Two Middlesbrough soldiers in Estonia doing NATO training

Private Olivia Crockett, of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, and Lance Corporal Emma Field, a military personnel administrator in the 3rd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment, are two of more than 13,000 troops from 17 nations training in eight countries across eastern Europe on Exercise Swift Response.

Olivia’s role is to drive a Man SV lorry delivering battlefield supplies to units taking part in the British-led training.

Private Olivia Crockett, of 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (Image: CROWN COPYRIGHT 2023)

The seven-week-long exercise (14 Apr – 5 Jun) started with training to build the joint force’s skills and relationships before it deployed by parachute, helicopter and air landing to practise seizing a foot-hold against armed opposition.

The 18-year-old said: “This is my first overseas exercise and it’s been different and interesting. We’re learning from what’s happening in Ukraine and trying new things. It’s about making ourselves less of a target to the enemy, so we’re doing more but smaller supply convoys.”

Olivia went to Unity City Academy before joining the Army in 2021, starting her training at the Army Foundation College Harrogate.

Lance Corporal Emma Field, a military personnel administrator in 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (Image: CROWN COPYRIGHT 2023)

“I joined the Army to get away, do something different and make my family proud – and they are,” the Colchester-based soldier said. “My mum loves telling people about what I am up to, which can be a bit embarrassing!

“I loved my time at AFC Harrogate and I want to go back as a section commander, to share what I have learnt and my experiences with kids coming to the Army from the same background as I had. The Army is hard work and everyone has difficult times, but soldiers support each other and I feel that I’m making something of myself.”

Outside of soldiering, Olivia plays rugby on the wing, both for the Royal Logistic Corps and Colchester Iceni RFC.

Lance Corporal Emma Field, a military personnel administrator in the 3rd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment (Image: CROWN COPYRIGHT 2023)

“I’ve only played a few games for Colchester because I’m away quite a lot, but I scored a try in my first match and you’ve got to be happy with that,” she said.

Meanwhile, Emma's role in the barracks is to look after personnel and financial administration for a company of paratroopers, but in Estonia, she was managing casualty evacuations and ammunition resupply during a trench battle.

“I love being out in the field and working with the lads at the sharp end,” the 29-year-old said. “I am a clerk, but I’m a soldier and I need to be practiced and ready to be there with a rifle if the time comes.”

Emma went to Unity City Academy before joining the Army in 2019.

“I wanted to join the Army straight out of school, but I just thought I was a bit young and should get some life experience first,” she said. “I got a job at an accountancy firm, started some training and after a few years I felt I had enough under my belt to go into the Army. I’m still working towards getting my accountancy degree, and the Army is paying towards the cost.”

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The soldier has deployed to the Falkland Islands and on Operation Pitting, the evacuation of Kabul in 2021. Her next challenge is applying for commission as an officer.

“My boss took me aside and said he saw leadership skills and potential in me and suggested I should try for Sandhurst,” she said. “I’m going through the process, and I’d like to become an infantry officer. It would be great to come back to these trenches in a few years leading soldiers through as a platoon commander.”

Swift Response is part of Exercise Steadfast Defender, NATO’s largest military exercise since the Cold War. Approximately 90,000 troops from all 32 NATO members are training to test plans to defend Europe.