Page 74 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

Promotions LCpl – Cpl Cpl Tristram
Cpl Holmes
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D (Dragon) Company
D Company has witnessed a number of changes during the past 12 months but the company still remains located in Stoke (Hanley) and Burton.
In April 2017 Maj Ian Bond left
the Company to take up a new post at
Birmingham University Officer Training Corp. We thank him for his leadership and service to D Coy and wish him good fortune in his new post. Maj Bond was replaced by Maj Ian Nellins, who recently retired from regular service with the Royal Irish Regiment.
EXERCISE IBERIAN STAR – SPAIN
In May a total of 26 members of
D Company deployed on the ATX
(Ex IBERIAN STAR) to Cordoba, Spain.
This was an excellent opportunity for the CSM, WO2 Si Coulson, to introduce the new OC to the reserves. D Coy made
up a substantial part of the composite
rifle company (X Coy) and they all fully participated and further developed their infantry skills. The Exercise was conducted on a small training area not far from Cordoba in Southern Spain and was run alongside a Regular Battalion from the Spanish Army. With temperatures reaching in excess of 30 degrees it was essential to conduct sensible acclimatisation and a lot of care was taken in order to allow for robust yet safe and enjoyable training. Even the Spanish soldiers (who were from Northern Spain) found the conditions tough. The
training stages included acclimatisation, Company led Platoon training followed by Battalion led Company training. The final phase of the Exercise was a Company dawn attack on a FIBUA village. A platoon of Spanish was attached for this phase. Only the Spanish Platoon Commander spoke English so a lot of ‘International language’ and hand signals were employed. The Spanish Company Commander, who observed the attack, commented that
he was pleasantly surprised by the high standards of soldering displayed by the 4 MERCIAN soldiers.
As well as some very good training there was also a cultural visit to the ancient city of Cordoba were the XO and Padre conducted MATT 6 and & training. This was an excellent opportunity to visit the historic Cordoba Cathedral as well as sampling
some Spanish culture. Following the Exercise the Battlefield Visit to Bade Hose was both very informative and interesting, especially as it is a significant Regimental Battle Honour. A well-earned day at the Water Park near Malaga also proved popular.
D Coy Personnel in Cordoba
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