Page 26 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

OC Maj S Broadhurst 2IC Capt D Davenport CSM WO2 L Mason
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Dragon (Fire Support) Company
Dragon Company, 1 MERCIAN, began the year still reeling from a hugely successful Op CABRIT 8 but with their eyes firmly set on preparation to take their place in the Army’s Lead Armoured Battle Group. This required a compressed training timeline with the Company conducting Annual Crew Tests and a combined Arms live firing exercise in Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire,
a Battalion simulated combined arms exercise in Sennelager, Germany, and finally a field training exercise in Wiltshire; a daunting feat for any company, but luckily Dragon is a seasoned and fearsome one. Dragon Company also said goodbye
to some key personalities during this
period: their Officer Commanding, Maj
Terry Williams; the Company Second in Command, Capt Niall O’Malley Pearson; and Anti-Tank Platoon Second in Command, WO2 Catterall. Mid-way through this training package, Dragon Company was asked to shift focus in flight. Whilst a small band of determined men continued their current task, the remainder were hand- picked to deploy and join the 1st Battalion the Scots Guards on Op INTERFLEX.
OP INTERFLEX was a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a current
and relevant operation, training new members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in dismounted close combat skills. The Company set about this task with a fervour, making the most of scant time for preparation before recruits arrived, and drawing on some nascent experience
on Op ORBITAL from members of
the Company that had deployed to Ukraine in recent years. This task also included a
drastic re-ORBAT from that of a specialist Fire Support company, in to a four-platoon training company based around four sections in each platoon, and shifting from our specialist weapons
Recce Pl on their BCS package Sennybridge – Feb 22
some healthy discussion and disagreement on best practice. Luckily some old hands were available to don their body armour and
roles, to that of teaching basic dismounted infantry skills which traditionally would be left to a rifle company. Dragon Company JNCOs were in their element once AFU trainees arrived and
Spreading urban knowledge and tactics captured the imagination of both the UK and Ukrainian chains of command
shooters belts, and
clip gloves to carabiners before sharing the ‘directing staff solution’ as taught at the Infantry Battle School. Finally, the trainees took to the ranges to complete
a live firing package, including some healthy competition with UK instructors – LCpl Stratford (mortars) dominated effortlessly across trainees and
Pte Yates, Cpl Green and Pte Reed breaching a window on the Assault Pioneer Mission Exploitation Exercise – Longmoor – Apr 22
a hard three-week
programme began with
skill at arms training.
Working with and through interpreters proved the most challenging element of this task, although the commitment of
the predominantly refugee interpreters
was admirable. The shared attitude of interpreters and trainees carried through into the second phase of rural and urban training packages where Dragon Company instructors really found their stride. Spreading urban knowledge and tactics captured the imagination of both the UK and Ukrainian chains of command, with
Javelin Det deployed on live firing Castlemartin – Jun 22
instructors alike, breaking all stereotypes. As the heat of summer 2022 raged,
Dragon Company instructors settled into
life on the south coast, repeating this training package and developing it into a sustainable five-week programme. There is no doubt that the Company has contributed to successful Ukrainian operations over the autumn period and imparted some much- needed support weapons experience.
They have also reaped the benefit of a peek behind the curtain of a conventional warfighting force who are engaged in
an existential conflict, which can only enhance their credibility. The remainder
of the Company, having worked hard to resemble a full Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance group on multiple collective training events, set the conditions for the assumption
of Dragon Company’s part in the Lead Armoured Battle Group from October 2022 onwards, which now becomes their focus for the foreseeable future.
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