In a proud display of military excellence and international cooperation, the 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (1 PWRR) is currently undertaking Exercise Olive Grove, a rigorous joint training operation with the Jordanian Armed Forces.
The exercise, held in the demanding desert landscape of Jordan, showcases the grit, skill, and professionalism of British troops alongside their Jordanian counterparts.
Taking place from 14 January to 16 February 2025, the exercise involves 140 soldiers from A Company Group, 1 PWRR, who were partnered with a comparable number of soldiers from the King Hussein Brigade (KHB). The training is being conducted in the Al Quwayrah Training Area, a vast and challenging expanse of desert terrain located in southern Jordan, north of Aqaba and south of Amman.
From Individual Precision to Collective Excellence
The exercise began with intensive live-fire tactical training, progressing from individual drills to section and platoon-level exercises. The pinnacle of this phase was a 36-hour live-fire exercise that pushed soldiers to their limits, replicating modern battlefield scenarios. From casualty evacuations to night-time assaults, the training incorporated lessons drawn from contemporary global conflicts.
Major Smith, Officer Commanding A Company 1 PWRR, praised the experience: “Exercising in Jordan offers a unique opportunity. The training area is vast and the environment is demanding. This enables a complex and demanding live-fire package to be constructed which has challenged and tested our soldiers and commanders and enhanced the warfighting competency of 1 PWRR. We have got a lot out of it and learned a lot from it. It has been the highlight of the exercise so far for me and been the best live fire package I have ever been a part of.”
Building Stronger Bonds Through Shared Experience
Following the live-fire phase, the exercise transitioned into joint integration training with the KHB. Activities included small-arms weapons exchanges, competition shoots, and urban clearance exercises. The culmination of this phase was a joint patrols competition that saw British and Jordanian soldiers integrated into mixed teams, navigating checkpoints and completing tactical challenges.
The joint training was more than just a test of skill; it fostered camaraderie and mutual respect between the forces. Lance Corporal Vanstone, a section 2IC in A Company, reflected positively on the experience: “Working with the KHB has been brilliant. It’s the first time I’ve worked closely with a partner on exercise, and they have been excellent. They turn up every morning with so much energy and enthusiasm, and being integrated at the section level has meant we’ve got to know them really well. I’ve enjoyed it a lot and learnt probably more from them than they have from me.”
A Strategic Partnership for Regional Security
1 PWRR, as part of British Forces Cyprus, maintains a Very High Readiness capability to respond to regional crises. Exercises like Olive Grove enhance this readiness by building relationships with key partners like the KHB. This collaboration supports UK strategic interests in the Middle East, ensuring Britain remains a pivotal player in regional stability.
The exercise demonstrated not only the battlefield effectiveness of 1 PWRR but also the enduring strength of the UK-Jordan relationship. Against the backdrop of undulating desert scrub, rocky wadis, and peaks rising over 1100 metres, British soldiers exemplified the resilience and adaptability that have long defined our Armed Forces.
As the sun soon sets on Exercise Olive Grove, one thing was clear: Britain’s warriors are ready, resilient, and proud—as ever—to stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies in the face of global challenges.
