Page 21 - LBV 2017

COMPANY TRAINING
Ex LION STAR 2017
OCdts Choda, Prescott, Braithwaite, Stylianou, Snooks and Grouille from CUOTC flew to the Western Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus on the 1st April for Ex Lion Star 2. Gamely determined and enthusiastic for two weeks of green training, designed to deliver a consolidated RMAS Reserve Commissioning Course MOD B training package and prepare them for MOD C & D ahead.
In the field our lessons started
with the treat of observing, in full
panorama view from a clifftop
vantage point and under the
tutelage of the RSM, NCO’s from
NWOTR performing a section
attack in the Cypriot countryside.
After this detailed tutorial of the six
section battle drills we split up into
our sections and tested our understanding by performing them ourselves, each iteration becoming quicker, more confident and capable owing to
the keen eye and feedback from our supervising DS and platoon commander. During this we also rotated command appointments as the IC and 2IC in charge of the section which was a new experience and challenge for many of the OCdts.
2 Platoon, 3 Section the victors of the CO’s Challenge with OCdt Snooks and OCdt Choda from CUOTC
With the principles of the section attack now firmly locked in our minds, we shifted up a gear to platoon level and the four platoon battle drills. Beginning with a walk-through talk-through
in camp and the field while simultaneously undergoing detailed lessons on the combat estimate, orders process, and the important principle of leading from the front as a platoon
commander. Over the coming days, we moved into the next phase, ‘Operate’, in preparation for the field exercise where
we would perform as a light
role infantry platoon ourselves according to a devised scenario.
Deploying into the field we moved into our harbour areas
with each section recceing the enemy position ready to feed back to the Platoon Commander to inform his combat estimate.
Finally after the conclusion of an impressively thorough and successful training package, we were surprised with an R&R trip to Ayia Napa Waterworld, the biggest water park of its kind in Europe. We also visited the still-divided city
...we shifted up a gear to platoon level and the four platoon battle drills.
THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER 19