Page 94 - Mercian Eagle 2013

OC Maj T Carpenter-Balmer RSO/2IC Capt J Lam
CSM WO2 G Hedges
CQMS Sgt M Helliwell
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with 1 MERCIAN. All three returned with excellent reports and quickly returned
to work within the Company. They are currently working as part of the Company Recruiting team and
ROMAN STAR 1. This OTX took place
in North Italy working alongside a regular Italian Armoured Infantry Platoon and their vehicles. F Company was well represented
With AT over the Battalion training
has shifted again as we start training in preparation for the deployment of members of the Battalion on Herrick 20. F Company, along with the rest of the Battalion, will be training alongside the Herrick 20 cohort as we return to the key skills on tactical training weekends. CSgt Ainsworth and LCpl
Narr have recently deployed to Uganda
as part of the STTT led by 4 MERCIAN. Both performed well and quickly adapted
to teaching and training Ugandans as opposed to the soldiers of the Company.
As a Company we continue to focus
on recruiting and although the news of
the closure of the F Company in 2016 dampened spirits, we have come back stronger in order to demonstrate the determination to succeed. We await the return of our personnel from Op TOSCA and look forward to the challenges the next 12 months will bring.
are ideally placed to talk to potential recruits about their experiences and the challenges of operational tours.
The MFR deployed in March and the focus of the Company quickly switched
This was a fantastic opportunity to take part in a parade alongside the 3 Regular Battalions.
taking the lead in planning and delivering a demanding but enjoyable exercise. The Battalions return from Italy saw a change in the focus of training and time for some AT.
Early July saw Sgt Roddis and Pte Everett attending the Battalion
to the Presentation
of the New Colours. Again F Coy was
well represented providing troops for the guards including the OC and 2IC. This
was a fantastic opportunity to take part
in a parade alongside the 3 Regular Battalions. Immediately following the completion of the Presentation of the New Colours, 4 MERCIAN, deployed on Exercise
Summer Expedition to Mont Blanc. Throughout the expedition they reached the summit of Aiguille du Midi, Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa; however the weather meant they couldn’t complete the main peak. Overall though they still found this
a physically and mentally demanding but thoroughly enjoyable activity.
HQ Company
HQ Company has had another very successful year and has continued to provide soldiers to commitments and operations and also battalion events. Major Angus Taylerson has retired from his duties as Officer Commanding and we recently welcomed Major Tim Carpenter-Balmer as his replacement. Last October saw HQ Coy personnel heavily involved in Op TOSCA Pre-Deployment Training (PDT), not only providing troops but also the
G4 support element. The success of the PDT
was largely due to the QM and his back-room
staff who ensured the training went smoothly.
We currently have Maj Walkley, WO2 Moody,
Sgt Newell, Cpl Doran and Ptes Connolly and
Tompkins deployed in Cyprus; we will welcome
them back shortly.
HQ Company continues to restructure, and
we are actively trying to recruit good quality
persons from the local area to boost our numbers, particularly in the Rifle and Signals Platoon. We are constantly revisiting and rethinking strategies to ensure this happens. The challenge, as always, is getting quality in and maintaining the interest of the recruits.
HQ Company has
deployed and sent
soldiers to many exotic places this training year, from Uganda and Denmark to Italy. In July the OC, Battalion Training Officer, Cpl Rogers, and the support element deployed to Uganda as part of 4 Mercian’s Short Term Training Team, teaching and instructing over
2,000 Ugandan Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) for a two-week period. This is the second
year running that we as 4 MERCIAN have provided the backbone of this very high-profile deployment.
Annual Camp this year provided HQ Company personnel with the opportunity to deploy to
Italy on Ex Roman Star 1, which for many was the first opportunity to travel further afield than Brecon with the Company. LCpl Bolus and
LCpl Case deployed with two American privates as part of a US/UK exchange visit programme. Suffice it to say that the two American National Guard soldiers were suitably impressed and were full of praise, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves in both the UK and Italy
We are constantly revisiting and rethinking strategies to ensure this happens.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE