In 2019, while studying at university in Swansea, Jack Sawford discovered the University Officers’ Training Corps, a British Army Reserve unit open to all university students.
At the time, he thought to himself, “That looks like a bit of fun; I’ll give it a go.”
Six years later, after graduating from university, moving back to Leicestershire, and joining the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, Private (Pte) Sawford has taken part in the largest Army Reserve deployment overseas since the mid-1980s.
“Being part of the largest Army Reserve deployment in a long time was truly special,” said Jack, a design engineer and part-time Soldier.
The deployment – known as ‘Exercise Rhino Heart’ – saw Pte Sawford travel to Germany as one of over 800 Soldiers from the 19th Light Brigade, the British Army’s only fully Reservist brigade.
Reservists balance civilian careers with military service, typically committing between 24 and 27 days a year across evenings, weekends, and training exercises such as Rhino Heart.
Part of something special
The 25-year-old said: “It was clear that we were part of something significant.
“There were just so many Soldiers there with different cap badges, and different nationalities. It was easy to feel part of something much bigger than myself.”
He added: “Given how the Army Reserve operates, it’s quite unlikely to encounter Soldiers from different combat arms. Therefore, for us, it was a great experience to work alongside those from another part of the Army.
“We had engineers integrated directly into our group, and logistics personnel were constantly transporting us around, which was a lot of fun as an infantryman.
“Being part of this experience and witnessing how all the different elements came together really emphasised for me how the British Army is designed to operate and how we, as Reservists, fit into that system.”
The training exercise, held at the Sennelager Training Area, lasted two weeks and tested the British Army Reserve’s ability to mobilise quickly. It involved scenarios designed to simulate real-world combat and focused on practising working together with partner nations and NATO allies.
For Pte Sawford and his fellow Soldiers from 2 Company, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment, with detachments in Leicester and Corby, preparation for Exercise Rhino Heart lasted an entire year.
This included kit inspections, vaccinations, fitness tests, and the development of individual skills and drills, all aimed at ensuring that each Soldier was fully prepared for their deployment to Germany. Upon arrival in Germany, the exercise was divided into two distinct phases.
The phases
The first phase focused on role-specific training, allowing troops to develop expertise in their respective trades and refine their individual skills.
The second phase of Exercise Rhino Heart brought together newly formed Battle Groups for a large-scale field training exercise. This phase emphasised executing offensive and defensive manoeuvres in both rural and urban environments.
“Some part of me found it quite reassuring to know that after all this training, we could actually go out on exercise and perform the job we were trained to do,” he said.
“The Battle Group phase was definitely the biggest experience I’ve ever had as a Reservist.
“It brought together all the supporting units to work toward the same goals, collaborating to achieve our objectives. We coordinated with the artillery to clear and eliminate the enemy, and if we feigned an injury, the medics simulated recovering casualties. It was an incredible experience to be part of this orchestration of different Soldiers all working towards a common goal.”
For Pte Sawford, action and adventure have always played a significant role in his life, with a strong background in scouting, which he continues to pursue as a scout leader in his spare time.
Given the countless opportunities for challenge and personal growth, the Reserves seemed like the perfect fit for him.
He said: “I’ve had some fantastic experiences in the Reserves. Not only have I been overseas for exercises, but I’ve also gone abroad on a skiing trip, participated in a battlefield study in Western Europe, earned qualifications, and all of this while being paid to do it, which is something not many people can say.”
Nottinghamshire Army Reservists take part in NATO training exercise with Croatian Armed Forces.
