A PARATROOPER from Frankley has jumped into France to train alongside French airborne forces.
Pte Dylan Mills is among 2,000 soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade and 11e Brigade Parachutiste on Exercise Orion on the St Cyr-Coetquidan training area in Brittany. The troops are being tested on a mission to support a NATO ally tackling an insurgency and the threat of invasion.
Dylan, of 2nd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment, took off from RAF Brize Norton to parachute into the exercise. He is part of Mortar Platoon, equipped with the L16A2 81mm mortar to fire high explosive, smoke or illuminating rounds.
Image – Crown Copyright 2026. s
The 23-year-old said: “Jumping in was tough.
“I carry the baseplate for the mortar, so I had very heavy and awkward kit.
“My exit wasn’t very clean and I got into twists, but I was able to sort that, and my landing wasn’t too heavy.
“Once we landed, we set up the mortars as quickly as possible to give protection in case the enemy attacks the drop zone.
“From there, we’ve been moving between positions ready to provide fire support.”
Dylan has been on exercise in Italy, Norway, North Macedonia, and Cyprus during his five years in the Army.
The former Wayseley Hills High School pupil said: “I always wanted to be a soldier.
“My dad and grandad served and I grew up on their stories and wanted to follow in their footsteps.”
Image – Crown Copyright 2026. s
Exercise Orion is testing the Airborne Combined Joint Force, a partnership between British and French airborne forces that has been ready to respond to global crises since 2013.
It at the forefront of Franco-British military co-operation started by the 2010 Lancaster House Treaties, which were updated in 2025.
The British Army is recruiting right now to fill 10,000 jobs across the UK with more than 200 roles to choose from, covering everything from frontline combat and cyber security to helicopter pilots, chefs and support roles.
Anyone aged between 16 and 50 can search for ‘Army Jobs’ to find out more about a career in the armed forces.
