Anytime, any place, anywhere

READY for action . . . Fusilier Wolstencroft

OLDHAM soldier Fusilier Robert Wolstencroft is on standby for worldwide deployment.

The 21-year-old Sholver lad has taken part in a major military exercise involving a variety of vehicles and equipment to test his readiness for the challenge.

He serves with Germany-based 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF).

The battalion is part of a small-scale contingency battle group which can be called at any time to engage in anything from low-level operations and evacuations, to supporting peace initiatives or enforcing the peace.

The four-week exercise, Active Rhino, took place in northern Germany, and culminated in a realistic live-fire mission involving the rescue of British citizens stranded in a hostile environment.

Former Hathershaw School student Robert, who joined the Army in 2008, and served in Afghanistan the following year, said: “It’s been a great exercise, straight to the point and no messing around. It’s quite hard work — you need to stay focussed as we could be called to do this kind of mission at any time. We need to keep up honing these skills so we can deploy at short notice if the need arises.

“The chance of deploying is always there — you have to stay ready and prepared.”

The exercise gave soldiers the opportunity to experience every detail of what a mission might involve, and allowed them to work with armoured vehicles and a Lynx helicopter.

Robert, whose parents John and Sandra live in Sholver, is due to go on exercise to Kenya in October.

Commanding officer, Major David Falconer, said: “This has been a demanding and arduous exercise that the guys have really enjoyed — it has reassured them that they are ready and well prepared.”