Page 62 - Mercian Eagle 2016

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Med Centre/RAP
Ex BRILLIANT JUMP II and Ex ANAKONDA saw the 2 MERCIAN Regimental Aid Post (RAP) deploy to Poland alongside a medical troop from 3 Medical Regiment in support
of the Battlegroup. Medical planning and preparation for any new deployment to an unfamiliar location always provides a number of challenges for the RAP and this was no exception. After reconnaissance to look at the local infrastructure and environmental health risks and implications, the RAP
had a busy pre-deployment period with vaccinations to give, and medicals, grading reviews and risk assessments to do, all to ensure a safe deployment for the Battalion.
Preparations for working with 3 Medical Regiment started many months in advance too, with soldiers from the medical troop coming to the medical centre in Chester to complete clinical placements to improve their clinical experience in primary care and to work alongside the RAP team.
Whilst on the exercise medics from the battalion and the Medical Regiment worked together in pairs to give integrated support to the forward Infantry Companies. Junior medics were paired with more experienced Junior NCOs to mentor them and give the benefits of their experience. Two RAPs were established, with each seeing a steady stream of minor illnesses and injuries,
but thankfully no major casualties. Some patients required further treatment at the local Polish hospitals, where the cultural and language barriers provided a new challenge, or evacuation back to the UK.
Quiet periods of the exercise provided little time for rest for the RAP; with
Medics from 2 MERCIAN, 3 MED REGT and the Canadian Army Medical Services working together in Poland
...where the cultural and language barriers provided a new challenge...
the Regimental Boxing season fast approaching, over 86 boxing medicals were conducted in the field, allowing for boxing training and bouts to start promptly on return to the UK. In addition, the medical teams conducted clinical training, physical training and practiced casualty evacuation procedures. A few of the medics were also able to take part in cultural visits during
the exercise, including to Stalag Luft III,
the PoW camp made famous by The
Great Escape; to the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp and to Poznan Fortress that was used both as a concentration camp and a Nazi stronghold.
A significant training benefit from the multinational exercise was the opportunity to train with and work alongside our
NATO allies and work towards increasing interoperability. The medics were able to meet their Polish, Spanish and American counterparts, share ideas and look at each other’s ambulances and medical kit. We worked particularly closely with the medics of the Canadian Army Medical Services and a number of British and Canadian medics conducted exchange days. These valuable opportunities allowed us to compare and contrast working practices and equipment and to consider how we might better integrate and work together in future. The Canadian medics, who were just coming to the end of their six month Op REASSURE deployment to Europe, also hosted us for
a barbecue as the exercise was coming to an end. I think that we can all agree that the Canadians are friendly and hospitable allies to work alongside!
Adventure Training & Sport
Boxing
After the recent departure of both Maj Charlesworth (OIC Boxing) and A/
SSgt Corkhill (RAPTC) a volunteer was required to run with this years 2 MERCIAN Inter Company Boxing event; step forward Maj Moynihan (OC HQ Coy).
Boxing within 2 MERCIAN has a long and honourable tradition. It represents, in
Lightweight Bout versus Red Pte Smith B Coy and Blue Pte Atherton A Coy
tangible form, many of the values that we regard as so important and reflects our Warrior
Ethos as Infantrymen:
‘We exist and train to fight, we always train to fight, we always fight to win’.
‘Any fool can fight, but few can box’, is an old saying of the boxing ring which
Welterweight-Bout-Blue Cpl Neale HQ lands a cracker on Red Pte Burden C Coy
remains as true today as when it was first heard in the early 1900s.
There are few sports that demand the levels of courage, discipline, fitness and commitment that are required in a boxer. Six minutes in the boxing ring can seem like an eternity when it entails the most intense physical activity between opponents equally
Welterweight-Bout-Blue LCpl Winstanley HQ versus Red Pte Bertram B Coy
THE MERCIAN EAGLE