Page 67 - Mercian Eagle 2012

drivers on £40,000 per year! With the Platoon deployed on the strikes the MTO ended up as the oldest duty driver of all time! The Platoon has continued to support all of the Battalion exercises which included CAST, CATT and the Bde Gunnery camp, whilst continuing to train the Battlegroup ready for deployment to BATUS.
BATUS brought its own frustration with the whole fleet being classed as ‘Red’ on takeover and JAMES not working due to IT issues. With the fleet ‘sort of’ working, we limped out of the gate as A1 Echelon for the first time in over 2 years. Throughout the exercise the fleet was growing and peaked at over 40 vehicles. It is safe to say that the
MT ensured that all Sub Units were kept well supplied throughout the exercise, even when they never demanded any supplies.
The Platoon now looks forward to the challenges MST and Op HERRICK 19 will bring, after taking a well earned Christmas break: assuming there are no strikes we need to cover.
REME LAD
The 3 MERCIAN Battle Group Light Aid Detachment that deployed on Prairie Thunder 4 unified fitter sections from 3 Royal Horse Artillery, 2 Medical Regiment, 32 Engineer Regiment and Scots Dragoon Guards, formulating a team of 77 Vehicle Mechanics, Technicians, Armourers and Recovery Mechanics. Many had recently completed Prairie Thunder 3 and all were catapulted in
to a heavy workload as soon as they arrived: all CVR(T) brake and steering systems were to be replaced, a minimum of a three hour job for all 23 systems. The CVR(T)s were the demon vehicle
throughout and the first to go was the BG EME’s who made it no further than EXCON on his first attempt: start as you mean to go on. As always the recovery mechanics were kept busy: the SV(R) completing 57 tows and numerous winch jobs, including having to get winched out themselves on their way to a bogged in SV. The 25 day exercise offered a superb and high intensity training aid for all REME personnel whom worked tirelessly to keep the Combat Effectiveness above 85% ensuring the punch was kept in the Battle Group’s fist.
The QMs Platoon
By Maj NH Breen QM
The QM’s Platoon has seen a significant change since the return from Op HERRICK 14. New arrivals into the Pl have been in the form of Capt Rob Rees QM (T), WO2 Lofty Worboys, RQMS (M), WO2 Viv Vivash RQMS(T), CSgt Dawson as the Clothing SNCO, Cpl Bird as the Accomodation Storeman, Pte Jones as the Clothing Storeman and last but by no means least Pte Bah who has made himself invaluable as the Battalion equipment repairer.
With every arrival there are sadly departures. Maj ‘Woody’ Woodcroft has hung up his boots having retired from the Army after a long and very successful career. WO2 Mears has promoted into the appointment of RSM 3 MERCIAN and finally WO2 RQMS (T) Midwinter has retired into civilian life. We all wish you luck in whatever future you make for yourselves.
The Platoon has contended with a significant workload level since the last
edition of MERCIAN Eagle. Reception of the Battalion’s CT1 training fleet, Gunnery Camps, ECI, LSI, Project JAMES (Land), MJDI, arrival of the RLC LSD, the BATUS deployment onto Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER 4 and finally the G4 infrastructure support to Ex SABRE JUNCTION 12. The demand on the Platoon has been huge but as always have never been found wanting.
The QM’s Platoon has also been heavily involved in the 1(UK) Div optimization of 1st
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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