Soldiers from 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, known as The Welsh Cavalry, have completed essential marksmanship training to ensure they remain ready for operations at home and overseas.
Troops from B and C Squadron deployed to the ranges at Warcop in Cumbria, where they practised firing drills from a variety of positions, including prone, kneeling and standing stances. The training focused on fine tuning marksmanship, reinforcing accuracy and building the muscle memory required in demanding operational conditions.
The week long package gave soldiers extensive time on their weapons, allowing them to practise repeatedly and build confidence. Live firing was conducted with both the SA80 Individual Weapon and the service pistol, ensuring personnel remained proficient across key personal weapon systems.
Trooper Alan Fayle highlighted the importance of the training. He said that every soldier needs to be able to shoot and shoot well, and that every round fired on the range builds skills that could save lives when it matters most.
Trooper Fayle joined the Army at the age of 30 after leaving a demanding career as a chef. He said he had been working 50 to 60 hours a week and had grown tired of the lifestyle, adding that joining the Army was something he had always wanted to do. Since joining the regiment he has deployed to Poland on Operation Cabrit and to California on Exercise Diamond Back, and described the regiment as friendly with strong opportunities to travel and develop.
Range Conducting Officer Second Lieutenant Ivan Hanbury joined the regiment three weeks ago and oversaw elements of the training. He said the week of shooting gave soldiers the chance to fire a significant number of rounds and showed clear improvement from start to finish. He noted that some soldiers had limited experience on pistols or had not fired one for several years, and that skill fade is a real factor. He added that to be effective on operations soldiers must be confident and competent with their weapons, making this training highly beneficial.
Major Steph Shallow, Officer Commanding C Squadron, said that range training underpins military readiness by developing individual marksmanship and building team effectiveness. She explained that firing on the range is not only about accuracy, but also about developing confidence, communication, coordination and trust under pressure. From individual firing to paired fire and manoeuvre and section level drills, the training reinforces the link between good shooting and effective teamwork, ensuring soldiers operate as a cohesive fighting force.
The training forms part of a continuous cycle that also includes live firing from Jackal armoured vehicles, enabling the squadron to maintain operational capability and respond rapidly to emerging threats. Alongside personal weapons, the regiment operates General Purpose Machine Guns, Heavy Machine Guns and Grenade Machine Guns, all of which can be mounted on the Jackal. The vehicle is central to the regiment’s reconnaissance role, valued for its speed, mobility, robustness and manoeuvrability. Each weapon system fulfils a specific tactical role, from engaging personnel to countering light armoured vehicles and providing crew protection.
The Queen’s Dragoon Guards were formed in 1959 through the amalgamation of The Queen’s Bays, 2nd Dragoon Guards, and 1st King’s Dragoon Guards. As the senior cavalry regiment of the British Army, they carry a proud history that stretches back to the seventeenth century. The regiment has strong links to Wales and holds the title of The Welsh Cavalry, with soldiers proudly representing Welsh heritage while serving across the Army.
Over recent decades the regiment has deployed on operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, and continues to contribute to NATO commitments and global defence engagement. This latest period of marksmanship training reflects a long standing tradition of professionalism and readiness, ensuring that The Welsh Cavalry remain prepared to serve wherever they are called.
