Page 56 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

7 Platoon – Lt Breen
One operational deployment, five exercises, two platoon socials and the move to Cyprus. 7 Platoon, along with the rest of the Battalion, have been incredibly active over the last year. I joined 7 Platoon at the end of April 2018, a few months after they had returned from Op SHADER, where they had been providing force protection to the mentors of the Iraqi security forces.
particular, the friction between the Royal Irish as protected mobility and ourselves as light- role, was an interesting dynamic that was soon overcome.
After a brutal Public Order exercise and a nail-biting World Cup, 7 Platoon travelled to Brize Norton to begin our journey to Cyprus and join the remainder of the Battalion. After a quick familiarisation of Ayia Napa, by some elements of the Platoon, C (Kohima) Company were straight on Ex AETOS FURY for our mandatory CT2 exercise.
While the Platoon was enjoying its time back in the UK, Ex WESSEX STORM was on the horizon and 7 Platoon was to be attached to A (Grenadier)
Company for the
duration as we deployed
as part of the Royal Irish
Battle group. The initial
phase of the exercise
began with a challenging
24-hour advance to
contact and culminated
in a night raid on an
enemy defensive position. This certainly blew away any cobwebs from the Company, who had not exercised in a conventional environment for some time and set the scene for the remainder of the exercise. The mix of rural and urban environments with offensive and defensive actions provided
a challenging, yet rewarding, exercise. In
The rugged landscape, the sweltering August heat and the night-only actions proved to be a shock to the system, particularly for the newly arrived soldiers who had limited experience with night viewing devices (NVDs). The
exercise consisted of a raid on a quarry with boulders larger than transit vans,
an obstacle crossing over a ravine, and finished on an assault down a ridgeline
to the sea. The demanding nature of the exercise highlighted how the Battalion’s role in Cyprus was “a tour in the sunshine, not a sunshine tour”.
Ex AETOS FURY saw C Coy put through a demanding week of attacks in an even more demanding environment
Following AETOS FURY, 7 Platoon took the opportunity to explore what Cyprus had to offer with a platoon trip to the nearby water park and a boat trip around Paphos harbour. Both highlighted the double life
7 Platoon are enjoying on island as any
time away from work feels like you are on holiday! I am glad to say that 7 Platoon have firmly settled in to Cyprus and enjoying the benefits it offers.
As I write, 7 Platoon are looking forward to the coming year as people are split between alpine skiing in Val d’Isere, France, force protection at RAF Akrotiri, and a multi-national overseas training exercise to Canada.
This certainly blew
away any cobwebs from the Company...
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B and C Coy at the freedom of Chester Parade
The Company faced a significant challenge early in its time on island in the shape of Ex AETOS FURY, a CT2 level exercise just three weeks after our arrival. Severely limited by temperatures of 35 degrees, all activity took place at night. An environment that is unremittingly hot, rocky, spiky, stinging or all of the above meant a challenging run out for the guys and nobody was left in any doubt of the challenges of operating in this part of the world. For many, this was a return to conventional tactics for the first time in over a year and was a great chance to get back to basics. The Infantry
Battle Craft Syllabus has proved to be an excellent hand rail for the JNCOs to take the lead in low level training and the availability of training areas and resources in Cyprus have meant no shortage of Section and Platoon level activities. The guys are getting to know the back area very well, especially Snake Hill!
Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE in Canada in May 19 suggests that the next year will continue to be busy but looks like
an excellent training opportunity in a multinational environment. The Company will be tested across the full spectrum of
The OC showing the CSM correct weapon carriage on exercise
warfare and will have the chance for some excellent adventurous training opportunities.
Despite the sometimes-hectic pace,
the mood of the Company is good and people have been making full use of all that Cyprus has to offer. The holiday hot spots
of Paphos and Ayia Napa were an obvious early draw but whether it is joining the local shooting, football or rugby teams, taking
up scuba diving within three miles of the block, or exploring an island with a variety of history, cultures and environments, there is little reason to be bored on the weekends.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE