Page 69 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

A Company
by Major Carpenter-Balmer
A Company is based in Birmingham and though part of 4 MERCIAN is Fusilier cap badged. Throughout the past year the Company has been extremely busy training and supporting operations. Of note are
the ten members of the company who deployed on Op HERRICK 14. We also had several representatives on the 4 MERCIAN shooting team who competed in the 143 Brigade Skill at Arms meet and Bisley and gave a very good account of themselves. The company also fielded the winning section at the Fusiliers Annual Camp on both the notorious ‘Fan Dance’ and in the March and Shoot competition.
The company has also developed a strong relationship with the Earl of Aylesford who granted permission for training to take place on his land at Packington Estate. The estate is 6500 acres and couldn’t be more conveniently placed; a mere 10 minutes from the TA Centre. Already the company has practised patrolling and FIWAF drills and conducted some low-level section and platoon-level exercises. The opportunity
to practise in a brand new training area right on the doorstep is excellent, and
the soldiers’ drills and skills are feeling
the benefit. As the estate is split over the M6 and joined by a footbridge, motorists
Fusiliers on Camp 2011
B Company
Training Year
B Company has had a challenging year with a lot of changes to key personalities. The Company suffered a significant loss when the PSAO left to pastures new as a civilian. This was not just a loss to the Company
in the purely work sense, but the loss of someone I considered a friend, I wish him well. Mrs Victoria Ford has taken on a
lot of the administration and to her credit kept the Company up to speed while we await our new PSAO. The Company has deployed 12 Members on HERRICK 14,
2 on Op TOSCA and 2 on FTRS postings, which shows that B Company can step up to the plate when needed. The CSM Danny
have been surprised to see patrols and on occasion have leant their support with a flurry of beeping as they pass by – a bit of a giveaway when you’re trying to covertly locate the enemy!
On St Georges Day, as the recognised Fusilier Regimental Day, the company celebrated with a dinner at the TA Centre with representatives from across the West Midlands in attendance,
‘apocalypse,’ finished the weekend off and left nobody without at least one spectacular bruise as a memento!
There have been many personnel changes this year. The previous OC, Major Carter, moved on to become the 4 MERCIAN Training Officer and the former
OC
2IC CSM
Pl Comd Pl Comd
Major Carpenter-Balmer Captain Comery
CSgt Heywood
2Lt Fadipe
2Lt Skelding
including the Commanding Officer, 4 MERCIAN, Lieutenant Colonel Wilford. It
was a superb evening enjoyed by both Fusilier and Mercian guests; who were happy to engage in some friendly inter-regimental banter!
a paintball ‘apocalypse,’ finished the weekend off and left nobody without at least one spectacular bruise as a memento!
2IC, recently promoted Major Carpenter- Balmer, stepped up
to take over. Captain Comery returned from BHQ to fill the role of 2IC and there have also been 2 new platoon commanders, 2nd Lieutenants Fadipe and Skelding. WO2 Wilkes and CSgts Kavaz and
In August the
Company took advantage of the damp summer and managed to organise some adventurous training. Mountain boarding was a new sport to A Company personnel but one that didn’t dissuade participation (or several spectacular crashes). Mountain biking in Cannock Chase followed a
similar theme with one or two unintended acrobatics and the finale, a paintball
Penney have all moved on and they take with them our thanks for their service. CSgt Heywood has now taken over as CSM
and we have also had several other role changes and promotions throughout the year. Furthermore we have recruited several new soldiers who will all get the opportunity to experience life in A Company over the following year.
Night patrol
supported and is made up of a strong team. Capt Andy Wignall remains the Company 2IC whose knowledge of the Territorial
Army Potential Officers (TAPO) system
is keeping our potential officers in check and assisting with their development. The Company currently has 4 TAPOs, which makes the Company’s officer plot very good for the future. Captain Wignall headed the Adventure training at Anglesey which was supported by RFCA funding (for which the
OC
2IC CSM SPSI
Pl Comd Pl Comd
Capt Andy Wignall WO2 Danny Johnson WO2 Matt Henry
Lt John Roberts
Johnson deployed to camp Bastion which gave the opportunity for WO2 Nigel Hunt to step in as a replacement and fill the gap until WO2 Johnson’s return.
B Company also has a new SPSI
WO2 Matt Henry (1 MERCIAN) who has recently returned from deployment to Afghanistan. He brings with him a great deal of experience and professionalism, which will assist the Company moving forward to meet the challenges of HERRICK 17 and the future restructuring of the Territorial Army. I promise I will get him to understand the B Company way.
B Company HQ is currently well
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
67