Page 39 - Mercian Eagle 2013

formed B Company Group went smoothly. B Company had expanded rapidly in order to fulfil the requirement of the RIC with
an essential number of ‘force multipliers’ being attached to the Company for the duration of the deployment. Every crevice of the Battalion had been scoured and
yes even the mortars joined us. As such, the Company was able to hit the ground running, taking over the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) task within 48 hours of arriving on the Island.
The daily routine as the RIC saw the three Platoons operating independently. Separate commitments were both organised and resourced by the Platoon HQ. Each rotation lasted a week
chance to take ownership for their sections and mould the men under their command.
It would be unfair to suggest it was
all work, as during the arduous training programmes there were opportunities for some of the men to conduct adventure training/pursuits, this included activities such as Rock Climbing or Go Karting. The troops also had the chance to visit other departments of the joint military community on the Island; this including insightful visits with the Typhoon Squadron based nearby, and a turn at manoeuvring with the Royal Navy in their Rigid Raiders. There was also the chance to observe some of the more unusual wildlife that ekes out a living in the
and at the end of each
week a handover was
conducted and the
Platoons moved onto
the next task. The
sequence being the
QRF Task, based from
Mount Pleasant Camp,
followed by a week of live fire training out on the infamous Onion Range Complex and the final rotation being the long range patrols.
The three Platoons settled into the rotations and relished the opportunity
to conduct platoon-level training how
and where they wanted. The junior commanders within the company seized the
Pte Massey – preparing to meet the locals
barren countryside and of course visit the battlefields of the 1982 campaign.
The deployment culminated in an seven day live fire final exercise that combined both a naval insertion aboard
HMS Clyde, with a helicopter lift moving the troops into place. A gruelling exercise followed during which the Company
was tested to its limits. Long
marches through difficult terrain, live fire attacks combining fast air support from the Typhoon Sqn finishing with a long march into
a Company objective, all made this
Separate commitments were both organised and resourced by the Platoon HQ.
Pte Williams develops his dodgy knee again
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