Page 47 - Mercian Eagle 2016

search and introducing the Ugandan Army to fighting in urban areas. They were keen in gaining more knowledge and were very enthusiastic during every task. Bearing in mind, these soldiers were selected by their respective units after being identified as potential quality instructors. They had a basic understanding of how to operate as a unit but were lacking the overall professional knowledge which, if not corrected, could have let AS gain the upper hand. The second week of training involved in teach
back lesson where we confirmed their ability to reproduce the lessons we had taught them. The trainees were good at delivering lessons using their native language and conducted a good Battle Exercise at the end.
All training was conducted in arduous conditions that tested not only the trainees but the trainers as well. Captain Nicholls gathered the team every evening to discuss the day’s events and ensure everything
was set for the following day. Of course,
the team got to enjoy a well-earned bottle of Nile (local beer) around the fire pit, whilst enjoyiing the bright stars and clear night skies.
Overall, the STTT was both rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable not only for the UPDF but also to the British Army. It was an eye opener for some of the younger members of the team as to what is involved in an STTT. I don’t think many of the team would avoid a similar deployment in the future!
MACHINE GUN PLATOON 2015/16 Cpl Costa
It has been a frantic year for the Machine Gun Platoon of KOHIMA Company. Following the successful Annual Machine Gun Cadre held in Sennybridge last year, the Platoon was in great shape just in time to deploy to Kenya for Exercise ASKARI STORM. It needed to be; six weeks of hard graft carrying SF kit along some of Kenya’s significant high features to support light role troops was incredibly testing. It was also the first time the Platoon had worked together since the Regimental amalgamation which added complexity but also allowed us to learn from each other, share best practice and formalise SOPs. At the end of the exercise, the troops enjoyed a much needed week of R’n’R and Adventure Training at Savage Wilderness in Sagana, soldiers enjoyed activities such as mountain biking, canoeing and white water rafting.
After returning to the UK the year
was coming to a close and the normal
post Exercise ASKARI STORM admin commenced. Morale was high as Christmas leave was looming and everyone was set for a well-earned three week break. Christmas Week was full of the usual enjoyable
and raucous festivities and the Platoon departed for leave in good order, despite the sore heads! Troops returned in January motivated and surprisingly still in good
knick for the upcoming commitments. The Battalion’s forecast for the year looked a busy one, largely as a result of being tasked
Cpl Webster briefs members of the Machine Gun
Platoon whilst deployed
on Ex ASKARI STORM
as the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). Initially it was normal jogging in camp followed by the completion of all mandatory training and range packages all of which prepared us for a multi-national exercise called Operation ANAKONDA in Zagon, Poland. The exercise was run in May through to June 2016.
Operation ANAKONDA comprised of a number of different exercise stages. Firstly; a show and tell week, where different nations showed off their equipment, tactics and procedures. This was followed by a period of combined training and working together. This section of training culminated in a Joint Task Force attack onto a village led by a different nation. The next phase was Company led training based on what the OC wanted to achieve within the time, space and resources available. This was followed by a Combat Logistics Patrol (CLP) phase where the combined forces moved together to a different base ahead of the final phase, to close out Exercise Anaconda. The soldiers enjoyed a day out in Auschwitz just prior to the final phase of the exercise, where they visited and learned about the Nazis and POWs. They were exposed to how individuals were treated during the war and also saw living conditions that made even their current accommodation look like a palace!
The Battalion returned to The Dale Barracks just in time for the Battle of the
MG Pl night firing in the SF role
Somme 100th Anniversary. Rehearsals were conducted in camp followed by a parade through Chester to commemorate the Battle of Somme. A proud moment for all the soldiers and a time to reflect on a scale of warfare far removed from where we are now. After this the Machine
Gun Platoon was dragged in all different directions, including RAAT tasks
and Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE in Cornwall.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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