Page 42 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

OC
CSM
2IC
Pl Cmd 1 Pl Pl Sgt 1 Pl Pl Cmd 2 Pl Pl Sgt 2 Pl Pl Cmd 3 Pl Pl Sgt 3 Pl
Maj Russell-Blackburn WO2 Rigley
Capt Leach
Lt Blake
Sgt Hughes Lt Park
Sgt Costa Lt Oakes Sgt Taylor
40
A (Grenadier) Company
WO2 (CSM) Rigley
In early 2022 A ‘Grenadier’ Company deployed as the permanent range team (PRT) in support of 1 PWRR on EX ASKARI STORM, Kenya. This saw the range teams including support from Dragon Company designing, constructing and running a company-sized Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX). Additionally, many of the PRT then re-roled as Observer Mentors once the live fire package was complete.
After arrival and acclimatisation,
the Company managed to get their first
look at the location where they would be building the ranges. Archer’s Post Training Area (APTA) in the Samburu region. Dry,
hot and desolate. The troops set up camp there and oversaw the construction. This was the first time many of the soldiers had stepped foot out of the UK and for one Pte, the first time on a plane! A long way from their home counties, with strangers that they shared little in common with, the teams quickly had to form relationships with the Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) to ensure they were efficient in the 40-degree heat. The Range Conducting Officers, Lt Oakes, Lt Park and Sgt Taylor quickly discovered that building in a range on a hill in Kenya was a very different experience to the British stream beds and rolling countryside they were used to.
Sgt Taylor and CSgt Joynes deliving the range SoM
In order to keep the build on track,
the Privates and Lance Corporals of Grenadier Company got stuck in and took responsibility for elements of the build under the Assistant RCOs (Sgt’s Costa and Hughes) and guided the LECs who could build a sandbag bunker in minutes with the proper instruction. They were invaluable in the heat!
With the preparation, hard work and dedication, it ensured that over a number
of weeks we were able to put in place a fantastic live firing package for the 1st Bn PWRR. They were successfully validated on their CALFEX and were able to progress on to the dry training missions which followed in Lolldaiga.
On return to the UK and leave now taken, it was time to start saying goodbye to some of the Company as they moved on. With Maj Russell-Blackburn becoming Military Assistant to Director DCDC, Captain Leach taking up the role of Operations Officer/ Welfare Officer, the Platoon commanders equally began moving on to their next roles too, with Lt Park being successful in joining the Rangers, Lt Blake to AFC Harrogate,
Lt Oakes’s return to the AGC and our ‘loaned’ Pl commander Lt Jones to ITC Catterick. Sgts Costa and Hughes would move to 1 MERCIAN, with Sgt Taylor due to
move later to Stanford Hall in Loughborough as an instructor.
The ultimate focus of course was
on ensuring the soldiers were suitably transitioned as part of the amalgamation. It’s a difficult ‘ask’ to please all the soldiers, however we successfully aligned the soldiers and placed them against their choices – this included 1 MERCIAN, the Scots Guards, the Rangers, the RLC and Royal Signals.
With our soldier movements secured,
it was now time to pull down CSgt Chadbourne’s well worn-out dartboard, bubble wrap the Company office photos and lower the A ‘Grenadier’ Company flag for the final time.
I’m grateful to have partly commanded a group of soldiers that has such a strong ethos; simply put, when the wind and hail is in your face, simply check bearing and march on!
It is with a great sense of pride and of course sadness, as the last ever CSM of
A ‘Grenadier’ Company 2 MERCIAN, I would like to say for the final time, “Once a Grenadier, always a Grenadier”.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Observing 1PWRR QBOs
CSgt Chadbourne grafting
Not the top of the food chain