A team of forty three service personnel from 248 Gurkha Signal Squadron departed 22 Signal Regiment for Exercise CERBERUS 24 in Germany. Excitement was high, as this exercise marked a significant shift from our usual Allied Rapid Reaction Corps facing role to direct involvement with a 3 (UK) Division exercise.

For many of us, this was the first time taking part in the British Army’s largest field exercise under 3rd UK Division, the British Army’s only warfighting division. The weight of this responsibility was palpable, and while there was some apprehension, the opportunity to prove our skills and adaptability fuelled our enthusiasm.

The real work began on when we started to setup the provision of tactical and operational communication and information system (CIS) services to over 500+ users, including our NATO partner forces from Germany, France, and the USA. Ensuring seamless communication in a joint force environment is no small feat, and our team worked tirelessly to deliver both tactical CIS and operational CIS capabilities to enable the delivery of a network enabled, service orientated, multidomain, information exchange, cross platform, digital Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance environment to Exercise CERBERUS24. This set up would mean that 3 (UK) Division staff and the practical training assessment can be validated against their forthcoming operational readiness profiles.

In the midst of the exercise, we found a moment of joy and cultural celebration. Even far from home, we observed Dashain. Our Officer Commanding and Sergent Major performed the traditional Tika ceremony, which bought a deep sense of comfort and familiarity, making us feel connected to home despite being surrounded by the demands of the exercise.

Corporal Ajay and Lance Corporal Tilak were awarded the 3 DSR Commanding Officer’s coin for excellence, a recognition of their outstanding performance and dedication.

Exercise CERBERUS 24 was a unique and challenging experience, pushing us to perform in a high pressure environment alongside our NATO allies. We look forward to taking the lessons learned from this exercise and apply them to future operations, knowing that we have made a significant contribution to the overall mission.