Page 10 - Mercian Eagle 2012

OC
2IC
CSM CQMS 4Pl Comd 4 Pl Sgt 5Pl Comd 5 Pl Sgt
6Pl Comd 6 Pl Sgt
Maj D J Cook
Lt N R Rager
WO2 Beesley
Sgt G Miller
Lt T J Fisher
Sgt G Miller
Lt C W Middleton
Sgt D McQueen/ Sgt S Done
Lt G Nicholls Sgt S Done
8
B (Malta) company
The past year has, as is typical in the
Army these days, been an extremely
busy one for B Coy: we have witnessed
the roll-out of the new Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST), consisting of
new thermal and image intensifying sight systems, conducted two live firing packages in Brecon culminating in Platoon night attacks without illumination, completed
Ex ASKARI THUNDER in Kenya and been through the comprehensive Mission Specific Training in preparation for Afghanistan which in itself consisted of hundreds of individual courses, a Confirmatory Exercise (CFX), Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) and Field Training Exercise (FTX). Finally, we have seen B Coy reduced to two Rifle Pls for Afghanistan, with the temporary disbandment of 6 Pl. The Coy is now fantastically well prepared, both physically and mentally, for the next six months and,
after a final two weeks pre-deployment leave, will, in October 12, deploy to Kopak North, in Nad e-Ali District, as a ‘Ground Holding’ Coy.
In the past year we have welcomed
Lt Nicholls and Lt Middleton who
have arrived from RMA Sandhurst. Congratulations to the 2IC, Capt Rager, who, after a year of doing the job as a Lt, seemingly sustained by a diet of lager, black coffee and rollie cigarettes, has finally been promoted. Congratulations also to CSgt Beesley who has moved upstairs and is now WO2 (CSM) Beesley, remaining within B Coy, having swapped the joys of G4 for the frustrations of G1 and discipline. CSM Green has been selected for RQMS(T)
and receives both our congratulations and appreciation for all that he has done over the past year.
We bid a warm, albeit temporary, farewell to Lt Nicholls on the disbandment of 6 Pl for the tour as he takes command of the Mastiff (Protected Patrol Vehicle) Group. Sgt Moitt has moved to the Training Wing and Sgt McQueen leaves the Army – we wish him all the best.
DJC
‘Hybrid Foundation Training’ and Kenya
After a well-deserved period of leave over the festive period, B (Malta) Company reconvened at Marne Barracks in Catterick and we immediately switched our focus
to the imminent deployment to Kenya and Ex ASKARI THUNDER 5. The Coy was
in excellent condition, having put itself through a demanding live firing package on Sennybridge prior to leave and the feeling within the Coy was extremely positive:
we felt prepared, and we were. The Coy deployed with three platoons, two organic platoons and one from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, lead by Lt Ned Harris and Sgt Fallows.
Along with the G4 element, the officers flew out on the advance party in order to plan the first phase of Coy training. After transiting through Kifaru barracks in Nairobi, we eventually arrived at the infamous Nanyuki Show Ground (NSG) and began
our recces of the local training area. Our
OC was keen to give us a lot of freedom in organising the training within his left and right of arc, and for a young platoon commander
Our Oc was keen to give us a lot of freedom in organising the training...
with a crash however on return to Nanyuki Showground where we had to complete Range Action Safety Plans and range traces for the training we had just planned, which caused considerable pain and
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
in Kenya this was
excellent. Essentially given a large amount of space on the training estate north of NSG where we were to accommodate the Coy and conduct training, the opportunities to conduct novel and unique training serials were endless. We spent around three
days cruising the training area, Pam 21 and Army Operational Shooting Policy in hand, planning ranges for the Coy to conduct.
It was easy on occasions to forget why
we were really there and in fact, were at work! We were brought back down to earth
anguish. Some advice to anyone else who deploys on Ex ASKARI THUNDER: bring a laptop, printer, lots and lots of paper, those plastic templates you created on LFTT at some point and a good supply of tracing paper!
Once the rest of the Coy arrived, after
a few days of admin at the luxury resort
of Turaco Farm, the Coy moved to an enhanced harbour area on the training area. This would become one of the most rewarding parts of the exercise. At this point, I didn’t quite realise the benefits of having the Coy complete on an overseas exercise and the training you could achieve in this situation. The Coy worked hard during this training period, conducting numerous live ranges by day and by night but also had time to relax and enjoy the scenery that was provided by the vast training area.
The next phase of the exercise saw B Coy deploy to Main Operating Base Simba at Archer’s Post, or as it became known among the blokes, Archer’s Roast! Getting there was something of an epic; it took around four hours from the south of the country but on our first attempt we ran into a little trouble. As we approached the town of Isiolo we noticed large crowds building on either side of the street and smoke in the distance. Not sensing anything untoward, the two buses, OC’s and 2ICs’ landrovers moved into the
Home sweet home for Coy training package