ARRC NEWS
Exercise STEADFAST DART 25
Lt Cairn Mckinstray
What better way to test NATO’ s Allied Reaction Force than a multinational deployment by land, sea and air to NATO’ s eastern flank in Romania. That is exactly what Exercise STEADFAST DART 25 set out to do. With the UK as the lead, and ten NATO allies participating, from January to April over 2600 personnel and 730 vehicles deployed from the UK with the aim of proving that NATO are as capable as ever to protect the eastern flank. from adversarial aggression. But amongst such numbers, what part was a small team from 16th Signal Regiment expected to play?
When I arrived as a fresh-out-of-Blandford Second Lieutenant in October, the Regiment was already gearing up for deployment. Soon, I found myself deep into preparation, ensuring that the wide array of kit we were providing was working, that staff readiness checks were conducted, and most importantly ensuring that the troops were fit to deploy and understood their role in the exercise.
We were to enable communications for HQ 102 Operational Sustainment Brigade( 102OSB), whose key role was to deploy into theatre and enable the in-load of the wider portion of exercising troops- those who would conduct a live firing exercise at a training area close to the Ukraine / Romanian border. This was no easy task. With exercising troops disembarking in Greece, then travelling through Bulgaria into Romania, we needed to ensure communication channels along this whole route, along with the capability to track each vehicle convoy. The team knew the task, and a plan was in place, now we just needed to execute.
Our first challenge was actually getting there. Our eight vehicles and driving team deployed a week ahead of the main body for what some might call an‘ Epic European Road Trip’. Disembarking in Germany, they travelled through Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary, tackling increasingly arduous terrain, especially when traversing the snow carpeted Carpathians. Along the way they experienced some niche cultural foods at some of the rest stops, including a clear favourite‘ fish-head stew’. By the end of this hard-fought battle against Europe’ s right-side driving, the warm rooms and RLC run kitchens in the Bucharest HQ were well appreciated. Whilst the driver’ s rested, the team that had deployed by air cracked on with the setup of the HQ- getting the Staff online so that the planning and execution could commence.
The driving was not over for some however, as three of our Bowman dets deployed again to set up in Bulgaria and Greece, enabling communications along the in-load route. This was a great opportunity for our soldiers to prove their independence by working in remote locations in teams of two. It further proved an opportunity to test out new kit, with 102OSB trialling new‘ WAVE’ devices allowing for seamless voice comms and blue-force tracking over long distances. Our outstations teams helped enable this system for the 2 RIFLES’ s reception, staging and onward movement, as well as back at HQ, contributing to a highly successful in-load of vehicle convoys and troops.
With us now in location, and communications equipment in and working, the team moved to a support role, tackling any issues as they arose and interacting with the staff officers.
The team’ s professionalism and tireless work became apparent with frequent praise from 102OSB staff, and COs coins being awarded to LCpl Turner and Sig Sambrooks for their excellent work. To top it all off, the soldiers helped execute an excellent visit for Commander 1 Signal Brigade.
A mostly faultless two months flew by, and before we knew it, we were to redeploy back to the UK, with 102OSB moving on to Exercise WESSEX STORM. Unfortunately, no reverse road trip was to be conducted, with the Brigade looking to test the European rail capability as an alternative means of travel. So, as soon as the vehicles were loaded into the safe hands of 7RLC, it seemed we were back on a flight into the UK, to reconstitute, and take a well-earned period of leave. Overall, an incredibly successfully deployment for 16th Signal Regiment as part of such a massive NATO exercise.
10 SUMMER 2025 the imjin @ HQARRC NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps @ HQARRC