British Army begin Mali pre-deployment training on Salisbury Plain

British Army’s soldiers from the Light Dragoons and two Royal Anglian Regiment have started pre-deployment training on Salisbury Plain, UK.

The training is a milestone in preparation for UK troops’ mission prior to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operation in Mali, which is scheduled to commence later this year.

It also marks the beginning of the months-long preparation of 250 task groups.

During the training, personnel will enhance skills around reconnaissance, intelligence gathering, patrols and medical evacuation.

The unit will act as the long-range reconnaissance task group to the UN peacekeeping operation MINUSMA.

Additionally, troops will conduct patrols in Jackal vehicles to provide situational awareness and intelligence, to protect civilians.

Light Dragoons commander officer lieutenant colonel Thomas Robinson said: “This exercise is part of an intensive training package.

“Over recent months we have been honing our specialist skills and now we have brought all aspects of the task group together to operate as a highly professional and effective peacekeeping force.”

The deployment aims to support HMG’s new strategic approach to Africa.

Further, UK’s forces are working with regional partners across defence, diplomacy and aid, in West Africa to contain the spread of instability from the Sahel to other parts of the country.

Previously, British engineers and medics built and repaired hospitals and military bases in South Sudan as part of three years of UN peacekeeping mission.