ARMY man Joe Queening has been training for battle as he prepares for active service.
The Holmfirth Officer Cadet is due to complete his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).
The 24-year-old former Greenhead College pupil recently took part in a live firing exercise in Dumfries and Galloway in the south of Scotland ahead of his pass out on Friday next week.
He will join the Royal Tank Regiment as a second lieutenant.
Joe was taking part in Exercise Dynamic Victory, which lasted 10 days. It is the RMAS final exercise and the culmination of the officer cadets’ 44-week training course prior to them being commissioned.
During the exercise the officer cadets put into practice everything they have learned on the training course.
The exercise was based on the current operating environment and was broken down into three phases – rural operations, urban operations and live-firing.
The rural operations phase, which lasted two days, took place in the Galloway Forest.
The urban operations phase also lasted two days and took place in the old Dalbeattie ammunition factory, with the live firing element taking place at Kirkcudbright ranges.
The exercise culminated in a battlegroup attack at the ammunition factory.
After the battlegroup attack the officer cadets were allowed to put on the headgear of their chosen corps/regiment for the first time.
Officer Cadet Queening said: “The company level attack in the Galloway Forest was both physically challenging and enjoyable at the same time.
“Leading my section of troops into the enemy position was an excellent way to finish off the Galloway Forest phase.
“It was a wonderful feeling as it was first time I was able to wear my Royal Tank Regiment beret and cap badge after a year wearing the RMAS head-dress.”
The cadets have now returned to Sandhurst to prepare for their commissioning parade.
Last year Joe did a solo walk from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise cash for Help for Heroes – the charity which helps wounded servicemen.
