Page 85 - Mercian Eagle 2016

BUOTC Update
‘Prince of Wales Division Infantry Section 2IC Selection Cadre – October 2016’
2LT Breen and Palmer, BUOTC
While on our Annual Deployment Exercise (ADX) in North Wales our RSM (WO1 Mark Cooke) presented myself and 2Lt Palmer with an exciting opportunity; the chance to act as Mentors and lead a platoon of regular infantry soldiers on their Infantry Section
2IC Cadre at Otterburn training area. With our experience of the military restricted to Birmingham UOTC this presented us with an incredible experience as we are both planning to transition into the Regular Army.
In our first week, the exercising troops were focused on completing the studies
to gain their CLM qualification. There
were a number of physical assessments thrown in including an ‘8 miler’ with a route commonly referred to as “cheeky”. It soon became clear that navigation skills would be a key component of the training syllabus. Beginning with a section-level familiarisation exercise, the cadre would progress through pairs day and night exercises, culminating
...this presented us with an incredible experience ...
in a formative individual day and night exercise. This week provided us the perfect opportunity to find our feet within the training team and get to know the soldiers. The Platoon Sergeants introduced us to the back-room workings of a platoon and various tasks kept us busy.
Week 2 consisted of the first field exercise; Attack Week. Over this week
the soldiers were put through their paces through section attack lanes. They alternated through command appointments of section commander and section 2IC, and filling the post of rifleman or LMG
gunner. This fast-paced exercise culminated in a platoon advance-to-contact; our
first chance of the course to have direct command of the platoon in the field and lead them through the attack. For the section commanders, this meant the added dynamic of working in conjunction with the other section commanders and the platoon commander. This enabled the section
2ICs to gain a greater understanding of their role, as they were responsible for the section during the Platoon Commander’s Quick Battle Orders (QBOs). 1 Platoon crossed the line of departure at 0900hrs and, after an unexpected obstacle course of wire fences, was contacted as the point section emerged from a ravine. Once appropriate fire was directed onto the enemy position, the 2IC took over whilst the section commander withdrew to the platoon commander. He conducted a battle estimate, provided a sketch map
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
ITC Update
An introduction to the Combat Infantryman’s Course 2016 (CIC16)
This year has seen some big changes at
the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick. A fall in recruiting has called for training teams to be ‘Battle-Grouped’ – MERCIAN instructors can now be found not only training recruits within the Prince of Wales’ Division but also within the King’s, Queen’s, Scot’s and Rifles’ divisions. This has also coincided with the first overhaul of the Combat Infantryman’s Course (CIC) since 2012. The course (renamed CIC 16) has been redesigned
to accommodate the findings of Project OMEGA whilst also looking to reduce the number of recruits that leave the Army before the completion of their training.
The Physical Training programme has been completely revamped as part of CIC 16. Project OMEGA looked to find a way to decrease muscular skeletal injuries to recruits. By decreasing the likelihood of injury, the ITC would look to increase the number of recruits passing out of training and in turn arriving at our Battalions. A study found that the majority of recruits entering the ITC were highly prone to injury mainly due to poor flexible mobility. This, coupled with recruits completing a high amount of ‘junk miles’ in the first 9 weeks of training, was leading to injuries that could have been prevented. CIC 16 has cut almost all running from the first 9
weeks of training, with early physical activity now mainly compromising of strength & conditioning and high intensity interval training. This method allows our recruits to become robust before being fit. Although CIC 16 is in its infancy, reported muscular skeletal injuries have been reduced by 83% whilst average PFA results have seen a steady increase.
Due to the decrease in courses being
run at the ITC, a decision was made to ‘Battle-Group’ training teams. A MERCIAN instructor can now find himself instructing Price of Wales’ Division recruits alongside their colleagues from the other line divisions of the Infantry. This has decreased the administrative burden on Company HQs; previously 2 companies could be running courses concurrently but completing the same amount of work. For example, if 2 companies were deployed on exercise there is a requirement for 2 CQMS. The Battle- Grouping system removes this by mixing platoons around the division. This has given MERCIAN instructors the opportunity to show their quality outside of the Prince
of Wales Division, something they have certainly done.
CIC 16 has also looked to reduce the amount of recruits leaving the Army before they have passed out of the ITC. The legacy
outflow of recruits averaged 30%. By decreasing this figure our Battalions would be receiving more trained soldiers. A study was conducted by ARTD (the longitudinal leavers survey) to determine why recruits were leaving during the Discharge as of Right (DAOR) period. The study returned expected results from the first 5 weeks of training – recruits struggling due to lack of sleep, feeling homesick and having to wait around for no reason. CIC 16 has looked to remove these issues by resynchronising the training programme – lessons are grouped removing the necessity to waste time marching around camp and there should now be more time for administration. To alleviate homesickness, the families day in week 4 now includes a long weekend in order to allow recruits to travel home before returning to Catterick on the Monday night. To instil an esprit de corps, recruits are
now issued Regimental headdress before completing the drill test. This has allowed for the drill test to be pushed back to week 9, in turn spacing out periods of drill to aid recovery.
The introduction of CIC 16 should lead to a greater number of fit and robust soldiers arriving to MERCIAN Battalions.
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