Page 22 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

20180129_New
Platoon Command Csgt Waters Platoon Sergeant Sgt White
A History of
The Princess Mary’s Hospital
Royal Air Force Akrotiri 1963 – 2013 Written by Colonel David Vassallo L/RAMC
A new 120
page paperback book about
the hospital’s history packed with intriguing photographs that raises funds for RAF Akrotiri Station Charities.
If you were posted to Cyprus you will enjoy the memories and delight browsing through the images, if you were born there you will cherish this unique keepsake. Buy it as a gift.
ISBN 978-0992798017
Available to buy online at www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk, Amazon and The Museum of Military Medicine
20
Sniper Platoon
Sniper platoon has had a very busy year which began with a basic sniper operators course which combined with soldiers from 2 MERCIAN, concentrated this key skill across both Battalions. The course was 12 weeks long, deploying to Altcar Barracks in Liverpool for the first 4 weeks to conduct a basic live firing using the .338 and 9mm.
We then moved to Stamford for another 4 weeks, where we conducted both live/dry training. We made this a challenging time while at Stamford for the exercising troops by doing navigation by day and night and various other training in some horrendous conditions. For the final exercise we moved to Sennybridge camp for the final 4 weeks. As we all know Brecon is a challenging place with its own weather system and
the time we conducted the training was
no exception. The first three weeks the instructors tested the exercising troops and conducted a fair few live stalks. The final week was the badging week, again the weather played a massive part. The troops were tested again every day until they fulfilled the required standard of a sniper. It was a very hard week for them and in the end after the 7 that started the course only 4 passed with the top student being LCpl Theron 1 MERCIAN.
After completing the basic sniper operator’s course the Platoon moved onto BATUS in April to July for PRIARIE STORM 1 and PRIARIE STORM 2. The platoon was cut down to a section of sniper OPFOR under the command of Cpl Alexis where they used quads for the duration. The remainder of the platoon got broken down into Recce Platoon and Rifle companies where they grafted as vehicle crews. The command element were trawled for the TDS (safety). As TDS (Safety) we had 2 week period, where we got to understand the job in hand, working and understanding with different cap badges and familiarising ourselves with all the different types of
AFV, tanks and any other vehicles that the Battle Group would be using on the Prairie. We also conducted Battle lessons for any accidents that might occur while in BATUS from vehicle crashes to vehicles over turning.
BATUS was a very long 4 months training 2 battle groups for readiness. The Platoon worked exceptionally hard for the duration and once completed they couldn’t wait for leave upon their return.
In September we sent LCpl Smith onto the Section Commanders Battle Course (SCBC), while others started the
Sustainable Support to Experimentation and Training (SSET) taskings. One in particular was a trials and development which Cpl Foster took in his stride. This was over a three week period where he and others trialled new and improved types of sights, achieving hits at targets out to 1300 meters.
We then moved onto Castlemartin ranges for a two week period to conduct sniper ranges and trained and practiced LCpl Cooke and LCpl Theron for the Tri-Service Sniper Competition. Unfortunately the competition did not go ahead, although it
is worth noting that the 1 MERCIAN pair achieved excellent results in the Divisional Sniper competition in March with LCpl Cooke being awarded best No2 in 3 Division. He was presented with a cup to rival the FA Cup!
In between SSET taskings we have conducted a small amount of training to carry on and refresh core sniper skills. Come 2018 we will be conducting a lot of training as a platoon and incorporate Recce within snipers which in turn will benefit patrols as a whole.
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