Page 93 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

Peace Support Team. This was the pilot course for BG Commanders from the East African Standby Force (EASF) held at the Junior Staff College at Jinja on the banks of the Nile. As this was the first course it was still in the development stage with lots of planning and development work ongoing throughout the 2 weeks. The first week was used in locating and writing a set of TEWTs that were then tried, tested and adjusted accordingly to provide a basis for the next one. The BG Commanders were very mixed and diversified with differing Standard Operating Procedures and planning levels to say the least. The course was designed to teach and test knowledge in procedure, rules of engagements and various peace support operations which may arise within the next few years. Of note were the Kenya and Uganda officers who took the lead through the many syndicate discussions.
We are seeing lots of joint missions with the LANCS at present which is helpful for mutual support.
As we head towards the unknown for the future of the Army Reserve in Burton, the spirit of F Company is strong and all remain determined to not only keep but thrive in this this historic footprint.
Some members of 4 MERCIAN Burton, The last team building day under the F Coy banner to the National Arboretum proved to be
very thought provoking and educational
WO2 Coulson CSM 4 MERCIAN Burton, Front and Centre of the Colour Party during this year’s Crich Pilgrimage
the CSM having been promoted from
the rank of CSgt. Other new recruits we had over the year were Ayres, Bickley, Birkett, Coggin, Evans, Fraser, Hardiman, Haywood, Jenner, Jones, Kettle, MacLeod, Palmer, Poole, Price, Sim, Simmons, Somerville, Smith, Truelove, Wilkins.
The battalion Annual Training Camp in September 2014 was held at Sennybridge, not only that it was an annual camp held
in the UK after a number of years overseas but also that it was a field tactical exercise, Exercise BRACED EAGLE for the entire
two week period in the training area instead of the usual camp and field type of annual camp. The battalion assembled at Nesscliff Training Camp where the RAO Maj Brettell and her G1 team conducted the MCCP prior to deploying into SENTA.
The exercising troops moved from Nesscliff directly into Cilieni Village (OBUA) for the first week of the FTX which began
HQ Company
It has been a successful and busy year
for HQ Company. The Platoon based in Kidderminster is fully under the wing of
HQ Company and has integrated well
with joint training regularly happening on drill nights and weekends. Highlights have included blank firing exercises on TOPL (Training of Private Land), 500 acres of a local country estate and weapons training which has seen significant numbers passing their ACMT (Annual Combat Marksmanship Test) on the Glock Pistol and Light Machine Gun with the General Purpose Machine Gun and Javelin Anti-Tank Missile to follow. Recruiting at both locations has been excellent which has seen the rifle platoon fully manned, with work under way to fully form the Signals and Anti-Tank Platoons.
This year has seen the launch of the UOWP (University of Wolverhampton Platoon), which is a pilot for the rest of the Reserve. Traditionally University students will join a UOTC (University Officer Training Corps) but due to the difficulties of travelling to Birmingham compared to being 1 mile away for HQ Company, over the years
we have had a high number of students. This has evolved to the formation the UOWP which has seen us working in close conjunction with the University authorities and a number new recruits being fully trained. This coming year will see training happening at the University and hopefully even more trained soldiers in a year time.
Finally we have been working with the local Sikh community to increase the engagement between them and HQ Company. Wolverhampton has the
largest Sikh community outside London but currently HQ Company has no Sikh soldiers. We have held community days at the Reserve Centre and have been to local Gurdwaras and joined in with Sikh events. This is very much a long term plan and has not yielded any soldiers yet but has seen some interested in the local Army Cadet Force generated.
During the year, we have 27 new
faces joining HQ Company in either Wolverhampton or Kidderminster amongst them 4 were ex-Regulars. Maj Chris Watters, was a Military Support Officer
of the Royal Army Medical Corps who
had served on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, joined HQ Company as the Company Second-in-Command. He also became
the Unit Adventure Training Officer that
he coordinated all the Adventure Training across the battalion in summer. WO2 Eaves was one of the Infantry PSIs of the Birmingham University Officers Training Corps prior to completing his regular service after which he became the Warrant Officer of the Cambrian Patrol at 160 Brigade on FTRS before joining 4 MERCIAN. He is now the Battalion Training Warrant Officer. WO2 Wilson was a QMSI of the Army Physical Training Corps at Abington Station before he left the Regular in October 2014. He joined the battalion as QMSI Physical Training. CSgt Dawson from 3 MERCIAN initially carried out the RMQS duties in the QM Department and was later employed on FTRS as the QPSI of A (Fusilier) Company. We also had WO2 Bywater becoming
Sgt Perryman leading by example on the Assault Course
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