Page 80 - Mercian Eagle 2012

OC:
2IC: PSAO: CSM: SPSI:
Mor Pl PSI CQMS: QPSI:
Pl Comd 4 Pl: Pl Comd 5 Pl: Mor Pl Comd:
Maj N L Clarke Capt R A Oakes Capt J Tyson WO2 S Burgess WO2 J Walker Sgt M Foster CSgt J Griffiths CSgt R D Roberts 2Lt M D Styles
Lt D J Rawji 2Lt M A Jones
78
D company
D Company has once again had a successful year and has continued their commitments to operations and battalion events. With a new Officer Commanding at the helm, fresh from operations,
D Company restructured and began to rethink its strategy on attracting new recruits. The ongoing
challenge of balancing
technical training with
instructional periods
is always difficult,
especially as key
personnel are in great
demand for operational
commitment and as
Afghanistan draws
down for the TA.
At the beginning of
the year the Company
ran several employer events with a curry supper and several employer support presentations to increase awareness of training and deployments. As a follow on from this we had a round table evening which gave the participants a more sweaty, “hands on” approach to Army life. Linking in with SaBRE has also reaped dividends as our local dignitaries tend to attend events more readily. We now have a core of very supportive employment groups in both Stoke and Crewe. Our local schools and colleges were also invited to a Swynnerton based look at D Company life which
they really enjoyed and they have asked
the Company to put on another weekend as the junior college members move into higher classes.
D Company carried the torch on from
last year’s shooting team success with the OC at the helm supported by Sgt Roddis
(F Company) and Sgt Smith, entering the 143 (WM) Bde Operational Shooting Competition on behalf of the Battalion. With a scratch
team led on the day
by Lt Rawji, the Battalion won 95% of the silver on the day.
D Company has found its soldiers deployed and posted to many exotic places this training year from Camp Radio Sonde in Cyprus to Windsor in support
of Op Olympics. Annual Camp this year provided
D company has found its soldiers deployed and posted to many exotic places this training year...
D Company with the opportunity to deploy to Cyprus on Ex LION STAR, which to many was the first opportunity to travel further afield than Brecon. This provided
D Company soldiers with a fantastic training opportunity and focused on their basic infantry skills, but in a hotter climate than South Wales offered.
Lt Rawji (Front row, 4th from left) with his team and their prizes
Ranging from company executives to students
THE MERCIAN EAGLE