The crisp winter air of Garelochhead was shattered by the roar of twin-rotor Chinooks as soldiers from the 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS), swapped their ceremonial finery for full combat kit. Their mission? A fast and furious aviation insertion onto the snow-capped hills, ready to engage an enemy lurking in wait.
Fifty troops from Balaklava Company, more accustomed to the immaculate precision of state duties, were lifted from Redford Barracks in Edinburgh and flown low and fast into the rugged terrain. This rare opportunity to utilise Chinook helicopters was part of Argyle Hunter, a week-long exercise designed to sharpen their offensive skills in an unpredictable battlefield environment.
Back to Core Infantry Roots
For Captain Elliott Smith, this was more than just another training exercise, it was a return to the fundamentals of soldiering.
“This was about getting back to core infanteering,” he explained. “Ambushes, fighting patrols, hasty attacks, testing our troops in physically and mentally demanding conditions. It was up and down hills, across rivers, involving casualties and captured personnel. It was challenging, but invaluable.”
Previously, Balaklava Company had focused on defensive and urban operations, with limited exposure to helicopter insertions. That changed dramatically as they found themselves integrating air mobility into a full-scale exercise.
“We’ve had some experience with Puma flights before, but this was the first time I’ve been able to plan a low-level air assault with two Chinooks,” said Captain Smith. “It’s a completely different challenge.”
Seizing the Moment
Despite their primary ceremonial role, Balaklava Company knows that when opportunities like this arise, they must grab them with both hands. Exercise Kukri Dawn, a helicopter pilot confirmatory training exercise run by 28 Squadron RAF, provided just that moment. The exercise included underslung loads of Army weaponry and joint resilience operations with Police Scotland.
“This fits into the bigger picture of what we do,” said Captain Smith. “Yes, we’re a ceremonial company, but we’re also light-role infantry. Aviation moves are a key skill set, and we need to be ready whenever the call comes.”
The training scenarios were deliberately unpredictable. New intelligence would suddenly alter mission objectives, forcing platoon commanders to think on their feet, adapt to evolving threats, and maintain morale under pressure.
“It wasn’t about a simple ‘get in, take out the enemy, pack up and leave’ approach,” Smith emphasised. “We used complex terrain, changing enemy positions, and intelligence updates to keep our troops on their toes.”
Building Towards NATO Collaboration
This exercise wasn’t just about testing physical endurance against the harsh February conditions of Garelochhead, it was a key stepping stone in Balaklava Company’s broader training pipeline.
Since January, the troops have been building their combat readiness through a rigorous training cycle, starting with section-level rural and urban drills, then progressing to platoon-level defensive operations in Ripon. They honed their shooting drills and trench warfare tactics in Catterick before culminating in this high-intensity aviation assault.
“The end state is clear,” Captain Smith concluded. “We’re preparing for a two-week exercise under 51 Brigade that will validate us at company level and set the conditions for working alongside NATO partners. This is all part of ensuring we’re as sharp in combat as we are on parade.”
