Page 24 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Foreword
By the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Colin Marks
Since last year’s edition of the Mercian Eagle was published, the 2nd Battalion has been extremely busy; firstly in Kenya on Exercise ASKARI THUNDER 3 and more recently preparing for deployment on Operation HERRICK 15 – now confirmed as September 2011 to April 2012. Despite the frantic pace of life, all remain in fine fettle and as you would expect, 2 MERCIAN has acquitted itself well across the board. Notably Captain Noel Magill received an MBE in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List, for his excellent work as the Battalion Welfare Officer during Operation HERRICK 10, and WO2 (RQMS) Anthony Higginbottom received an MBE for outstanding service on Operation HERRICK 12 with the 1st Battalion.
Exercise ASKARI THUNDER is the successor to Exercise GRAND PRIX, which many will remember fondly I’m sure. It is a huge improvement on its predecessor and is set in a hybrid warfare context within an expeditionary scenario. Consequently, it is an excellent collective training opportunity and came at just the right time in our progression. Following deployment and after a period of build- up training, each rifle company group completed a six day intensive live-firing package, supported by D Company Fire Support Groups (FSGs) and the Mortar Platoon. The culmination of this package saw A (Grenadier), B and C Company Groups undertake a gruelling six hour advance-to-contact in the sweltering heat of Archer’s Post followed
by a deliberate company attack next morning.
This was a fitting climax and prepared everyone perfectly for the HQ 19 Light Brigade run Final
Test Exercise (FTX) which followed thereafter.
The FTX, which was a free-playing TESEX, put
the Battlegroup (BG) through its paces in the contemporary operating environment and was extremely testing, especially for BGHQ which hadn’t had a proper run out for over eighteen months. After ENDEX, each company undertook
a short adventurous training package which included white water rafting and sub-aqua diving (for those lucky enough to make it as far as Mombasa). All in all, the experience was hugely positive and prepared everyone psychologically
as well as physically for the rigours of Mission Specific Training (MST) which followed immediately afterwards. For the younger element it was their first real taste of arduous collective field training and particularly important ahead of MST.
On return to Belfast and prior to Christmas leave, everyone attended the Operation HERRICK All Ranks Brief which was held in Ballykinler Training Centre; in -5 Celsius! After a well earned three week stand-down, January saw members
of 2 MERCIAN begin attending individual
mission specific courses spread between NI,
the GB mainland and Germany. This was a huge undertaking, not least of all logistically, and required considerable flexibility from all. Cascade training culminated with Exercise McPHERSON’s MARCH which was a multiple level training event held in Ballykinler and based around a patrol competition. The Recce Platoon came out on top and were clear winners on the day putting in a creditable performance. After Easter, collective training events
got underway in earnest with the Confirmatory Exercise (CFX) taking place in Thetford and the Dismounted CALFEX in Otterburn. MST concluded with the Battle Group’s FTX on Salisbury Plain in August immediately prior to pre-deployment and summer leave. Although a long slog and one not made easy from Palace Barracks, MST prepares
a battalion superbly ahead of contemporary operations and I have every confidence that everyone is ready for action. At the time of writing, the first members of 2 MERCIAN have arrived in theatre and are preparing to receive the remainder who will deploy over the next month.
Given the pace of events in Afghanistan currently, Operation HERRICK 15 will be a demanding tour, with transition of security responsibility to Afghan security forces as the central focus. Initially, BGHQ and C Company Group will deploy to the Upper Gereshk Valley where we will relieve the 3rd/4th Battalion of the USMC as the Ground Holding Combined Force responsible for security along Route 611. This area has not been occupied permanently by British forces since 2008 and is well known to many in
2 MERCIAN who served there during Operation HERRICK 6. On current planning A (Grenadier) Company will deploy to Nareh-e-Sarej with 5 RIFLES and B Company will deploy to Nad-e-Ali under 3 SCOTS. Despite the disparate nature of our initial lay-down, the Rear Operations Group (ROG) will maintain our firm base in Belfast and I’m sure things will continue to evolve after Transfer
of Authority in October. One thing is certain – we are likely to finish Operation HERRICK 15 in a very different Task Organisation to the one we start in. During our tour, you can keep abreast of current events and developments by visiting our website - www.standfirm.co.uk - where routine updates will be posted from theatre as well as Holywood and
I urge you to publicise it widely to our extended Regimental family and friends. Already the tour
is proving hugely demanding for all ranks of 2 MERCIAN and it is with deep sadness that I must report the death of Pte Matthew Haseldin, killed in action so soon into our tour. He had such a huge impact since he joined the Battalion and our thoughts and prayers go to his family at this awful time.
A full programme of Homecoming parades across the recruiting area and in Holywood are scheduled for spring 2012 and we are provisionally planning to organise a charity twelve mile run
prior to next year’s annual Crich pilgrimage. This
is an ambitious undertaking and the brain child
of RSM Chatterley. It promises to be an excellent fund raising opportunity as well as a thoroughly enjoyable occasion which we are keen to establish as a yearly event from here on; watch this space for more details in due course.
In sum, the past twelve months have been extremely demanding for the 2nd Battalion. However, everyone has risen to the challenges with characteristic determination and we are well prepared for the rigours of operations in Afghanistan and whatever follows thereafter; wherever and whenever that may be.
Stand FIRM Strike Hard
2MERCIAN