Page 60 - Mercian Eagle 2013

58
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Foreword
By the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davies
My report in the previous edition focused on our conventional warfare training in BATUS Canada, doing what we do best, fighting as a Battle Group with our Warrior vehicles charging across the prairie destroying anything foolish enough to come into our gunsights. For 3 MERCIAN (Staffords) however this year could not have been more of a contrast to last.
The New Year saw us begin Mission Specific Training in earnest for deployment on HERRICK 19 in Afghanistan. This consists of the inevitable train smash of individual driver courses mixed in with Company collective training exercises and not helped by our A Company deploying some three months early out of synch with the rest of the Battalion. Our roles have changed several times over the course of the year and have now settled into Battalion Headquarters as the Afghan Army Brigade Advisors, A Company in the Armoured Infantry role, C Company as a light role ground holding Company and an assortment of individual appointments across Task Force Helmand HQ. Whilst all of the other units deploying alongside
us concentrate solely upon the drawdown and closure of the last remaining Forward Operating Bases, 3 MERCIAN will be the only unit routinely deployed on the ground with the Afghan National Army. This is the plumb role and is critical to enabling us to withdraw in good order.
The Companies will no doubt elaborate on the specifics of the training they have conducted and
I will not repeat it here. Suffice to say that all of the feedback from those delivering the training on our behalf has been incredibly complimentary about the standards of our soldiers – we would expect nothing less! We leave behind us in Germany a strong Rear Ops Group who have been brilliant
in enabling the rest of us to focus purely on deploying and we owe them a significant debt of gratitude. In return they now get a chance to enjoy a full and varied programme of sport and Adventure Training whilst we are away.
I write this on the eve of the main body departing Hannover, Germany for Camp Bastion Afghanistan secure in the knowledge that the men are well led, equipped and fully trained. Naturally there is some nervousness amongst the younger lads mixed with excitement and a real hunger to get on, finish the job and get final closure on the exemplary contribution made by all four of the MERCIAN Battalions to the Campaign. Our tour will see MERCIAN soldiers deployed for a longer period of 9 months including Christmas and we hope that you will continue to hold us in your thoughts and prayers over the coming months. We will of course provide regular updates on our experiences in Afghanistan through the normal channels as you would expect or you can join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/3Mercian for live, up to the minute updates.
See you in the Re-org.
3MERCIAN