A ROYAL Regiment of Scotland soldier has credited the notoriously harsh Scottish weather for his success during intense reservist training in Germany.
Jack Smith, from Perth, recently took part in the rigorous Annual Deployment Exercise (ADE).
The 20-year-old believed that his experience with Scotland’s unpredictable climate played a crucial role in his performance during the two weeks of training.
This year’s ADE saw 80 Royal Regiment of Scotland reservists join over 500 UK army reserves for exercise ‘Rhino Heart’ in the German wilderness.
The exercise was designed to demonstrate the reserves’ capability to operate as a standalone battlegroup.
It involved five days of offensive and defensive training at the Sennelager Training Area.
Soldiers had to endure living off rations with only a poncho for protection against the wind and rain.
For the Scottish reservists, the challenging weather conditions felt familiar.
Smith said: “This was my first deployment as a reserve and it was a pretty daunting but eye-opening experience.
“When we arrived, we gathered in a hall with around 500 fellow reservists, and the atmosphere and anticipation in the room was palpable.
“It was something unlike anything I or anyone else had ever experienced with such a large group of reservists.”
Smith highlighted the urban warfare exercise as a standout moment during the training, where soldiers honed their attack drills in challenging urban terrain.
He said: “It was exciting to work alongside new faces and just get stuck in, even if it meant enduring five days of rain and wind.
“It felt just like Scotland, so I felt right at home.”
The experience underscored the vital role reservists play in national defence.
Smith noted that the training put them on par with their regular army counterparts.
As the ADE concluded, the 7 Scots reservists earned their certificates of efficiency, formally recognising their capability to deploy and operate effectively.
