THE Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters' main objective now it has moved to Chester is to transform itself into a regiment that can be called upon at a moment's notice.

The regiment is currently retraining following its tour of Northern Ireland.

"We've got five months to get into a conventional war-fighting organisation," said Lieutenant Colonel Fred Chedham, who leads 1WFR.

"That's very different to Northern Ireland.

"It's taken us 18 months to get all the chess pieces on to the board, i.e. identifying men and getting them course-trained and getting them here.

"We're now putting all that together in collective training programmes."

The regiment will be taking part in various exercises across the UK and abroad.

All Woofers are expected to visit Kenya and Botswana.

"That's where we can bring all the skills together," said Lieut-Col Chedham.

"Over the next few months we'll be taking our normal set of tactics but trying to weave them into a desert environment.

"That can range from how much water is carried, to war tactics, such as navigation."

Before the regiment can take part in the exercises it will undertake a validation exercise to make sure they are ready.

The move to Chester and a return to 'normal' duties have come as an ideal morale boost.

"In Northern Ireland there were always soldiers on patrol," said Lieut-Col Chedham.

"This year they can all go home to their families and relax.

"That's an enormous morale boost for them. As a retention tool Chester has worked wonders.

"They're doing what they joined the Army to do.

"In Northern Ireland you've got a whole range of individual restrictions. We went for a run today and just to be able to run outside the barracks is such a relief.

"The regiment is now in good spirits."

Lieut-Col Chedham will be spending Christmas with his wife and four children, who are aged between three and nine, at his Chester quarters.