Page 91 - Mercian Eagle 2013

training opportunity and focused on their basic infantry skills working with Italian Armour which for many was the first opportunity to use it.
It was December when Crewe welcomed home Pte Bennett who had been attached to 1 MERCIAN on HERRICK 17 and waved goodbye to LCpl Willock and Pte Shaw who had been mobilised on Op TOSCA. It is fair to say that most of the soldiers took to the training packages like ducks to water.
Furthermore, the Company also welcomed the return of Stoke’s Lt Rawji and Pte Wright in May 2013. Pte Wright is now on the mend from sustaining injuries on his deployment and will be fully fit by 2014. Good news!
D Company has continued with its recruitment surge but have said goodbye to Pte Evans who is now Officer Cadet Evans at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst’ we wish him well. With many changes in
the recruitment world D Company has established two dedicated Recruit Retention Mentoring Teams (RRMT) with Lt Rawji and Pte Britton in Stoke and Lt Styles and Pte Sparks in Crewe.
D Company also found themselves assisting the Presentation of New Colours with Lt Rawji and Lt Styles being Colour
Ensigns and the troops brushing off the cobwebs and spending 5 days doing drill. The only drama was the Company Clerk Cpl Nott swapping his biro for a rifle and learning rifle drill! But for
adoption of a leadership in running fitness award for individuals.
Congratulations to 2Lt Jones and 2Lt Howell who recently commissioned
many of the soldiers in D Company this was a proud and memorable moment, allowing some the first opportunity to show their families and friends just what their Reserve Service is all about.
The only drama was the Company Clerk Cpl Nott swapping his biro for a rifle and learning rifle drill!
from RMAS, 2Lt Jones has already found himself mobilised on Op Tosca as a Platoon Commander and has joined the dizzy heights of completing and passing the arduous Regular Platoon Commanders Battle Course. Well done!
Having recently
returned from Ex Roman Star 1,
the Company has continued on with its ‘green bug’, and subsequently planned back to ‘green patrolling’ training aimed at NCO development at Leek in September. October conveniently coincides with Cambrian preparation to which D Company is leading the way.The Company has
also continued with its physical training development with the introduction of
a newly qualified PTI working with Pte Mottershaw and mentoring the company ETL instructors, in order to strengthen the overall fitness of the Company including the
Furthermore with a PJNCO Cadre soon, Crewe’s establishment of JNCOs will support the slimmer and more agile FR2020 D Company. The future of D company Crewe is known with the eventual shutdown in 2016 and move to Stoke. However, Crewe is in a stronger position than it has been before, with a continued support base for operational tours, and a high standard of soldiers competing in some of the top flight competitions from shooting to patrolling. The future looks promising, with a steady stream of recruits being taken through the recruit process.
E ‘Rifles’ Company
OC Maj Martin Watson
PSAO Capt Keith Mahoney MBE 2IC Capt Gordon Kaye
CSM WO2 Chris Powell
RRTT WO2 Keith Groome
SPSI WO2 Dean Villis
CQMS C/Sjt Matt Pollit
QPSI C/Sjt ‘Decca’ Winter
Returning to the Greater Rifles Family
The training year 2012-2013 has been a most interesting year for the Army Reserves. Future Reserves 2020 (FR2020) has been at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Although the number of reserves was to increase, the number of infantry wasn’t necessarily going to and there were concerns over the basing. Of particular concern to the ‘Shropshire Lads’, was the future of E Coy in Copthorne, particularly with Copthorne Barracks closing and with The Mercian Regiment also being placed under the microscope.
As you can imagine, there was much discussion behind the scenes, with the local RIFLES Office, locally based RIFLES
supporters, retired
members, engaging
local organisations
Mayors, Councillors,
MPs and other
interested people, this
culminated in hosting
a number of visits in one form or another, often at short notice. However, when it was announced, all our efforts obviously worked, we had held onto our cap badge, and in fact had rejoined the RIFLES family, by joining 6 RIFLES. This obviously did come with
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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