Page 70 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

Commanding Officers Foreword
Lieutenant Colonel LM Mulholland
It is now over two years that I have had the privilege to command the Regiment’s Reserve Battalion and the time appears to have simply whizzed by. Exceptionally busy for a reserve unit, any differences between Regular and Reserve units appear few and far between. Yet the wide range of opportunities for soldiers and their uptake of them along with considerable Firm Base engagement activity have clear benefit with significantly improved recruitment and retention within the Battalion.
In terms of recruitment, 4 MERCIAN has had
a steady increase in its trained and untrained strength over the last six months. The attendance of soldiers has not decreased, despite the
loss of a rifle company to 5 RRF. Our trained strength has seen a marked improvement since the last edition of the Mercian Eagle, although growth remains slower than I would wish. This improvement has come as part of a reorganisation of recruiters, which has a significant impact on recruiting activity. We have also hosted recruiting by 1 MERCIAN, providing G4 support in order to improve Regimental recruitment as a whole.
Operationally, the Battalion continues to thrive, with 26 mobilised soldiers deploying on the Ugandan Brigade
Advisory Group Short Term
on to become the new A Coy 4 MERCIAN in the future. This of course means that 4 MERCIAN is now providing a true Regimental ‘footprint’ across the full extent of MERCIA with presence in each of our ‘home’ Counties.
As part of Army 2020R, September also marked 4 MERCIAN’s re-subordination to 1 Armd Inf Brigade to begin our new role and pairing with
1 MERCIAN. However, we intend to continue
to pair with 2 MERCIAN as often as possible, and retain links with both 11 Sigs Bde and 7X as regional brigades for firm base and recruiting activity. The paired training with 1 MERCIAN has included sending soldiers to Canada on
Training Team (UGABAG
STTT) in Uganda as part of
the British Army’s Defence
Engagement in East Africa,
training the Ugandan Army
prior to their deployment
to Somalia. 27 soldiers
deployed on Op TOSCA
with 4 LANCS, returning in
May and three soldiers currently deployed with 2 MERCIAN on Op SHADER are due to return after Christmas. Opportunities for mobilisation continues to be advertised, with 4 MERCIAN remaining one of the most heavily mobilised and utilised Army Reserve units.
4 MERCIAN has conducted a large amount
of standalone training also, including a Battalion Adventurous Training Exercise (ATX) to Spain
with 90 soldiers, a Cadre Camp of 120 soldiers and a series of Battalion and Coy Exercises.
The battalion sent 8 soldiers to the USA on an exchange programme for four weeks, as well as the Patrols Team to Italy to compete in Lombard Challenge. Finally the battalion has conducted Battlefield Studies to Sicily and Normandy and has both Alpine and Nordic skiing trips happening in the New Year. All training events have provided great imagery with which to tell the regiment’s story.
In September, we bade farewell to A (Fusilier) Coy, who re-subordinated to 5 RRF. A Coy has played a strong part in the life of 4 MERCIAN and we wish them well under their new command. At the same time, we received confirmation of our movement into Worcester, in order to establish a new platoon in Dancox House, with the intention for them and our West Bromwich platoon to go
PRAIRIE STORM, a patrols competition in Jun, as well as hosting 1 MERCIAN Mortar Platoon for live firing. In late November 4 MERCIAN hosted both 1 and 2 MERCIAN AT
Pl for a joint AT Cadre in Oakhampton. The efficiencies of resources, slight easing of pressure on Regular Battalions and combined ammunition
allocations to allow live firing make this combined training a ‘no-brainer’. We intend to continue
this methodology for Sp Wpn Cadres whenever possible.
In summary, a busy yet highly successful training year, dominated by re-subordination to 3(UK)XX, pairing and overseas opportunities, increased Firm Base activity and a demanding training programme has led to an increase in attendance and trained strength. This winter will see a continued focus on recruiting and training activity with 1 MERCIAN alongside significant preparation for Regimental activity in Jan and Feb 18. Looking further ahead into 2018, 4 MERCIAN are hoping to deploy on Ex NORTHERN STRIKE, a divisional level US National Guard exercise, happening in August, while concurrently lending
a FIRM hand to significantly enhance Regimental recruitment throughout the year.
I remain humbled by the incessant drive, energy and capability of the Regular and Reserve staff within BHQ and across each of the Companies which has enabled everything described above and what you read about in subsequent articles.
It has been through their collective endeavour that we have met significant success in recruitment and retention terms and met every task and opportunity over the year. Stand Firm. Strike Hard.
‘Our trained strength has seen a marked improvement since the last edition of the Mercian Eagle’
4MERCIAN