Page 61 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

Reconnaissance Platoon
The Reconnaissance Platoon reformed
in January 2018, with all members of
the Platoon returning to the UK having completed an operational tour in the Falklands Islands, Iraq or South Sudan
in 2017. The intent for the first quarter of 2018 was to be a return to the core skill of light role reconnaissance operations; the output being a Platoon able to provide accurate and timely information, by day and by night, in all weather conditions and in all operations of war. As such, a Light Reconnaissance Patrolman Cadre (LRPC) beckoned.
The LRPC 18 saw the Platoon deploy to Otterburn, Brecon and Leek; training areas notorious for their undulating terrain and unpredictable weather. To further enhance the training experience, the infamous cold weather system known as the ‘Beast
from the East,’ made a welcome arrival, much to everyone’s delight. This truly
C/S 63 patrol through a series of RVs before conducting a Close Target Reconnaissance of an objective in May 2018. C/S 63 would subsequently deploy to Lithuania on Ex THUNDERSTORM, attached to B (Malta) Coy
tested the Platoon’s resolve in conducting reconnaissance operations, ‘in all weather conditions.’ The LRPC comprised a formative and summative phase. The formative included individuals being tested on their physical ability, culminating in an
8 mile individual best effort assessment carrying 25kg across the hills of Otterburn. What followed throughout this phase were a series of individual navigation exercises by day and by night, all whilst being taught and subsequently executing the skill set of light role reconnaissance in conventional operations. A move to Brecon permitted
a change in scenery but not a let up in intensity as the Platoon was tested on its live firing contact drills; from individual to Patrol level and by day and night. A two week summative exercise followed, testing the Platoon on its ability to construct, occupy and extract from observation posts, to conduct close target reconnaissance and to set the conditions for BG level operations in the rural environment against a dynamic enemy force. Successful completion of
the cadre saw members of the Platoon presented their black cap badges by the Commanding Officer, to be worn in their berets as a sign of what they had accomplished.
With one eye on the upcoming move to Cyprus, the Platoon detached a Patrol to
B (Malta) Company on their deployment to Lithuania on Ex THUNDERSTORM, a multi- national exercise in the forests of Eastern Europe. It is whilst deployed in this setting that the importance of the skill set learnt
on the LRPC is truly laid bare. Performing admirably, the Patrol was an asset, enabling the Company to understand the enemy’s tactics, formation and laydown to set the conditions for a successful exercise.
Summer and autumn 2018 were to be dominated by the much anticipated move to Cyprus, interrupted by the news that D (Dragon) Company was to be deployed to Afghanistan on Op TORAL for a three
A Reconnaissance Patrol conduct live firing contact drills at Sennybridge Training Area the Light Role Patrolman Cadre, Mar 2018
month period in August. The short term deployment would see the Platoon undergo a four week PDT across both Cyprus and UK, eventually arriving in Kabul as part of the Kabul Security Force. This role would see the Platoon split across two locations, New Kabul Compound and Headquarters Resolute Support; the role entailing
the force protection of NATO advisors throughout the Kabul Base Cluster.
To the future, 2019 will see the platoon reform in Cyprus when once again the core skills of light role reconnaissance will be tested on a reconnaissance cadre. This time, the testing conditions of a British winter will be replaced with the arid and rugged conditions that the Cyprus training area affords. Once again, the coveted black cap badge will be the reward for those who successfully complete the cadre. Beyond, deployments to Canada and Kuwait await, completing what will be another busy year of putting in to practice the skill set required to be an effective reconnaissance unit.
C/S 63 and C/S 64 pose for a photo before deploying to establish a sub-surface observation point at Leek Training Area, Apr 2018
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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