Page 85 - MERCIAN Eagle 2017

Recruits from ITC Catterick ‘dig in’ on Tac Ex 3, ITC Catterick September 2017
A word from ITC
CIC Urban training, ITC Catterick, August 2017
Over the past year, ITC has undertaken
a number changes to its structure, with
the disbanding of the Prince of Wales’s Division; the Training Company has been renamed and now operates as Peninsula Training Company (PTC). Despite this name change the company remains strong and
is currently particularly MERCIAN heavy with the OC, CSM and Training Officer all from the Regiment, enhancing an already substantial MERCIAN cohort of instructors. As ever, the focus of both Infantry Training Battalions remains providing the field army with fit, deployable, and skilled infantrymen and the current Combat Infantryman’s Course 16 seeks to develop recruits accordingly. With recruiting in the Infantry and the wider field Army experiencing a current low, effort and resources at ITC have been focussed on retention since the launch of Combat Infantryman’s Course (CIC)16. The current iteration of the Combat Infantryman’s Course maintains a balance between arduous individual training and ensuring newly training soldiers arrive at their battalions fit to deploy. PROJECT OMEGA (the physical training programme
in the CIC), has continued to evolve in response to feedback, as has almost
every part of the course. BUCS and LLUST*, the urban skills package has been lengthened and Tactical Exercise 3 has
been adjusted as a full defensive exercise with a substantial emphasis on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN). (*Built up and Low Level Urban Skills Trainer)
From a 1 Infantry Training Battleschool (ITB) perspective, there has been a big focus on professional development for all ranks. This has included battlefield study tours to Belgium, Waterloo and Bosnia as well as weekends spent in Edinburgh and London, with a visit to NATO Headquarters currently in the pipeline. There has also been plenty of chance to get involved in some Adventure Training (AT) and Sport, with highlights including a rugby tour to Georgia and a cricket tour to Cyprus organised by Captain Brown (2 MERCIAN). Opportunities remain for those permanent staff wishing to attend Platoon Sgt Battle Course (PSBC), Junior Officers Tactical Awareness Course (JOTAC), gain AT qualifications and other external courses to help enhance your career and prepare you for return to Battalion.
The Mercian Regiment continues to maintain a strong footprint at ITC, with 7 Officers, 6 WOs and SNCOs and 17 Cpls, 16 of which are employed as Section Commander Instructors and 1 serving with the RP staff. Not forgetting the sterling work being done by the Mercian
Captain Brown (2 MERCIAN) presents a plaque to commemorate ITC’s Cricket tour to Cyprus
Regimental Shepherd, LCpl Bagshaw. Strong representation is vital as it helps us instil the values and sense of family with the MERCIAN recruits so they can fully understand the Regiment, its ethos and everything we are about. All continue to serve with utmost professionalism, leading by example and working hard to ensure that the soldiers are fully prepared for when they arrive at Bn. The 26 week line infantry CIC course is constantly being reviewed and refined by those at the forefront of its delivery, which means that recruits today are arriving at Battalion appropriately educated, fully Military Annual Training Tests (MATT) qualified having conducted the correct progressions in all aspects of military training in line with the mandated requirements, directed by the Field Army; ultimately, deeming them ready to progress into their principle role – War fighting.
A Mercian recruit observes across the Exercise Area, Otterburn, 12 November 2017
Officers and NCOs from across 1ITB visit Bosnia on a battlefield study
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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