Page 9 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

miles from Bulford, ready for deployment
on a Divisional level exercise with the Royal Army of Oman. Highlights of the six-week exercise included a 200km advance to contact across the desert, taking an
Omani Artillery Battery and Air Defence Troop under command, and conducting a Divisional level live attack as our final attack of the exercise; a once in a lifetime training opportunity. Of particular note was the
Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces watching the 1 MERCIAN Battlegroup conduct a Battlegroup attack where recce to reorg was only 45 minutes; he suddenly found he had some spare time in his diary! The UK Secretary of State for Defence
and Chief of the General Staff were equally impressed watching the Joint Omani-UK firepower demonstration where B Company, 1 MERCIAN, contributed to the strategic aims of the exercise by demonstrating the UK’s exceptional warfighting capabilities to a global audience.
However, the highlight for many soldiers was the incredible adventurous training opportunities offered throughout the exercise, presenting the opportunity to meet the Omani people and experience their delightful culture and stunning geography. Sailing, hiking in the Jebels, rock climbing and snorkelling throughout Oman was
a tremendous experience for the entire Battlegroup.
The sporting and adventurous training achievements of the Battalion have been nothing short of Herculean throughout
2018 and into 2019. 1 MERCIAN are
the Alpine Skiing Infantry champions and came third in the Nordic Skiing Infantry championships; no mean feat for a novice team. Our Tug-of-War team were runners up at the Braemar Highland Games, with the honour of competing in front of Her Majesty the Queen. The 1 MERCIAN boxing
Brigadier Zac Stenning, Lt Col Ned Kelly / CO 1 MERCIAN briefs Comd 1 (AI) Bde overlooking the enemy position prior to an attack by B (Malta) Company / Oman / Oct 18
team are the 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade boxing champions and the establishment
of a standing boxing team should enable
the team to go from strength to strength through 2019. The 1 MERCIAN football team won the TidNBul Garrison Cup with six Infantry players and the rugby teams have performed well throughout the year. The
1 MERCIAN swimming team participated
in the inter-Corps championships and won six medals, including three golds, and the Battalion has been represented in cycling, cross country and Infantry golf. With no unit deployment scheduled for 2019, sport and adventurous training will feature heavily in our activities next year.
With so much activity, such a tremendous work ethic across the Battalion, and such
a strong team effort to achieve success,
I won’t single out individuals for praise in this foreword. I will, however, mention the incredible recognition that Sgt Andrew
Barton, Recce Platoon, has received through his appointment as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his outstanding work supporting the Battalion over the last year. Many congratulations to this exceptional soldier.
2019 will be an operationally focused year with sub-unit groupings deploying
to Estonia on Op CABRIT and to Ukraine on Op ORBITAL. The remainder of the Battalion will support the Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup as they deploy to Oman to prove a future land training hub in the south of the country, will concentrate on developing support weapon and armoured infantry skills and enjoy the opportunities
for representational sport and adventurous training. Whatever the challenges of 2019 and beyond, the men and women of
1 MERCIAN will continue to STAND FIRM and STRIKE HARD, demonstrating the very best the British Army has to offer.
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individuals to a fighting company in less than three months. Activities included four weeks at Castlemartin Ranges to hone
our live firing skills, a week of low-level Battlecraft Syllabus training, and a full two-week CSTTX in the Warminster CATT facility. From there, we managed some well-deserved Easter leave before heading to Canada with the Kings Royal Hussars Battlegroup ready to deploy on what was to be the only regular full BATUS exercise for the British Army in 2018.
Ex PRAIRIE STORM 1 was a
fantastic learning experience and
the Grenadier Company performed outstandingly. There was a really positive attitude across the whole Battlegroup to
2 Platoon in the assault with 1 Troop, KRH / BATUS, Canada / 6 May 18
A (Grenadier) Company attack at dusk / BATUS, Canada / 5 May 18
THE MERCIAN EAGLE