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 Exercise
Siberian Challenge -
by Major John Starling
Not necessary a 23 Pioneer Story but
none the less ex-Pioneers.
Siberian Challenge is the RLC Millennium exercise with the
Russians last summer, when they crossed the Chersky Mountains
in North-West Siberia. Twenty five soldiers joned by the same
number of the Russian Airborne
Rescue Service (ENERCOM).
Two ex-Pioneers are involved: Sergeant
Ruben Paul of 518 Squadron and myself. To those in Enercom
Sergeant Paul's red beret which was awarded while he served
with 5 Brigade gained him credibility. But Russian sergeants
are two year conscripts and so they were amazed by his versatility.
I told them that driving, cooking, organizing parades, teaching
survival skills and climbing were the usual talents I expected
of a British SNCO.
Following training in Scotland and
Switzerland both teams met at Granton on Spey and Glencoe
for the first joint exercise last February. After two weeks
at Glencors Depot, Edinburgh, Sergeant Paul had trained the
Russian Airborne which included their full colonels to care
for their bed spaces that he inspected and to cheer each time
he mentioned Pioneers.
September 2001
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