Page 42 - Mercian Eagle 2012

RSO: RSWO: CQMS:
Capt M Brigham WO2 M Saunders CSgt C Pointon
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CIS PLATOON by WO2 (RSWO) Saunders
Since the last issue of the Mercian Eagle the Communications Information Systems (CIS) Platoon has found itself very busy. Of course we would always say that, but this time I feel it is particularly true. As has been detailed elsewhere in this issue the Bn was retasked at short notice quite late in our training progression for Op HERRICK 15. For the CIS Platoon this meant some hasty revisions of the Orbat and resulted in few people ending up where they previously thought they were going.
For me as the RSWO this resulted in
early deployment along with a small but
very determined band of men in order to gain the “ground truth” of our new role
as the Combined Force (CF) BURMA.
Our principal task was to prepare for the International Relief in Place (RIP) with the US Marine Corps who had been operating in the area for some months. After the usual Reception, Staging and Onward Integration package that is mandatory on entry to Theatre, we were pushed forward to our new Forward Operating Base (FOB) known as FOB OUELLETTE (named after a fallen US Marine killed on Operations in the area).
Our arrival and subsequent evaluation of key tasks left us with many more questions than answers, but true to form we started at the bottom and worked up a very long list. Having never worked with the USMC
before I was surprised to see how they operated on two very distinctive levels: On the one hand they have bases like Camp Leatherneck which has every conceivable facility and then at the other extreme, their forward bases that are very austere. Notice boards throughout camp contained written principles such as “get comfortable being uncomfortable”. I have always been a “get as comfortable as you can” type of man so I chose to ignore that one.
After a couple of weeks and many frantic calls back to UK we
had the camp in some
semblance of order,
despite the fact that the Royal Engineers had yet to even half-complete their many tasks. I have been and continue to be amazed at how fast and how well the Engineers can create a base
from next to nothing.
As well as a complete Rifle Company the FOB was scaled to hold a CF level HQ, a full Squadron of Engineers and an integral Battery of 105mm Light Guns. In addition RMP, Royal Signals personnel, RLC Chefs and many other assets soon filled camp and we were relieved when the USMC left what was a very crowded location.
The key mission for the new CF was
to protect and preserve the main route through our area of responsibility, known as Route 611. This route bisected our AOR moving northwards in to the US area of Operations. To complete this we occupied and controlled several smaller Patrol Bases (PBs) with a view to dominating the ground and interdicting the insurgents’ movement.
Winter in Helmand is rarely a pleasant experience and the
i have been and continue to be amazed at how fast and how well the engineers can create a base from next to nothing.
forces in the smaller PBs in particular at times fell into a dual battle both with the insurgent and the elements. When we assumed control of the area of operations (AO) it is fair to say the local populace was not pro- ISAF and were fearful
of insurgent retaliation to any kind of ISAF interaction. It is to C Company’s credit that we handed over an AO with vastly improved relations with the local communities and a much more stable security situation.
As the RSWO along with the RSO
Capt Paulin, we were charged with producing and maintaining a robust and reliable communications plan. Normally in Afghanistan you would inherit an ongoing plan, improve where possible and hand over an ongoing concern. As this was a new
CF location we were to start from scratch, which as you can probably imagine gave us some interesting problems to solve. Dealing with problems such as daily power failures stretched, but failed to break, the resolve
of the CF HQ and C Company’s Ops Staff. Very soon all had learned to adapt a flexible
View from FOB OUELLETTE
CO TAC Group ready for action
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