Page 75 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

Exercise SAIF SAREEA III – LCpl Jack Higgs
Exercise SAIF SAREEA III took place in October this year, and 23 officers and soldiers from the 4th Battalion deployed
in support of the 1st Battalion’s Armoured Infantry Battle Group. For many of the Reservists, this was their first armoured exercise with most use to tabbing everywhere. For some, this was their first time working overseas. Arriving in Oman, soldiers from 1MERCIAN soon got us familiarised on the Warrior and got settled into the sections/vehicles we would be working with for the next five weeks. Due to the extreme conditions in Oman, we were also required to conduct an extensive acclimatisation package to adapt us to working in the searing desert heat.
The first phase saw us (and the Battle Group) learning and practicing again
the intricacies of armoured and desert fighting; a huge difference for many us
so accustomed to light-role operations. This meant for much of the first phase,
we Reservists were very much sponges, with our Regular counterparts providing the knowledge. We also spent much of the time drawing upon the expertise of our Omani hosts, for their expertise in living and operating in the desert was invaluable
Early morning preparation / Oman / Oct 18
to being able to fight in it. This phase also gave us the chance to become familiar and proficient with the many maintenance requirements of the armoured fleet – something definitely outside of our normal scope of operations – if we were to remain a fighting vehicle for the duration of the exercise.
In between the first and second phases of the exercise, many of us got the opportunity to jump on and even into some adventurous training. Activities such as snorkelling, sailing, rock climbing and hiking
For those that took part, this was a well- received opportunity...
were on offer. For those that took part, this was a well-received opportunity to take in some more of the amazing Omani scenery and experience the local cultures, at a slightly slower pace. The short break was also welcomed, as it gave us opportunity to contact family and friends at home, before deploying out on the next phase of the exercise.
The second stage saw us being tested on the practiced skills from the first phase. Starting with a short defensive period, which saw us digging and occupying trenches, before a series of long advances south towards the final ‘big push’. This final attack marked the end of the exercise for the soldiers of 4MERCIAN, who were soon moved back to Shafa camp and then onwards to home and civilian work.
Following the exercise and despite missing the demonstration of what the British forces on a expeditionary footing can achieve, it is fair to say that the Reservists of 4MERCIAN performed well. They were able to rapidly shift from a light-role to taking on being Armoured dismounts in the largest expeditionary exercise in fifteen years,
with success. Many of us are now looking forward to working closely with 1MERCIAN again and the opportunities, such as Op CABRIT may bring.
Lying in wait / Oman / Oct 18
Adventure Training in Oman / Oman / Oct 18
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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