Maltese army personnel and their British counterparts simulated a military manoeuvre in Selmun yesterday as part of the joint exercise Maltahope, which began on 29 April and will continue until Saturday.

The Armed Forces of Malta were represented by an infantry platoon from C (Special Duties) Company of 1 Regiment, while the British Army deployed 60 personnel from the 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment of the Royal Artillery (RA).

The British contingent is made up of both Regular and Territorial Army soldiers.

The exercise is primarily aimed at enhancing the cooperation and friendship between the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom and of Malta, as well as providing a challenging and fulfilling training to the participants. The first week of training focused on:

• Individual core skills and leadership;

• Fighting In Built Up Area (FIBUA) infantry training; and

• Adventure Training.

The second week was characterised by a three-day Final Training Exercise (FTX) - to assess the skills and leadership qualities acquired by members of both forces participating in the exercise.

During their last three days in Malta, the British soldiers will be given the opportunity, through a number of organised cultural tours, to enjoy and admire the cultural and societal aspects of the Maltese Islands.

The troops participating in this joint training were watched yesterday by parliamentary secretary Tony Abela, Duke of Westminster Major General G Cavendish Grosvernor, Commander of the Territorial Army, AFM Commander Brigadier Carmel Vassallo, Brigadier R.L. Styles, the Regimental Honorary Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel T.M. Wood, the Commanding Officer of the 106th Regiment.

This is not the first time that joint training between the AFM and the RA has been held. In 1994, a small contingent from the then C Company participated in Exercise “Fifth Column” which was held in RAF Catterick where the AFM soldiers formed an integral part of A Troop, 4/73 (Sphinx) OP Battery of the Royal Artillery. The training of the AFM soldiers in the UK followed a visit to Malta by members of the same Sphinx Battery the year before.