Page 17 - Mercian Eagle 2012

Fire Support Group by Capt March and Capt Clayton
The period since our last report has included the back end of a HFT year and the start of MST, the culmination being our impending Operational tour on Op HERRICK 17.
May and June presented an opportunity to recruit new blood into the platoon and begin the long process of Javelin and heavy weapon cadres required to make an FSG soldier fit for purpose. Cpl Dennis led
on SF while Cpl Golden Lockyer and Cpl Warsap delivered HMG and GMG training and Sgt Catterall and Cpl Price worked hard to deliver a credible Javelin package. This was an especially steep learning curve for the new members of the team, but it was great to see the enthusiasm shown across the board to learn so many new skills in a relatively short period. On completion of the internal cadres, the FSG fell out for a well deserved summer leave.
The culmination of the training before leave saw the FSG deploy to Otterburn with the remainder of Sp Coy on ‘Exercise Scorpion Eagle’, a two week field firing concentration aimed at confirming the previous training and qualify the platoon
in the weapon systems. It also provided an opportunity to achieve CT1+ across the company in preparation for ASKARI THUNDER in January.
Unfortunately, the weather was not reminiscent of that on the African plains, the fog meaning that the targets placed out by Sgt Catterall
and his merry men
were often out of sight
for long periods of the
afternoon meaning extra
weapon handling could
be completed in the
back of a troop carrier
vehicle sheltered from the
sleeting rain.
A brief respite from mobility training
Farm from the Tan Hill pub. This trend has continued with the FSG often spotted in the Yorkshire dales being corralled by the most energetic LE in the army!
The build-up to Kenya was blurred by the continuous planning for Op HERRICK 17 and the painful process of getting men qualified to drive. CTS were the three letters that kept Sgt Billows awake at night and caused Capt March and Capt Clayton to have ‘O groups’ in the Mess over a glass of the finest bottle of Taylors. It wasn’t all bad though, WO2 McCauley was able to
show his complete disregard for his own safety on a quad bike. He amazingly did manage to stay on at least two wheels, Cpl Price didn’t!
With everybody more than ready for the Christmas break we broke up after a busy Battalion Christmas week but not before
realising that LCpl Langton has an unusual talent in making Christmas table decorations, the FSG’s being by far the best on display.
A new year and the FSG boarded the plane to Kenya in jubilant spirits where we
The Caterall and Varley show!
were met by Sgts Varley and Catterall who had more than enough kit to last a lifetime to issue. Whilst the lads were busy with G4, Captains March and Clayton accompanied by LCpl Elliot and Pte Cunningham embarked on a recce to plan the most demanding ranges and training package
we could muster. An eight day programme was devised which involved climbing many hills and shouting a lot at wheels that wouldn’t come off when flat. In summary we were well prepared to receive the main body of the FSG!
The package allowed us to establish
and work on SOPs, do some live firing and operate in one place as a complete body of men out of sight of the rest of the Battalion. The training went well and served to gel us as a formed unit with some laughs along the way. Importantly though, it provided us with some realistic and demanding training that was encapsulated most by Pte Rathbones’ CASEVAC on a spinal board, off a monster of a feature, in the midday sun.
The FSG supported the main exercise adding real value to both Company and Battle Group level operations. Flexibility remained our key ally on many a deliberate attack and as a result the FSG were superbly effective and proved to be a battle winner on more than one occasion.
The departure of
Lt Sugden to the greener
pastures of Cheshire
saw Capt Clayton shift focus but remain
in the same seat to become the FSG 2iC. His new lease of life after giving up the Support Company 2iC role was personified by the ‘idea’ for the OC’s walk to Cordilleras
...a two week field firing concentration aimed at confirming the previous training and qualify the platoon in the weapon systems.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
15