Page 6 - Mercian Eagle 2013

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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Foreword
By the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel MCP Ellwood MBE, 1 MERCIAN
On my assumption of command in August,
I was immediately struck by the sense of pride within the unit and the strength of Battalion and Company ethos. Operation HERRICK once again tested the 1st Battalion’s resolve and reinforced our strong reputation for understated excellence, courage and consummate professionalism. Particularly pleasing was how well the Battalion incorporated, amongst others, two rifle companies from 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles, a company of the Estonian Scouts Battalion, a 1SCOTS Kandak Advisory Team, a Police Advisory Team from Queens Royal Lancers/Royal Dragoon Guards, as well as Officers and Soldiers from Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, REME, Intelligence Corps and Royal Military Police.
The focus of the tour was the development of, and transition to, Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) control.
The conditions in Nad-e Ali had been successfully initiated by our predecessors; our task was to continue to drive the transition process forward in a controlled and timely fashion. As a measure of success, the 1 MERCIAN Transition Support Unit closed four large patrol bases, four checkpoints, sent three rifle companies
home early, and redeployed the Estonian Scouts back to Camp Bastion. Though the character of the tour was markedly different to previous operational tours in Afghanistan, it was not without its dangers and costs. Tragically LCpl Jamie Webb made the ultimate sacrifice when PB FOLAD was attacked. The loss of such a charismatic and popular junior commander was keenly felt across the entire Battalion.
Since returning from Op HERRICK 17, the Battalion has been subject to a significant manpower churn whilst rapidly readjusting from a polarised Afghan centric focus toward a more adaptive foundation for future contingency. However, the Battalion has also found time to get engaged in several adventurous training and sporting activities, including a very successful
Rugby League tour to Malta. The Battalion remains in good spirits due in large part to the various opportunities we face over the coming year. Each of the rifle companies has a dedicated overseas training exercise or deployment to provide structure and focus to its training progression and welcome respite from the more mundane and routine activities.
The implementation of the A2020 re- organisation of the Mercian Regiment’s three regular battalions into two, presents our greatest challenge. Next summer,
1 MERCIAN will commence a dramatic re-organization that will involve a unit
move to Bulford, a merger of manpower,
a re-subordination to 1st Armoured
Infantry Brigade and a re-role to Armoured Infantry. However, we must not forget
that for many of our soldiers and families, next summer will see them leave the 1st Battalion to join the 2nd Battalion in Chester whilst some others might even join other regiments. I am very conscious of the continuing uncertainty at the individual
level but I am determined to reduce this
as much as possible and collectively convert the Mercian 2020 vision into a sustainable reality. The next two years will be challenging, but as the last two years have proven, 1 MERCIAN will rise to the occasion, seize the gauntlet and STAND FIRM and STRIKE HARD until success has been delivered.
1MERCIAN