1 SCOTS, Battalion Headquarters, Dreghorn Barracks,
Redford Road, EDINBURGH, EH13 9QW
Telephone
E-Mail
94740 2702 or 0131 310 2702
94740 2726 or 0131 310 2726
1SCOTS-BHQ-ADJT@mod.uk
28th October 2013
SITREP to the Regimental Family by Lieutenant Colonel Matt Munro, Commanding Officer of
The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
My four months in command of The Royal Scots Borderers feel like four weeks – this reflects the
frenetic pace of battalion life. My SITREP to you is rather overdue, for that I apologise. 1 SCOTS
are in very good heart. The Battalion currently numbers 610 personnel against an establishment of
633. Over the last few months we have welcomed 40 soldiers from 5 SCOTS. We are thrilled to
welcome them to 1 SCOTS as they bring a good deal of experience and talent. In the latest round
of redundancies (announced in June), we lost 29 individuals, all of these were volunteers. Having
each benefited from the very comprehensive Army resettlement programme, they leave us with our
very best wishes for the future.
My assumption of command in July of this year happened to coincide with a significant change for
the battalion and, for that matter, the wider Army. The impending cessation of operations in
Afghanistan and the reorganisation that resulted from the 2011 Strategic Defence and Security
Review makes for a very different professional landscape. What will this mean for 1 SCOTS? As
you well know, since formation in 2006 the Battalion has been extremely busy either preparing for
or deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This operational focus has, understandably
and unsurprisingly, been all-consuming. Having returned from Helmand in the Spring the Battalion
will not re-deploy to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK. Instead we face a short period of
consolidation in Edinburgh before we move en masse, next summer, to Palace Barracks, Belfast to
take our place in 38 Infantry Brigade (more of which later). At the most basic level, the
consolidation that I refer to includes some internal restructuring (to the role of an Adaptable Force
Light Role Infantry Battalion), a good deal of training in generic infantry skills (with emphasis on
marksmanship and physical fitness), a reinvigoration of Battalion Sports and Adventure Training
and also the opportunity to rediscover the routine of Regimental life. Taken together, these
activities will provide a strong foundation and will enhance unit cohesion and resilience. If this all
sounds rather sedate, the reality is that in practice there is a huge amount going on to challenge
and stimulate us.
In December of this year 1 SCOTS will assume responsibility for twelve months for delivering
Operation ELGIN. This is the UK contribution to Op ALTHEA, the EU’s mission to support stability
and peace in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo. The task is for an augmented Company group and
will be provided initially by Alpha Company. They will be held at five days notice to move. Alpha
Company have spent the last three months training hard for this commitment and, judging by what
I saw at (a very wet and windy) Garelochead last week, will be more than up to the task. They will
hand over the commitment to Charlie Company next summer.
Though our current manning figures are healthy we are failing to hit recruitment targets for both the
Regular and Reserve elements of the Regiment. This is very concerning. We at 1 SCOTS are
playing our part in trying to remedy this situation. We are clear that this is a very serious business
and as such, I’m giving it the attention that you would expect. My newly established Recruiting
Team comprises some of my most able soldiers. They are working extremely hard. The 1 SCOTS
recruiting effort goes beyond simply the activity of my Recruiting Team. I have designated
recruiting as my highest priority (alongside preparations for Operation ELGIN), accordingly we are
seeking out every opportunity to influence potential recruits. I’m hopeful that these endeavours will
translate directly into increased numbers of trained soldiers coming out of the Infantry Training
Centre at Catterick.
Charlie Company have recently returned from Deeside having provided Her Majesty’s Royal Guard
at Balmoral this autumn. In between providing security assistance to the Police and manning the
Pony Platoon the officers and men were able to take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
I’m thrilled to report that whether on the hills, at various Highland Games or even on the dance
floor (!) they did a really good job. The Royal hosts remarked on a number of occasions how well
the Jocks have conducted themselves, they have been excellent ambassadors for both the
Battalion and the Regiment.
There is much else to report. Back in July we sent a young scratch team to Bisley, one of our team
members achieved ‘Army 100’ status. This is just one aspect of a plan to improve shooting
standards across the Battalion. In August I took my Battalion Planning Staff to Zagreb, Croatia to
conduct a three week NATO Command Post Exercise. This was an excellent training opportunity
for my largely new team. We learned a good deal about operating in a multi-national environment
and made many new friends amongst the many other (mostly Balkan) national contingents. Over
the course of the exercise we were able to markedly improve and refine our own processes; all in
all, it was a very positive experience. Whilst Bn HQ were enjoying the Balkan sunshine the
Battalion Rugby team toured the north east coast of the United States. In September a Scuba
Diving expedition enjoyed a week off the coast of Egypt. Delta Company Support Weapons
Platoons have spent September and some of October at assorted UK training areas conducting
specialist cadres. I know that they have enjoyed the opportunity to test themselves, to refresh
faded skills and also to train new recruits from the rifle Companies in their new disciplines. What
else? Recently, twenty five of us spent a week in Turkey studying the battlefields of Gallipoli.
Earlier this month 1 SCOTS’ Cambrian Patrol team secured a well-deserved bronze medal and
elements from the Mortar Platoon have just returned from a three week stint providing a Range
Team on the Falkland Islands. At the time of writing the Football team is excelling and after a
number of rounds is still in both the Infantry and Army Cup competitions.
I’m very positive about the move to Belfast next year. Though our departure from Edinburgh will
cause a good deal of upheaval to some of our families and though we will be sorry to leave
Edinburgh and our numerous friends and supporters in the City, there is plenty of upside. I think we
will benefit from a change of scenery. Palace Barracks has excellent facilities and will be a good
place to live and work. Though, on the one hand, the Jocks will be reassured that they are not far
from southern Scotland I suspect, on the other, that this will become less of a consideration as they
settle into their new home and appreciate all that Northern Ireland and Belfast have to offer.
Looking ahead to 2015, it is likely that the Battalion will deploy on Exercise to Kenya in the late
spring and then, in October, deploy to Cyprus to provide the Urban Roulement Regiment to
Operation TOSCA - the British contribution to the UN Peacekeeping force in Cyprus.
I will write again next spring. Prior to then I hope to see many of you at the 28th November
Regimental Association Day, plans for which are progressing apace.
M E Munro
Lieutenant Colonel
Commanding Officer
1 SCOTS