Page 92 - MERCIAN Eagle 2018

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NWOTR Annual Camp
OCdt Dan Saville
It was the third year that many of North West Officer Training Regiment’s cadets had travelled to Sennelager in Western Germany for their annual camp, but far from becoming routine. This year’s two weeks of military skills and adventure training offered new experiences for all.
The first week of camp provided an opportunity to consolidate and expand on the military leadership syllabus that both Manchester and Salford and Liverpool UOTCs have followed over the last academic period. The new Commanding Officer, Lt Col Gareth Boyd MBE RRF chose to hone the Officer Cadets’ skills and drills to the highest standard with a ‘back to basics’ phase.
Following the usual briefs and safety procedures was a varied and intense range package, with all cadets completing their Annual Combat Marksmanship Test, shooting at 100, 200 and 300 metres. It was evident that the extra coaching time had paid off, with a high number of OCdts
achieving a pass mark. However, it wasn’t all basic soldiering, with the OCdts able to complete exciting familiarisation shoots on the pistol and General-Purpose Machine Gun.
The exercise phase was a complex deployment into the field straight from ranges, but the OCdts adapted quickly to their new command appointments and fulfilled the roles of section commanders,
The exercise phase was a complex deployment into the field straight from ranges...
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