The UK Armed Forces have trained here since 1972, so my visit with Brigadier Jonathan Bartholomew and Stuart Nash from DIO's Overseas & Training team coincided with the 50th anniversary year of this expansive training estate.
BATUS is around four times the size of Salisbury Plain and over the years, many of our military colleagues have trained here to gain valuable expertise in the use of armoured vehicles over a vast and varied landscape.
How DIO supports the British Army in Canada
On my visit I was struck by the scale of the operation and how the infrastructure to support it is equally complex and vast, an efficient and effective operation on every level, delivered with a personal touch. The commitment and knowledge of all DIO staff who work there, from the range control staff, to soft and hard facilities provision, engineering, contracting and stores, showcases the wide range of talented, committed individuals who collaborate effectively and have an intimate understanding of what is required to make BATUS a safe and effective place to live, work and train.
Delivering expertise overseas
What’s more, it was incredible to see and hear that the DIO Canada team has evolved over the years and now uses its knowledge and experience to provide full support to our wider training requirement – not just in BATUS but also Germany and the UK; ensuring that equipment is effectively utilised across the large and growing DIO Area of Operations in support of Defence's priorities. This is incredibly important to show DIO’s commitment to operating effectively and delivering on our sites across the world.
I work primarily from the UK, as many of my colleagues do, and this trip really brought home to me how much our DIO colleagues overseas constantly strive to deliver the best training, services and support to our Armed Forces.
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