A WORCESTER soldier has battled through huge waves, bad weather and sleepless nights to qualify as a competent crewman during an Army regatta in the Baltic Sea.

Gunner Iddrisu Mohammed, aged 28, is originally from Ghana but moved to Worcester in 2006. He serves with 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery – part of Germany based 7th Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats) – and took part in Exercise Rats Breeze at the British Army’s training centre in the port town of Kiel in Northern Germany.

Newly-qualified crewmen Iddrisu, who joined the Army in 2008, could be called up at any time to Afghanistan to support 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines help improve security for the local population and train up the Afghan National Army.

The 28-year-old, who helps to operate the big AS90 guns and has served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, said: “I am delighted to have achieved my competent crewman qualification. I feel great, it was a good experience, I had never sailed before. We all learned a lot and got to know new people from other regiments – I enjoyed it.”

Exercise Rats Breeze covered hundreds of miles around the Danish and German coasts and provided an important opportunity to hone essential military skills such as leadership, map reading, team working and working within a strict command structure.

The regatta also tested soldiers’ physical and mental strength – pushing their endurance levels to the limit.

Unlike in previous years, when the regatta focussed on racing and competing, this year it ensured the soldiers got the most out of it in terms of training and military benefits. Mr Mohammed said: “This exercise is all about team work, which is so important. Team work is at the heart of everything we do in the Army – we all need to be able to work effectively under a strict command structure.”

Brigadier Paul Nanson, Commander 7th Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats), said: “This sail training week out of Kiel has been a fantastic opportunity for the soldiers to develop and gain sailing qualifications after a busy period of preparing for operations in Afghanistan.

“The soldiers attending this week are fully trained for deployment and many are on standby to be called to theatre if required.”