Page 35 - Mercian Eagle 2016

from the OC, I led 2 Platoon through a demanding advance to contact range which tested every man. By this point, any cobwebs left over from summer leave had been well and truly dusted off and the skills and drills of the platoon were very sharp.
The attack proved the value of the week and why LFTT is vital training for all ranks.
The week was hailed as a great success with all training objectives being met and
all troops having enjoyed their time in Sennybridge. It was also a great opportunity for me to see A (Grenadier) ‘Champion’
Company and in particular 2 Platoon in action and for them to demonstrate their considerable skills.
All that was left to do was to board the coaches and head back to Chester for tea and medals!
Ex ASKARI THUNDER LCpl Macklin – 2 Platoon, A (Grenadier) ‘Champion’ Company, 2 MERCIAN
The latter end of 2015 saw the battalion deployed to Kenya for Exercise ASKARI THUNDER. Once we had arrived,
the Company spent the first 10 days rehearsing their low-level skills and drills
on the ‘Warrior’ phase of the exercise. The training took us right back to basics and we had lessons both by day and night. Eventually we progressed into Platoon operations and the culmination of this phase of our time in Kenya was to conduct a Company level deliberate attack. The biggest difficulty during the ‘Warrior’ phase was getting used to the heat and operating at altitude. Once we had completed
this phase though, we had sufficiently acclimatised and were better able to cope with the demands of the rest of the exercise.
We then progressed onto the ‘Centurion’ phase in Archers Post, an area known for its extreme heat. Here we were to conducted
a number of vigorous training serials such as a series of live Company advance to contacts and a FIBUA phase. Again, this was physically demanding due to the nature of the training and the extreme heat and altitude. The Company performed very well and we were able to successfully build upon the training we had received previously whilst in Kenya.
This was also a useful opportunity for the private soldiers to appreciate their role...
The enemy are covering their tracks well!
On completing ‘Centurion’, the Company entered the last phase of ASKARI THUNDER. This was known as ‘Spartan’ and was where we could demonstrate
what we had learnt on previous phases. This phase consisted of a Battle Group exercise and would be used to test how
the Company works within the Battle
Group context. As expected, A (Grenadier) ‘Champion’ Company performed fantastically well and cemented their reputation within the battalion. This was also a useful opportunity for the private soldiers
to appreciate their role not just within the Platoon but also within the wider Company and Battle Group picture.
After an arduous four week exercise,
the Company took advantage of some much needed Rest & Recuperation. Whilst on adventurous training, soldiers from the company took part in activities ranging from white water rafting to mountain biking. This was a brilliant end to what had been
a demanding but very memorable and successful time in Kenya.
2 Platoon after Ex ASKARI STORM
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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