Page 20 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

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crews and dismounts integrated, we started working with the tanks of Cyclops Squadron Royal Tank Regiment to practice Company/ Squadron group manoeuvre in surprisingly complex and challenging desert terrain. Suitably prepared, we then launched into a period of Battlegroup-
to expectation) was actually quite enjoyable, particularly when the Royal Engineers’ diggers turned up sooner than expected and defensive routine was established! All
in all, Ex SS3 was not without frictions, but it was an excellent opportunity for
the Company to get away from the UK and conduct an extended exercise operating
off our Warriors in somewhere other than BATUS. Living with each other, supported by nothing other
than our equipment
and the members of our team – vehicle, Section, Platoon
or Company – whilst operating in extremely hot temperatures, was the nearest thing
to Operations I have experienced, short of deployment itself.
Both during Ex SS3’s operational pause and after the exercise, there was ample opportunity for Adventurous Training in Oman, and very few were not able to
take advantage of one of the packages on offer (Mountain walking; dinghy sailing; snorkelling; or a battlefield walk on the Jebel Ahkar). This capped off a good year for AT in the Company, with further
summer mountaineering trips to Cyprus, Snowdonia and Scotland earlier in the year. Elsewhere in the mountains, the Company has once again sent soldiers Alpine Skiing on Ex FROSTED BLADE in both 2018 and 2019. Our sporting success was capped in December by a highly commended showing in the 1 Brigade boxing finals with Lt Pete Dyson and LCpl Cotterill (awarded best boxer) particularly notable amongst our victorious boxers.
Notable changeovers this year have included the rotation of CQMS(M) on
the promotion of WO2 Miller, with CSgt Bircumshaw arriving from ITC in his place. In addition, Sgt Massey has been replaced by Sgt Pratten in 7 Platoon and Sgt Wright by Sgt Macalpine-Gasse in 9 Platoon, whilst the Company has welcomed three new Warrior Sergeants – Sgt Doyle, Hird and Hodson; following the departure of Sgt Fellows to ARMCEN and CSgt Sinclair on promotion.
2019 brings the re-organisation of
the Company to focus on improving the medical deployability of 1 MERCIAN, with the Company’s permanent manpower reducing significantly in size to deliver this output. I look forward to describing our success in this endeavour next year.
scale night operations,
with highlights for
the Company being
two separate night
attacks. This training
was extremely
challenging for vehicle
commanders, gunners
and drivers, but all
excelled and performed
brilliantly, swelling in confidence as we went. This was evident in the last phase of the exercise, where the Company formed part of a three day, 100KM+ Battlegroup advance to contact as part of the Omani division: by this point the Company was able to manoeuvre at high tempo with limited direction over huge distances, getting into positions from which it could
be launched in excellent order. Whilst this phase unfortunately had little opportunity
for the Company’s dismounted soldiers to practice their skills, it was preceded by a 3 day long defensive exercise, which (contrary
After a well deserved period of Summer leave, the Company deployed to Oman on Ex SS3...
Warriors
in the dust during a BG March on Ex SS3 / Oman / Oct 18
THE MERCIAN EAGLE