Page 67 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

CO Foreword
Lt Col Rob Spalton
As I write this, it is two years to the day since I assumed command of the Battalion. The pace
of life for the Battalion during this second year of my tenure has been no less than that of my first, arguably increasing as we have emerged into the “post-COVID” world. Events in Ukraine in February have given increased relevance to our training and have further justified our focus on being Warfighters first and foremost.
In May this year, we deployed on Ex IRON WOLF in Lithuania, a major exercise geared towards developing this warfighting capability. Lithuania sits within the Op CABRIT area of operations adding
a further level of poignancy to the activity. The exercise saw a Company Group embedded within the Lithuanian ‘Iron Wolf’ Brigade, taking part in force-on-force engagements with the in-place German NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup. Major Deepe Rawji (OC C Coy) and
his team gave an excellent performance, earning praise from our NATO allies in this important venture. The exercise was all the more valuable as we were able to employ the pairing mechanism and deploy
a platoon from 1 MERCIAN as part of the ORBAT. BHQ and A1 Echelon were also able to support the exercise, operating from Rukla Camp, assisted by an excellent team from 37 Signal Regiment. Fortunately, after a demanding two-weeks in the field, we were all able to enjoy a visit to Vilnius to sample some
of the local culture and history, although the KGB museum provided a somewhat stark reminder of what the current situation means to the people of the region.
This same period saw another re-subordination for the Battalion, following 1 MERCIAN in moving from 20 Armoured Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) to 12 ABCT. Apart from establishing relations with a new team, for most of the Battalion this had little impact (aside from sewing on copious brigade flashes....)
as we remain in role as part of the 3rd Division. The Integrated Review and Future Soldier program have both served to maintain our focus on our core skills as Infanteers but these reviews have also highlighted the need and opportunity for the Army Reserve
(AR) to play a part in homeland resilience. For us, this has created a new opportunity and members of the Battalion are currently held on high readiness (24 hours’ notice to move (NTM)) as part of the UK Standby Battalion (UKSB) in the event of flooding
or natural disaster in the West Midlands. The task itself is comfortably within the skill set of any infantry battalion – what is more novel is that all personnel involved are Reservists with their civilian employment still ongoing throughout. The Battalion is one of
four units being deployed on this first trial of using Reservists for this role; if successful, this will become routine activity for the AR next year.
If idle hands create opportunity for satanic powers, the Battalion’s souls are pretty safe as
we have bounced from one serial to the next over the year. Whilst still on standby for flooding in the Midlands, members of the Battalion deployed on
Ex SPEARPOINT with 20 ABCT. This was a first trial of training en masse for the AR within 3 Div. Led by 5RRF, the exercise saw personnel from four Infantry Battalions coming together to train as a single entity on Salisbury Plain. 4 MERCIAN provided the core
of the BGHQ, with the illustrious Maj Will Rose (OC D Coy) maintaining a formidable presence as the
BG Chief of Staff. Troops deployed in the light role company, under armour in Warrior IFV and alongside a squadron of tanks from the QRH during 9-days in the field. By units working together, we were able
to concentrate mass and carry out training that is routinely difficult to achieve as individual units. The great and good of the AR (including DCFA) and the training world visited the exercise to assess the concept and it looks highly likely that this will be something that we see more of in the future.
Whilst these three activities have been the big- ticket items of the year, the “routine” has been
no less impressive: We have people deployed
in Estonia, Mali and the Falkland Islands; we
have supported the Commonwealth Games; our Cambrian Patrol team successfully completed the arduous competition that has defeated so many others; we have exercised across the five counties of the Regiment and beyond; the Band has entertained from Derby to Denmark and somehow most of
us have still maintained our civilian jobs - which sometimes seem a side show compared to these great adventures....even if they do pay the mortgage.
Doubtless, 2023 will be no less busy or demanding, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We stand firm and are ready to strike hard as ever. And as a great man once said; we keep smiling.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
4MERCIAN
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