Page 68 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Foreword
By the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Dominic Wilford
The past year has seen the 4th Battalion maintaining its focus on Operations, mobilising a total of 59 men for Op HERRICK 14 in the autumn of 2010. The majority of these men took up posts in the 3rd Battalion, however a number went further a field; with men serving with the Scots Dragoon Guards, 4 SCOTS and 1 RIFLES. We were also successful in ‘running’ 2 of our SNCOs against their regular counterparts for posts in the Officer Training Academy in Kabul; both CSgt Bywater (F Coy) and Sgt Smith (D Coy) have acquitted themselves extremely well. Our soldiers are beginning to return as I type and the reports from all hosting units have been good – the men of 4 MERCIAN continue to be a constant source of pride.
Other than a few individuals from the Battalion joining 2 MERCIAN for the winter, we have
not been formally tasked to deliver anyone to Afghanistan until HERRICK 17 (winter 2012), this has meant that much of 2011 has been spent ‘re-skilling’ the Battalion in order that we remain
fit to deliver correctly trained men for future operations. Our good fortune on the training front was further enhanced by an ‘add-back’ of money from HQ Land Forces, which allowed us the funds to undertake the re-skilling in the most effective manner.
will be able to find work across the Mercian region. The foundations are being laid in the
West Midlands through the establishment of a number of ‘strategic partnerships’ with large employers and influential members of the business community. There are myriad benefits which we will achieve through the Network. Beside assisting our former soldiers with employment, the Network will provide unprecedented access to businesses that could provided recruits for both the TA and Regular battalions, it will also allow us to raise
On the training front we have switched fire
on to a number of targets that have not had the Battalion’s attention for some time. In particular junior officer training has been enhanced to
better prepare our Platoon
Commanders for the
rigours of operations. We
also had a concern that
with an increasing lack of
operational experience
among the subalterns, it
was incumbent upon the
battalion to deliver the type of
training that would enhance
their credibility with their
men. The training we have
delivered has been arduous
and highly demanding. We
have expected our junior
officers to deliver both
mentally and physically; I can say with a degree
of pride, that they have risen to all that has been set before them. More broadly the battalion has been reinforcing the Regiment’s links with the wider community. We have been privileged to receive a number freedoms on the Regiment’s behalf; namely South Derbyshire, Bromsgrove and Wychavon. With a little good fortune, the 2nd Battalion will be able to exercise the Regiment’s Freedoms of those districts and boroughs on their return from HERRICK 15.
The battalion has also been at the forefront of the development of the Mercian Network. Once established, the network will support the soldiers of all 4 battalions as they finish their Colour Service. Through the Network ex-Servicemen
our profile and market the Regiment on a scale that we have hitherto been unable to achieve. There is still much to do in developing the Network, but the initial signs are very positive; a close working relationship with the Regiment is highly prized among the civilian community of the Mercian Region.
I would like to finish on a number of pieces of good news. In the New Year’s Honours List Capt Keith Mahoney was appointed
MBE, this was followed by Maj Carter’s MBE
on the Queen’s Birthday List. Maj Carter was also selected to succeed me as Commanding Officer from March 2013. The next 12 months are shaping up to be as busy as the last. We will shortly begin the process of selecting volunteers for Op HERRICK 17 and thereafter 19 and 20. The culture of volunteering for operations and supporting the Regular Army is alive and well in 4 Mercian; I have no doubt that we will continue to provided the largest number reservists to operations from across the TA Infantry.
We have expected our junior officers to deliver both mentally and physically; I can say with a degree of pride, that they have risen to all that has been set before them
4MERCIAN