Page 11 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

of an infantry soldier, our troops gained notable experience in adapting low-level tactics and training to suit their audience too. It is an audience that has little time,
a laser-focus on the task in hand, and some useful ‘realities’ to offer back to their instructors to maximise the relevance and impact of their time training in the UK.
Other high-profile events have also featured since the last edition. We led the Armoured Warfighting demonstration at the ‘Army Expo’, a series of events in Copehill Down Village which showcased to a very wide range of visitors and stakeholders
the Army’s current and future capabilities, particularly demonstrating how a blend of soldiers and emerging technology will boost our fighting power in the future. A small contingent from the Battalion also deployed to support the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, offering support to security and marshalling tasks whilst also getting an opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and some of the events.
‘Gheluvelt Company’ is an initiative struck up and now hosted by 1 MERCIAN; all serving and retired officers of the Mercian Regiment, and its antecedent Regiments, are automatically members. Gheluvelt Company provides a framework for engagement, networking, and social interaction between serving and former officers, Regular or Reserve, which will include an annual networking event, quarterly updates from the Commanding Officer, and Regimentally themed excursions. It will also promote and foster the Mercian Regiment Association. Details
on how to ensure you receive ‘Company detail’ are elsewhere here in the Eagle.
More broadly, in response to the Army’s ‘Future Soldier’ plans, 1 MERCIAN now sits in the Queen’s Division of infantry, alongside 1 PWRR, 1RRF, 1 and 2 R ANGLIAN, 1 LANCS, 3 RANGER, The Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and 4 MERCIAN, 3 and 4 PWRR, 5 RRF and 3 R ANGLIAN. This new, much bigger Division, opens up much wider opportunities for our officers and soldiers to serve elsewhere in the Infantry, and across every possible line infantry capability type.
In what will be my final foreword as Commanding Officer, I would like to
highlight the distinct privilege it has been to command the officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion over the past two and a half years; their tenacity, character, and sense
of humour are as strong as ever and they have made my time in command something I will treasure. It is clear the pace of life in
1 MERCIAN will continue as fast as ever, and that the demands on our soldiers and officers remains extremely varied. As the Battalion stands ready as the Lead Armoured Battlegroup though, our core purpose – to deliver excellent armoured infantry warfighting capability – is firmly to the fore.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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