A Gunner’s view: my time on Exercise in Sweden.
Travelling the world always seemed unachievable but that all changed when Private Babington joined the Army.
A life in the military runs in the family for Private Babbington, whose uncle and grandad both have served.
Now on Exercise Aurora, the largest Swedish-led Military Exercise in over 25 years. With 26,000 military personnel from 14 partner nations taking part, Private Babington took some time to tell us all about his experiences:
How long have you been serving for?
This is my third year in battalion but I was at Army Foundation College, Harrogate for a year so this will be my fourth year in September.
What made you join the Army in the first place?
Well, when I was in school my aspirations for the world weren’t looking amazing. My GCSEs were going a bit rough. So before I even sat my GCSEs I think I was about 15. Well, the earliest [you can join] is 15–7 months so as soon as I got to that point I walked into the recruitment office. And said I want to go join the Army.
And how did that go down with everyone at home?
They were very happy about it. My mum was slightly sceptical, of course, her little lad joining the Army but, she knew it was gonna be the best thing for me and turned out pretty well. My dad he was buzzing for me because his dad and his brother have both served. So he was like, ‘yeah, good lad get in there’.
Does your traveller heritage and that way of life- that sort of freedom- help with life in the Army?
Yes, 100%, for me the biggest thing I noticed when I started training a lot of lads got homesick and I didn’t have to deal with any of that because I was used to being away from home for a while at a time and not really having a fixed abode, so I didn’t have to deal with any of that.
It’s always nice as well. You’re going into different countries [with the Army] definitely, gives that freedom. My Nan always loves the stories because, where she is now she doesn’t get to travel to different countries and stuff but they are always up and down the canals in the UK.
What has been the best bit of being in the military so far?
Probably the countries I’ve seen in the short time I’ve been in. I’ve managed to see Kenya, Sweden and Germany and even though it didn’t sound like many countries, it’s way more than I would have if I hadn’t joined the Army. It’s always something interesting to do. There is always random stuff that’s going on in the job and it’s always good to do something different. I get quite bored quite easily, so having to change up very rapidly and very often it’s so nice and it works well for me.
Had you done much, travelling before you joined?
Nah, I think my furthest reach was probably Cornwall for a holiday. The first time I was on a plane was the seven or eight hour flight to Kenya. That was straight into the deep end, it was a bit nerve racking but it was an RAF flight so we had the plane to ourselves, much better than the RyanAir one I did to Tenerife.
How have you found being in Sweden for Exercise Aurora?
Oh unreal. The country itself, the weather’s been beautiful, everyone we’ve met has been nice and we can’t complain really. It’s been a good exercise hasn’t rained or snowed. So definitely can’t knock that.
How have you found working with the Finns and the Swedes?
It’s been interesting to see how the different nations work and how they operate. I think it was also quite good to see how quickly we managed to integrate and there wasn’t much faff or delay in the integration as soon as we were out. The Swedes have been doing good job of moving us from place to place and I think it has been good.
Why do you think it is important working with Finland, a new NATO ally, and supporting Sweden who are hoping to become a NATO ally?
I think, it’s important for us to show our support and our aim is as an Army to deploy no matter what the environment. And I think Sweden offers a very good environment to what we might have to be operating in in the future.
So it’s good to get out here integrate because that’s what we’re all about, being able to work with any force and be adaptable to everything. And I think this training exercise has allowed us to improve our adaptability with other nations and show whoever might think that we can’t do that that we can, that we can deploy at quick notice.We had short notice for this exercise, and we managed to get out here and we got it done. It shows whoever our enemy might be that we are ready, and we can be adaptable. It is important that they know we are not just sat in the UK, but that we can get out there and do our jobs.
Any of the other nations kit or equipment that you have been impressed by?
Yes, we saw some Archers come through, and we have just sourced them from them so they look pretty cool, pretty scary so they will be pretty handy to have on our side.
There’s been a few little bits and bobs. The Vikings. They look absolutely ace. I don’t know how much I’d enjoy being in the back of one of them because they are getting thrown about, but they just look ace; snaking in and out of the wood blocks.
I think most of the kit everyone has got is cool because it is different.
And after the exercise are you feeling confident in the company’s capability?
Having been out here in Sweden and working alongside other armour it really shows how powerful it can be, how useful and how quick we can move across large areas.
That is what Sweden has provided us with, a training area that we would be able to use at home. We’ve been able to move down the country rapidly as well. It has quite impressed me how quickly we have been able to move down the country, we wouldn’t be able to do that as a Light Role, you would just be tabbing for ages and ages.
What are you looking forward to most now that Endex has come?
Getting home. It always is at Endex, just thinking about home next and I fly back very soon.
But firstly getting back into camp and getting some good scoff.
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