Page 9 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

with reinforcement from 53A. PB Chakaw would be handed over to the USMC and so it was decided to bolster that location. Meanwhile, a composite multiple headed up by Capt Powell took over PB Mahboob, a 40 Commando Patrol Base on the edge of the green zone. Located in a very different area to Wishtan, this presented new challenges to the men working there. This area of Sangin is
over an hour, and was one of the heaviest the Company had seen – indicative of how the Insurgent was desperate to ruin the election process and score a victory on
this symbolic day. A Company’s courage, determination and resilience ensured that he did not. The day after, the 19th September, A Company withdrew from Wishtan. This place symbolised the past 4 years of British
This has given the Coy a fresh new look, however, all are mindful to learn the hard fought lessons learnt by their predecessors. Extensive driver training has already begun. Adventure Training in North Wales and Cornwall was fitted in. Training in control and restraint techniques in order to support the Ministry of Justice, and basic low level skills training have been the focus, and has seen the Coy get itself to a solid start-state. 3 Platoon have continued to show the rest of the Battalion how good the Goats are by winning the March and Shoot competition in Otterburn to be named “Earl of Chester’s Platoon.”
So, what next? After summer leave,
the Company will move into a period of extensive range packages and exercises in an effort to build up to the training standard required before we head to Kenya in January. Ex ASKARI THUNDER will prove invaluable for A Company as an opportunity to test and develop its skills, and lay the foundations for success during the Mission Specific Training in 2012.
Overall, A Company has had a hard year. Some familiar faces have come and gone, and we have had friends killed and injured. However, throughout all of this has been the spirit and determination of the Wishtan Goats to hold each other together and to overcome any challenge. We have Stood Firm, and Struck Hard, and A Company will continue to do so in the future.
far more kinetic and
far more exposed to insurgent action, the vegetation providing cover for IED teams and gunmen close up to ISAF locations.
In August, the
patrolling rate in
Wishtan slowed down
as the focus shifted
towards maintaining
a footprint, but also
ensuring that those
places that would be
handed over - PBs Usman and Chakaw - would be done so with as stable a security situation as possible. Hades 51 and 52 maintained patrols and security in Wishtan, with Lt Sugden’s multiple in particular carrying out numerous IRG runs to facilitate in the closedown of both FOB Wishtan and other 40 Commando locations. August
also saw Ramadan, where kinetic activity reduced throughout the day – a welcome break. However, this did not mean a cessation of Insurgent activity. Following a three-day sandstorm, Cpl Kentgens’ vehicle was struck by a massive IED resulting in
5 casualties. This did not, however, stop the process of the handover, and at the
end of the month a Platoon from Weapons Coy 3/7 Marines took over PB Chakaw. Meanwhile, 1 Platoon and often 4 Pl continued to run the gauntlet on the 611, carrying out numerous runs to remove key equipment and stores from FOBs Wishtan and Jackson. At the end of the month,
PB Mahboob was handed back over to 40 Commando, and the majority of 3 Platoon were brought back to Wishtan, having spent a week conducting supporting operations for a 40 Commando operation North-East of Sangin.
September saw the focus shift primarily to conducting a secure and efficient withdrawal from Wishtan. The OC’s
focus was very much on maintaining a presence of normality so as to deceive
the Insurgents as to our intent – a difficult task when effectively demolishing a FOB! However, patrolling continued despite the frantic G4 process. One key event put
the close-down on hold; the Election Day across Helmand Province. A day key in determining the path Helmand would take over the next few years. Some level of Insurgent activity was expected and A Coy was not disappointed. 4 and 3 Platoon were at PB Usman when the Insurgents decided to engage the Patrol Base from numerous locations. The contact lasted for
presence in Sangin, and as Company Tac and the last patrol moved down Pharmacy Road, with FOB Wishtan and then Pharmacy Road Check Point having their Sangars blown
up, there was a sense of closure on a difficult tour but also a sense of profound meaning, an understanding of the blood and sweat that had been shed
to secure that place, known as “the Devils Playground”.
A Coy spent the rest of the month recovering back to Camp Bastion, with the last of its vehicles pulling out of Sangin by convoy and completing the long drive back to the Desert headquarters of British forces in Helmand. The Company continued to work hard and ensured it pulled out of Afghanistan in good order. A stop off in Kandahar, with one last parting shot from the Taliban through a rocket attack, and then Decompression in Cyprus were the last phases. Decompression has evolved over the years, and the process of beach relaxation, lectures, barbeque and drinks (in moderation) works – it gives men the opportunity to properly unwind, talk about issues and get things off their chest before returning home to family life.
Upon our return, A Company took part in a series of freedom parades, events that reminded us just how much support there is amongst the British Public for the Armed Forces, and
The OC’s focus was very much on maintaining a presence of normality so as to deceive the Insurgents as to our intent – a difficult task when effectively demolishing a FOB!
within the County, for the Battalion. Some well earned leave was taken up until Christmas week, where a more than usual enthusiastic Christmas Lunch was enjoyed by those eating – and throwing! – the food.
The Company continued to work hard and ensured it pulled out of Afghanistan in good order
Since Christmas, A Coy has focused on re-training and redeveloping. Having lost a number of senior soldiers to Support Company, the Company has had an influx of new blood, a new CSM (WO2 Peckitt), three new Platoon Commanders (Lt Jack Brierly, Lt James Trehane and Lt Jonny Davies), three new Platoon Sergeants (Sgt Jessop, Sgt Fowles and Sgt Barry), and most recently a new OC, Major Darren Hughes and new CQMS CSgt Whitmore). Promotion has however seen the Coy retain Steve Rice who is now the Coy 2IC.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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