Page 47 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

Ex Mission Impossible, A (Grenadier) Company
Sgt G Whotton
Ex Mission Impossible was a Company problem solving and team building exercise. It took place around Manchester and Liverpool and was designed to challenge A (Grenadier) Company’s effective intelligence and team building skills.
The Company was split into teams of 4
– 5, with JNCO’s acting as team captains. The details of the exercise were kept secret but the Grenadiers knew that they faced a complex and challenging day in an urban environment. Armed only with a cover note which the troops could use to gain favours from the general public, the Company left The Dale Barracks and split up to head to their relevant drop-off points.
From then on they were on their own
and had to navigate through the cities, completing challenges ranging from; getting a picture next to a super car, to being photographed inside the Old Trafford home dressing room. The challenges could at first seem daunting, but if the troops used their logic and reason
then they could be
easily completed. For
instance, one challenge
was to ‘strike a golf
ball’. Whilst some
teams struggled to
gain entry into golf
courses, others headed
for sports shops and
gained permission
to get photographed
with golf clubs and
balls. The only help they received were food parcels left across the city which they had to find, but could only be accessed with a code word. Throughout the day, the men of Grenadier Company had to rely on help from the general public. Thankfully, they could rely on the help and support offered to them from the public, further strengthening the strong relationship between the Armed Forces and the British public.
The day ended with each team making their way back to a location within their respective cities for what they believed was their transport back to Chester. In fact, it was to be issued their final challenge, to make their way back to camp by 0030 hrs. All were shocked, some initially disgruntled, but all began to make their journeys back
in their teams. Those travelling back from Liverpool mostly utilised trains, where they were able to board trains back to Chester for free using their cover notes. The Manchester teams had a more difficult time, they had to rely on lifts from the public or managed to get onto coaches for free using their cover notes.
As expected, all teams made it back to The Dale before the deadline expired and the day was hailed as a success. The
A change of uniform and transport / Liverpool / May 17
Grenadiers were tired but all felt they had benefited from the experience. Within
men had recovered with a good meal and a decent night sleep, scores were totted up and it was unveiled that the winning team was led by LCpl Hill who is attached to A (Grenadier) Company from D (Dragon) Company for Op TRENTON 3. Ex Mission Impossible proved to be an unforgettable experience for the Grenadiers with many valuable lessons for all involved.
their small teams
they had solved problems, formulated plans and overcome adversity to see the challenge through to its completion. As Infantry soldiers, they will rely on these
skills on Operations and will no doubt have to rely on them during their upcoming
deployment to South Sudan as part of a UN Peacekeeping Task Force. Once the
‘The challenges could at first seem daunting, but if the troops used their logic and reason then they could be easily completed’
LCpl Galbraith poses with the Mayor of Liverpool / Liverpool / May 17
Pte Briggs tries on a new helmet / Liverpool / May 17
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