Page 57 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

Working with other capbadges
LCpl Martin 22, 7 Pl, KOHIMA Coy
2 MERCIAN deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq, with attachments from 22 Royal Engineers, 101 Royal Engineers and several Medical Regiments, as well as numerous other
cap badges in lesser numbers who were there to support the company and help deliver operational effect. Working closely alongside these other units through build up training and on deployment has been both challenging and exciting.
Pre Deployment Training (PDT) started in April 2017 when C Company deployed on exercise to the Brecon Beacons to refresh our skills and drills with the Foxhound armoured vehicles. We worked mostly on recovery drills and also the setting up of lessons; identifying where the Foxhounds should be parked for best effect and where the Guardian Angels would be placed to keep instructors safe.
The Company then went to Swynerton Training Area, which is where we first
met with the other regiments who would join us in Iraq. It was our first opportunity to integrate and setting the right first impression was important. Showing our professionalism and determination to learn new things was as important as being able to pass on our infantry knowledge to them. Having the other units there and joining them for practical lessons was good for us and something we could develop further with the right training and resources.
After that exercise we went to Thetford Training Area for our Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX), the training got more intense and was facilitated with the use of a civilian population being played out by well-trained actors who also played the role of Iraqi soldiers. This added another level of complexity as we had to consider the use of interpreters into lessons and security. Having them there made the training feel more real and they would often
Cpl Ring, Pte Humprhey and Pte Jones-Young/ Conduct Explosive Hazard Awareness Training alongside soldiers from the Royal Engineers / Iraq / July 2017
cause a commotion or issue which the Force Protection then had to deal with. The FP would go through their escalation and de-escalation drills in order to control the situation. You would also have to ensure the safety of the teaching teams by escorting them to their vehicles and getting them to a safe area.
Out in Iraq, the integration and relationships between the infantry and the other regiments solidified and blossomed, we were working and living alongside each other and sharing the same facilities on a daily basis. Every Monday and Wednesday PT would be arranged for those who weren’t out on the training area, we were fortunate to have PTIs from both the Mercian Regiment, Royal Engineers and the Intelligence Corps, it was useful to share the workload but also to get lesson ideas from each other. From the start of tour there was always a good relationship between all members of the Company and a constant determination to muck in and help each other out in all aspects of the tour.
Pte Yeoman / KOHIMA Coy / Marking the Regimental Birthday with a reading- The parade was attended by a plethora of other capbadges and members of the Australian Defence Force and New Zealand Army / Iraq / September 2017
We had a small number of our lads join the Counter IED Training Team to help teach alongside 101 Engineer Squadron. They took to it quickly and naturally, quickly becoming a respected part of the training team while learning new skills themselves. As Force Protection in Camp Taji in Iraq we work every day with the other capbadges and other nations, predominantly the Australians and the New Zealanders. The lads who worked closely with the Medical Regiment instructors would often help out on lessons becoming a training casualty
for the trainers to use for demonstrations; this allowed the instructors to physically demonstrate the lifesaving skills and ensure the Iraqi Security Forces understood the lessons.
Working with other regiments at first seemed a daunting prospect because
we are all comfortable in our own infantry bubble, but after a while of working together and getting to know one another things flowed smoothly. I guess there’s a lot of anticipation when tours like this one come up and you’re not too sure how well you
will get on with other people from different parts of the Army. The best thing to do is
to embrace the opportunity and learn new things from other people who have first hand experience in those areas.
C-Coy / Medical Training for the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) being delivered by Royal Army Medical Corps instructors with Force Protection provided by soldiers of Kohima Coy / Iraq / July 2017
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