Page 39 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

2 Merc SPS Det Belfast Marathon Relay Team
by Brigade was near, so all hands were on deck.
The Pre-Deployment Health Check inspection went extremely well and with
a boost of confidence in the G1 staff, the Detachment could move forward with preparations for the FTX. This was to be the final exercise prior to the Battalion deploying on operations, therefore everything had to be in place, and carried out precisely. Wishful thinking! Needless to say, despite a few hiccups here and there, the battalion arrived on the FTX without
a hitch. The RAO, FSA and Coy CHRS deployed on the FTX to provide G1 support; simulating the model on operations. However, this can prove difficult, as the
G1 support cell is provided in a completely different environment. The problems found by the RAO and FSA were the dreaded personnel reports; ensuring they were accurate and up to date. This information was vital for the Rear Operations Group to start preparing the recovery phase of the troops back to Palace Barracks.
With luck on our side, everyone made it back safely from the Final Training Exercise. Time is short, and deployment is near; nearer than one first expected. However as they say, ‘fail to prepare and prepare to fail’. The Detachment is working doubly hard to ensure the Battalion is good-to-go in a few weeks.
2010/11 has been a particularly busy period for the 2 MERCIAN AGC(SPS) Detachment, particularly as Op HERRICK
is on the horizon. It will inevitably be a long and arduous tour, both for the forward element and Rear Operations Group. The Det Comd will be split touring with the RAO, taking the helm initially as RAO rear; which will be a testing time for someone who has never been involved with operations before. The RAO will initially deploy forward,
to impart his years of experience and knowledge, to ensure the G1 element within BG Main is established correctly and in a timely manner. The CHRS both forward and rear, are the linchpins to successful
G1 readiness. The guys and girls are continually putting in the extra hours, which will pay dividends. The Detachment ethos for this tour is ‘All In, Forward and Rear.’ Another year, another step forward.
Stand FIRM, Strike Hard
both man and machine to upgrade and re- train.
The Signaller of today has a vastly different skill set to his predecessor
CIS Platoon
By WO2 (RSWO) M Saunders.
It would be fair to say that the last year has been exceptionally busy for the CIS Platoon, as well as preparing for a fourth Operational tour to Afghanistan the Platoon has exercised in Kenya and been put through its paces at the Combined Arms Staff Trainer in the UK and Germany. In addition to the preparation and execution of exercises, the Platoon has also converted to BCIP 5.4. This
will mean very little to most people; so in basic, the Bowman Radio system underwent a radical
upgrade requiring
WO2 (now WO1) Dean Booker has moved on to Blandford where he now sits on the team that is responsible for the future implementation of equipment including Bowman. His expert guidance and knowledge will be missed and the success of the Platoon’s conversion to BCIP 5.4 was almost solely to his credit.
RSO Capt J Paulin RSWO WO2 Saunders CQMS CSgt C Pointon
His big shoes have
been filled by WO2 Saunders who has stepped up from CIS Platoon CQMS. CSgt Pointon has returned to us from a very successful posting
to 19 Brigade HQ and has taken over the CIS stores, a job
The manning of
the Platoon has
also undergone a
rapid transformation
with several “old faces” moving on and many new faces joining and having to produce the goods in short order. As well as integral CIS Platoon assets, we now have a permanent “Intimate Support Team (IST)”. These five individuals are trawled from the Royal Signals and serve two years with Infantry units. They have already proved themselves invaluable and have provided a high
ideally suited to someone with his keen eye for detail. We also have Sgt Gilmour posted to Warminster as an instructor and Cpl Castledine posted to the Army Foundation College at Harrogate. Ptes Risi, Evans, Dawkes and Spencer have left the Army and we wish them well.
With another tour looming, our focus has for some time been operations. We have had to
learn a plethora of new systems and make changes to the way we conduct our business. The Signaller of today has a vastly different
skill set to his predecessor and must be able to rapidly assimilate and execute his mission on a wide array of sometimes very technical equipment. The exercise to Kenya in particular, re-enforced in the minds of many non-CIS personnel the vital support that the various individuals and Signals Detachments give, or as we say “No Comms, No Bombs”.
CIS Pl working hard in the shadow of Mount Kenya
level of specialist knowledge.
It is only right that
we mention a few of
the individuals who
have departed the
Platoon, some on
to bigger and better things and some to quieter times in Civilian Street. First of all we have a new RSO, Captain Paulin, who joined us after a very active Op HERRICK 10 tour with B Coy. The previous incumbent Capt (now Maj) Charleswoth left us for a stint as Adjt and has now moved on to the Intermediate Command and Staff Course. The previous RSWO,
...or as we say
“No Comms, No Bombs”
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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