Page 66 - Mercian Eagle 2016

64 THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Foreword
Lieutenant Colonel LM Mulholland Commanding Officer, 4 MERCIAN
2016 sees us at the mid-point in meeting the Battalion’s strength and capability requirements to fulfil our place under Army 2020. 4 MERCIAN are forging ahead and are on track to meet and even surpass those requirements. The Battalion’s Reserve strength is currently at 93% and rising. We have 30 of our Reservists mobilised for operations on Ops TOSCA, TANGHAM
competition (Ex EAGLE CHALLENGE).
I pen this foreword as we conclude our Annual Training Exercise at Lydd and
the results of all competitions have been announced – HQ Company have just pipped B Company to first place and been awarded the Dixie Oliver Trophy as this year’s ‘Champion Company’.
Success has also been a key feature throughout the year across the Battalion. Having organised an extremely well received Regimental SAAM, our shooting teams went on to win 5 of the 6 events and took the overall win with the award of the Bowyers Cup! 1 MERCIAN have also been highly supportive through the year and brought a new dimension to our Urban Ops training at Copehill Down with WARRIOR integration for street clearance ops. On an individual level, Pte White from HQ Company was awarded the inaugural ‘Bashall Trophy’
by Commander Home Command on
and TORAL. Our pairing relationship with
2 MERCIAN goes from strength to strength. A full Reserve Company deployed in support of Ex ASKARI STORM in November 2015 and we have benefitted significantly from Regular support and mentoring in developing each of our Support Weapon Platoons. In addition, 4 MERCIAN has
one of the highest attendance rates for training across the Army Reserve. I have every confidence that, as the Army refines its requirements for the Army Reserve this autumn, we have clearly demonstrated the long term viability of
4 MERCIAN exactly
as it stands – four
well recruited Rifle
Companies with
thriving outstations
at Burton-on-Trent,
Kidderminster,
Mansfield, Stockport
and Ellesmere Port.
The Battalion has
been instrumental to the success of 42 (Infantry) Brigade’s Defence Engagement activity in East Africa. A team of 30 instructors and mentors deployed to Uganda in April supporting their final preparatory training before deployment to Somalia. Three other STTT tasks have been completed over the summer by BHQ staff in support of the Eastern Africa Standby Force to conduct Battlegroup, Force HQ and Mission HQ staff training. Following on from Capt Gaz Dixon’s excellent work as the LO to BPST (EA) in Kenya, we now have Capt Simon Black in place to carry forward that work and to assist both 2 and 4 MERCIAN in their upcoming STTT tasks in Uganda over the next 6 months.
With a strong focus on recruitment, retention and development of our soldiers we have continued to make training as relevant and inclusive as possible. The ‘Champion Company’ competition is breathing new life into events at company level leading to significantly increased attendance for training. Each company now competes for the coveted title through their performance at events
such as Bde and Regimental Operational Shooting Competitions, the COLTMAN Stretcher Race, Cambrian Patrol, G4 competition and the inter-section patrols
completion of his Armed Forces Degree for his dissertation “A Study
of the British Military Presence in Cyprus”, just before he boarded the plane to begin his tour on Op TOSCA.
4 MERCIAN has also seen a doubling of its support to the Armed
Forces Community Covenant scheme across the Midlands which has seen the addition of Burton College, Worcester Warriors, Kidderminster Harriers and Macclesfield Town FC and is forging new relationships under Civil and Employer Engagement tasks with key access to Wolverhampton and Walsall Councils, the Black Country Chambers of Commerce, liaison with the large Asian communities around Wolverhampton and Birmingham and the development of links with several large enterprise employers. The Band of the Mercian Regiment has been busier than ever, bolstered by a strong cohort of new musical talent, and continues their primary role of being the ‘face’ of the Mercian Regiment in the public eye across the five Counties. Our work here along with support to Regimental activity and our Cadet Forces across the region all helps to raise awareness and interest in the Regiment which in turn raises the numbers applying to join us, Regular and Reserve. Still not convinced? Take a look at the Mercian Regiment Facebook site for the latest round-up on what we have all been doing.
Looking forward we already have an action packed Forecast of Events. We will start the New Year under new command arrangements with 7 Infantry Brigade (The
In addition, 4 MERCIAN has one of the highest attendance rates for training across the Army Reserve.
4MERCIAN