‘I’m looking after my mates’: Hull soldier takes part in biggest NATO exercise since Cold War
ON EXERCISE: Private Brad Emmerson. Picture credits: Crown Copyright 2024
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
A soldier from Hull is taking part in NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War.
Private Brad Emmerson, of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, is in Estonia training to show how NATO airborne forces can respond together to crises.
Pte Emmerson, from Bransholme, is one of more than 13,000 troops from 17 nations training in eight countries across eastern Europe on Exercise Swift Response.
Brad’s role is as a vehicle gunner, manning the 12.7mm heavy machine gun mounted on an R-WMIK patrol vehicle during the British-led training in Estonia.
The seven-week-long exercise, running from April 14 to June 5, started with training to build the joint force’s skills and relationships before it deploys by parachute, helicopter and airlanding to practise seizing a foot-hold against armed opposition.
The 19-year-old said: “It’s my first overseas exercise, and we’re here in Estonia to develop our skills and show our capabilities as part of NATO.
“My job is force protection, which basically means looking after my mates. When we’re issuing supplies at a distribution point or moving in a convoy, I’m scanning for enemy threats and ready to engage them if necessary.”
Brad went to Holderness Academy and joined the Army in 2021, starting his training at Army Foundation College Harrogate.
The Colchester-based soldier said: “I joined the Army to push myself, have a different lifestyle, and do something that is not just a normal job. It’s definitely delivered all of that for me.”
Swift Response is part of Exercise Steadfast Defender, NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War. Approximately 90,000 troops from all 32 NATO members are training to test plans to defend Europe against a near-peer adversary.
16 Air Assault Brigade is the British Army’s global response force, specially trained and equipped to deploy by parachute, helicopter and airlanding.
The British Army is recruiting to fill 10,000 jobs across the UK with more than 200 roles to choose from, covering everything from frontline combat and cyber security to helicopter pilots, chefs and support roles. If you’re aged 16 to 50 and if you want to find out more about a career in the Army, visit https://jobs.army.mod.uk/