A KILWINNING soldier has been helping to train infantrymen from the Gulf during a two-week exercise.

Lee Hollis, 22, of the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) joined other Ayrshire soldiers in Qatar, to boost the skills of the local Homeland Resilience, in a two-week exercise called Exercise Broadsword.

The Battalion, based in Penicuik, just outside of Edinburgh, have been providing their expertise ahead of the country hosting the World Cup in 2022.

Using experience gained from many operational deployments across the world, the Scots soldiers have been training the Qataris, all of whom are Officer Cadets, in the use of batons, shields, and search methods, as well as honing their traditional infantry skills on the ranges.

The Battalion, which is part of the Stirling-based 51 Infantry Brigade, is carrying out the training as part of Defence Engagement, a scheme which sees each UK-based Brigade in the Army ‘twinned’ with a region in the world, to exchange skills and best practice.

51 Brigade’s area is The Gulf and units from Scotland regularly deploy to or play host to countries such as Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and, of course Qatar.

The idea is to share understanding in how each other’s militaries work, in order to foster closer ties, should we ever have to deploy together.

The officer in charge of the training, Major Alastair Colville, said, “This joint exercise has been hugely valuable to both the Fusiliers and the Qatari Officer Cadets.

“All of my company are enjoying the challenge of teaching their skills to a bright and enthusiastic bunch of Officer Cadets, whether this be marksmanship or Counter Insurgency tactics.

“All of the training is based on the Sandhurst model so the Qataris are enjoying high quality training from operationally experienced soldiers.”

“In the last year the company has trained for and deployed on Op TORAL, the NATO-led training and mentoring mission to Kabul, Afghanistan, recovered and then deployed to Oman for a five-week exercise training the Royal Army of Oman and then receiving this company of officer cadets.

“We have done as much training as possible side by side and the team spirit between jocks and Qataris has been fantastic.”

The Battalion has been exceptionally busy over the summer, providing soldiers for Public Duties in and around Edinburgh and the Royal Guard in Ballater.

They are now looking forward to deploying on a major exercise in Kenya in the New Year.

Exercise Broadsword continues until October 23.