Page 70 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

OC
2IC CSM SPSI
Pl Comd Pl Comd
Capt Chris Massingham Capt Mark Polgalse WO2 Michael Hancock WO2 Bobby Gardner 2Lt Lloyd Watts
2Lt Peter Cornell
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company is very grateful). With this funding we were able to carry out water skiing, wind surfing, kayaking and we also managed to squeeze in the mandatory BBQ.
This year we have had visits from the following: Brigadier Banham MBE (Comd 143 Brigade), Brigadier Bell TD and Brigadier JAJ Thomson OBE TD (Our Honorary Colonel). The Company also had the pleasure to host Mr Derek Twigg MP who took the time to meet and speak with our deployed HERRICK families. He took the time to listen to the families concerns and tried to answer as many questions
as possible. My thoughts at first were that B Company must be doing well to be honoured by so many high profile guests, however on reflection I think it had more to do with Cpl Alan McCurry’s food.
In August, 4 MERCIAN provided a display at Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. This was a fire power demonstration
which combined aviation and land based assets. WO2 Henry took the lead on this one. His skilled planning and conduct of the demonstration showed the depth, knowledge and expertise that we are
very lucky to have working with us. CSgt Clapperton and his team provide the G4 support which was excellent.
WO2 Phillips heads the Company’s recruiting team (RRTT) and is assisted by Cpl Mason who is the ADC full time recruiter. The Recruit Retention and
C Company
by Capt Chris Massingham
The last year has seen many changes in C Company. It started with the annual camp and preparation for those deploying on HERRICK 14. Based at Thetford, it was a camp of ranges and fitness during the first week followed by an OPTAG based exercise in the second.
It was all hands to the pumps for the ranges to ensure those deploying gained
training team (RRTT) are meeting the challenges for recruitment for HERRICK 17 and B Company is expected to fulfil its commitment. With the announcement of the up scaling of the Territorial Army, the Company is committing
itself to recruiting and
retaining up to 50 new
riflemen over the next 3
years.
and enhance the individual’s collective skills and focus on the demands of hybrid warfare.
The Mortar PSI is C/Sgt Crump (1 MERCIAN). At present my Mortar Platoon
Lt John Roberts the
4 Platoon Commander
and Sergeant Gregory
deployed to HERRICK
14 (also to camp
Bastion) which left
Sgt Musiol to take up the challenge of commanding the platoon and its training. Also deployed from 4 Platoon are; Ptes Birchall, Burkett, Peterson and Kirby.
5 (Recruit) Platoon is a new concept to the Company; this Platoon holds all our
new recruits and recruits who have passed CIC. My aim is to produce a complete new Platoon in order to meet our commitment for Herrick 17. The task for this regeneration is with Sgt Maher who is currently deployed on Op TOSCA in Cyprus. Cpl Wood who was deployed on HERRICK 10, under
the eye of Captain Wignall will roll out our recruiting plan until Sgt Maher’s return. Sgt Maher and Cpl Wood are tasked to develop the new recruits using the Workplace Training Statement (WTS). They will maintain
the maximum benefit and the CSM ‘Micky’ Hancock and CSgt ‘Simo’ Simcox found their youth again getting back to basics and playing riflemen in sections. The CSM was quick to point out it was the most fun he has had in years and he was still ‘quicker on his feet than all these young uns’.
The second week moved into the FTX phase, which had been planned by the OC
The company will move forward in 2012 with its main aims being Recruitment and Retention
is commanded by WO2 Jones who is
a very experienced Mortar Warrant Officer and his 2IC is Sgt Harrison. WO2 Jones and Sgt Harrison are committed to ensuring the platoon succeeds not only with the Mortar concentration which
took place in September 2011, but that Mortar men from the platoon deploy on future Herrick deployments. The following Mortar men deployed on HERRICK 14, Ptes Capper, Lewis, McEwen and Mounkley.
Cpl Dickinson who is a qualified Mortar Fire Controller is deployed on Op TOSCA and Pte Clare is deployed on a FTRS posting.
The company will move forward in 2012 with its main aims being Recruitment and Retention. We will recruit strongly and focus on the recruitment surge to ensure that we generate the maximum inflow into the TA recruiting and training pipeline, which will continue to evolve over the coming years. Our focus must be on recruiting Officers and Riflemen in order that the Company can meet the future needs of the modern Army.
(Maj Keith Spiers) assisted by Sgt Steve Mee. With the Afghan villages at premium, Maj ‘Del Boy’ Spiers started dealing with
the RAF Regiment to negotiate time and space on the training real estate. He even managed to strike a deal for a Chinook to lift the exercising company for the small price of a little part of the village. Not content with his work he set up stall during the exercise to acquire another Chinook for a night lift, ‘lovely jubbly’.
2Lt Watts found himself in at the deep end commanding one of the exercising platoons. Not long out of Sandhurst he got on with the task of training his new platoon and delivered some good results during this demanding exercise. This included trying to control the Padre in full role playing mode as a villager trying to hand him some UXO and refusing to do as he was told.
As the camp drew to a close, the selection of individuals for the forthcoming operational tour was more clear. C Coy had 6 set for deployment, unfortunately due to an injury this dropped to 5, CSgt Walker, Ptes Buckley, Collins, Haddon and Wright.
2Lt Watts dealing with the locals in STANTA
THE MERCIAN EAGLE