as we normally fire at Otterburn. This exercise will help with our role as the TA becomes the Army Reserves.”
As their new role within the changing British Army, Army 2020 and Future Reserves 2020, takes shape, the regiment is training hard to ensure the soldiers are fit and militarily competent to take their place on contingency operations.
Lt Col Richard Jordan, commanding officer of 103 Regiment explained how the future changes were looking very good for his reservist soldiers: “Army 2020 and Future Reserves 2020 formalises the relationship we have always had with our regular regiments.
“Whilst it is referred to as ‘pairing’ in the documents it is more of a ‘marriage’ as there is a more formal contract. This gives us greater direction for training and also adds a greater sense of purpose to the soldiers and their training as they can see when their skills will be required to support training and operations.”
The regiment will be “paired” with 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, with who they already have a strong training relationship. The reservists now know they will be training to provide up to 140 soldiers for any future operations. So far the regiment is very much on track with its recruiting and training in preparation for the transition in 2018.
Tony is keen to recommend life as a reservist.
He said: “My employers are quite fair. I take a week’s holiday and they let me have a week. I am really enjoying it. It provides an all round experience and it feels more like a deployment as we have had to travel further and then go out into the field.”


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Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.

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