Page 40 - Wish Stream Year of 2017

researched the event prior to deployment. Stand one focused on the insertion of 1st Airborne Divi- sion and the conduct of their Reconnaissance Squadron. It was at this stand that we began to appreciate the gravity of the task faced by the young Platoon Commanders, and how they had to rapidly
reassess their plans after they arrived at the drop zone with a surprisingly high success rate. At stand two, Officer Cadets conducted an esti- mate to ambush the aforementioned Reconnais- sance Squadron. Presentations of each groups’ estimate, along with the extremely useful view- point of Lt Col (Retd) McCutcheon, stimulated debates on what the most effective course of action would have been. Many of the group felt that, by the end of the estimate and discussion, they had begun to grasp how you must fully take into account what the enemy will be attempting to do and how you can combat against this.
Stand three saw Officer Cadets presented with the task of conducting an estimate for a hasty attack on a German position at Menin Gate in order to facilitate 2 PARA’s advance on Arnhem Bridge. This stand was particularly beneficial, as very limited information was available and Officer Cadets had to depend on Brigade-level assets. Furthermore, it was humbling as we came to understand that the young Platoon Commander on the day was unsuccessful in his efforts to destroy the position and died along with most of his men. The final stand of the day was the bridge itself where we discussed 2 PARA’s attempts to hold the bridge. A common theme throughout the entire exercise was the mitigation of risk and this was particularly pertinent at the bridge. As we were challenged to decide whether a landing closer to the bridge could have been used, the need to weigh up risk and sometimes mitigate against this was clear to us all. Following the final stand of the day, 21 Platoon explored the city of
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