Page 26 - Mercian Eagle 2016

MTO
MTWO
MT SNCO/DG Consigner
White Fleet/PMC Cpl Mess
Green Fleet/TOW Coach & Puller DRV TRG NCO/CDT
Stores NCO/IC BREWS
Servicing Bay/All Things Mechanical
Capt Ryan Lavercombe
WO2 Paul Bartle
Sgt Leighton Shirton (SHIRTY) Cpl Haywood (H) (MT SNCO Des) Cpl Gareth Deans (DEANO)
Cpl Gurung (G)
Cpl Thursfield (FFD)
Pte Barnard (BARNY)
24
Det Comd 2Lt Bennett RAWO WO2 Girling
MT PLATOON UPDATE
At the time of writing this article, I have been in the ‘hot seat’ exactly two months. The majority of the Battalion, including most
of the MT Platoon, is away in Sunny West Wales on Gun Camp. Since taking over the Platoon from Captain Dickie Page (now the UWO), I have had the pleasure of dealing with most things you would, or would not, expect the MTO to do. Every day is most definitely a new but an enjoyable challenge!
Looking back over the last year or so, the platoon, like everyone, has been extremely busy. This time last year the majority of
the platoon were ready to deploy onto the Alberta Prairie to participate in Ex PRAIRIE STORM 3, the first major Armoured Infantry exercise the newly formed Battalion had completed. The new and old members of the platoon were employed in a number
of varied roles including driving command Warriors, logistic Panthers, troop & equipment carrying
SVs and the less sexy
or Op ESCALIN. This meant a very dry Christmas for all, watching family and friends welcoming 2016, through sober eyes. As they say ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ – with Op TEMPERER a distant memory the next look forward was to the inspection teams arriving at Picton ready for the ECI & LSI. The Battalion, and indeed the platoon, did extremely well with ‘GREEN’ across the board and with a number of ‘best practices’ shared amongst the other MT platoons and departments within 1
MISSION 1 at CSTTX had begun. A small team and I, spent most of the day either moving icons on a computer or moving rooms due to water tank malfunction. That said, and with only minor electric-shock burns, the A1 cell notionally supported the Battle group’s success as they went on and passed all their set missions with flying colours.
The fight continues and never stops
for the MT, like all departments within
HQ Company. The platoon is ever revolving, and over the past year, we have said farewells to the follow:
Capt Dickie Page, all the very best of luck as the UWO, you will need it!
Sgt Shirton, posted to LWC support team as welfare SNCO.
Cpl Gurung, posted to LWC MT Department.
Cpl Thursfield, promoted and posted to Chicksands as stores NCO.
LCpl Ijam, intercompany move to C Coy stores.
LCpl Kaucha, intercompany move to A Coy stores.
Pte Morris, posted RST Lichfield.
Pte Tamang, leaving the Army after 22 years’ service.
Pte Nyathi, leaving the Army.
Pte Kibagendi, leaving the Army.
Pte Smith 25, leaving the Army.
I wish you all the very best for the next
chapters in your lives.
regularly represented the AGC at cricket and SSgt Lee and LCpl Ward have not only represented the Corps but also the Army
at football, a truly fantastic achievement. The Det entered teams in both the AGC cross country championship and the annual Triple Crown Challenge, finishing in very respectable positions considering the very limited opportunities to train. Some of the Det managed to get away on Ex White Lion (AGC Ski trip) in February this year and numerous other Det days out have been organised, notably a trip to London and a day at HMS Havoc, a team building, fun day for all.
and slow moving USTs. All members played
a vital role ensuring
the Battlegroup was fully functional and
Looking back over the last year or so, the platoon, like everyone, has been extremely busy.
Armoured Infantry Brigade. While the green ink was still drying on the final inspection report, many of the platoon members were able to get away and catch up on some well- earned leave, others prepared for Ex LION STRIKE.
able to achieve their
set missions. One of
the main ‘perks’ of
BATUS is the extra
pay allowances which all the MT wives
and girlfriends really enjoyed spending on behalf of their soldiers during the lead up to Christmas! A small contingent of the platoon (as always) remained in Bulford providing transport for the ROG. These men also worked their socks off, always providing a first class service and painfully preparing for the dreaded ECI & LSI.
All this happened whilst I was away getting qualified in the black art of ‘driver hours’ on the MTO’s course at Leconsfield. The MTWO has always stepped up to the plate, running A1 Echelon like a well-oiled crankshaft for the duration of each exercise. The rest of the platoon, in most cases, jumped into different platforms from what they drove in BATUS and did an utterly professional job – as one would expect!
As ENDEX was called and the final vehicle was through the wash-down, STARTEX for
...finishing in very respectable positions considering the very limited opportunities to train.
Det have deployed on Ex LION STIRKE
on SPTA, CSTTX at Warminster, the Bn Gunnery Camp at Castle Martin and short term deployments to Ukraine. Despite the hectic schedule, we have managed to find time for some sport and adventure training. Cpl Steneberg and Pte Cornelius have
Prior to, during and post-Christmas 2015, all member of the MT were involved in one way or another with either Op TEMPERER
RAO’s Department Update
The past twelve months has seen vast adjustments to the AGC (SPS) personalities and manning at 1 MERCIAN. The roles
of RAO, Det Comd, RAWO, FSA and
Sys Coord have all seen change and the manning within the Coy’s is no different with many new faces posted in and Pte Blair and Cpl Stevens both going on and returning from maternity leave. Promotions have
also featured heavily in the changes to the Det. The last year has seen Sgt Palin, Cpl Stevens, Cpl Langley, LCpl Ward and LCpl Richards all deservedly promote.
The Det has continued to support the Bn through it’s particularly busy schedule. I arrived just after Easter and even in the few short months since, members of the
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