Page 30 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

OC 2IC
CSM
7 Pl Comd
7 Pl Sgt
Asslt Pnr Pl Asslt Pnr Pl Sgt
Maj T Spoor
Capt A Bell / Capt J Mcilveen
WO2 (CSM R Gardner/ WO2 (CSM) L Lougher
Lt R Scott /
2Lt L Beetlestone
Sgt G Nunn/Sgt Harris
Lt J Clark
Sgt J Parkin / Sgt R Keeton
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Therefore, a great deal of training has also been conducted in Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) specifics and Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) equipment, ensuring we confidently retain freedom of manoeuvre. This equipment has been used throughout the training exercises and facilitated the rehearsal of theatre tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs); compound clearance drills, medical training and staged meetings (shuras) with local nationals.
The number of collective training exercises has been huge and taken the Company to the four compass points of the United Kingdom and to Europe, our basing in Northern Ireland has of course made this no mean feat. Members of the Company undertook Combined Arms Live-Fire Training (Live-firing from static vehicle platforms) in South Wales. This was swiftly followed by training in Germany, the Confirmatory Training Exercise in Norfolk, the Dismounted Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise in Otterburn (Northumberland) and lastly the Final Training Exercise on Salisbury Plain (Wiltshire). Whilst spending much time away from our homes and
base location in Belfast, the Company has worked hard to keep families informed of our activities. B Company has embraced the new technological age with the creation of a Company ‘Twitter’ account. Not only has this allowed the Officer Commanding to acquire 150
sycophantic followers,
but it has enabled
instant posting of
pictures and information
relevant to our training
and deployment. The
feedback has been
positive and it is firmly
our intention to ‘deploy
with our families’ by
continuing to maintain
social media sites.
Despite having spent so much time
Ex ASKARI THUNDER – 6 Platoon reaching new heights. LCpl James (now Cpl), LCpl Bedford (retired), Sgt Roxborough, LCpl Morris (now Officer Cadet!), Lt Mofatt and Cpl Wilson (retired)
the creation of a Company ‘Twitter’ account has allowed the Officer Commanding to acquire 150 sycophantic followers
away, our soldiers have still found time to marry and procreate! The Company wishes
Families are of course at the forefront of
our minds as we deploy. Nevertheless, we will deploy in the knowledge that we are well prepared - having received the best training with the best equipment that any serving soldier can remember. Contrary to the British Army’s former forays and that of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan during the 1980s, the Company has a purposeful role that will see us meaningfully mentor
the Afghan National Security Force, thus delivering an enduring peace to the people of Afghanistan.
to congratulate the following who have wed: Cpl Taylor to Emma
and Capt Brigham to Danny. There have
also been a number
of new additions
(and potentially new Mercian recruits?), congratulations to Pte Crump on the birth of Reece, to LCpl Colin
and Kate on the birth of Chase, and to Pte Kissi and Annettte on the birth of Nana Yan.
C (Skirmish) Company
Written by Maj TJC Spoor
OC’s Introduction
With the Company’s sights set firmly on HERRICK 15, this years contribution for the Eagle provides an
ideal opportunity to
collective training events in Thetford and Salisbury Plain. A young Company has met
have a look back on an busy and demanding year. The Company has provided itself
the Coy looks forward to Afghanistan with confidence and high spirits
those challenges head on with enthusiasm
and professionalism, and they can rightly be proud, as I am, of what has been achieved. Some have also found time for sport, with LCpl Clements performing
have changed, and we have welcomed
in over 40 soldiers over the past year
into the Coy. They have embraced the Skirmisher spirit, and the Coy looks forward to Afghanistan with confidence and high spirits.
to be an agile and
adaptable force in
meeting the challenges
of Ex ASKARI THUNDER, through the initial stages of Mission Specific Training (MST) and an ORBAT change to the final
well in the Inter Coy boxing, and Cpl Katia continuing to perform sterling work with the Bn Rugby Team. As ever, the personalities
THE MERCIAN EAGLE