Page 95 - Mercian Eagle 2013

on Annual Camp. The camp provided a realistic training opportunity and focused the troops on their basic infantry skills working with Italian Armour, which for many, was their first such opportunity.
Sgt Talbot has been welcomed back to the fold after a very successful OP HERRICK tour. Separately many HQ Coy personnel have attended a plethora of career courses in the last 12 months.
HQ Company also found themselves assisting the Presentation of New Colours.
Congratulations to Capt RH Jones on passing the LEOC course and assuming the appointment of QM(V), and Capt Forbes moves to MTO. There are too many farewells to mention in the last 12 months, but Capt Frank Young has served loyally in various posts as
he hands over QM (V) to Capt Jones. Likewise WO2 Paul Lewis and WO2 Tony Rigby depart at the ripe old age of 55 after many years loyal service.
So, in summary, HQ Coy is in good order. There have always been opportunities for the keen and willing Army Reserve soldiers to gain maximum benefit from the training and development whilst serving their country. Never truer than at this moment in time: opportunities are in abundance – from Thetford in the autumn to Italy and or Uganda in the summer? Furthermore, career courses are readily available for those that want to test and improve themselves. The future is very clear: RECRUIT, RETAIN and ensure we keep the fun factor as we aim to expand the Army Reserve.
OP BLACKWELL (STTT Mission to Uganda) 30 Jul – 12 Aug 13
For the second year running the 4th Battalion deployed a small contingent of 29 soldiers to the Peace Support Operations Training Centre, Singo, Uganda. The aim
of the Short Term Training Team (STTT)
is to certify the contractor led training delivered to the Ugandan Peoples Defence Force (UPDF), prior to their deployment
to Somalia. The STTT eventually arrived complete on the 1
Aug 13 after a few
missing bags were
located and despite the
Training Majors best
effort to lose people at
Heathrow. With each
chalk arriving at least
8 hours before the
published flight timings,
and only the bar to keep
everyone entertained,
the flight flew by but the
pain started on landing.
Training was delivered in two phases,
a ‘remind’ and ‘revise’ phase, and then a CFX. During both phases, six members
of the team including Maj Massingham (OC, C Coy), Maj Carpenter-Balmer (OC HQ Coy) and Maj Bullard (Trg Offr) delivered Staff training to 3 Bn HQs and a Bde HQ. The ‘remind’ and ‘revise’ phase of the
Maj Richardson, Lt Col Wilkinson(Rifles) and Maj Massingham with the Bde HQs
training saw the team, in partnership with a Training Cadre from the UPDF, deliver,
a number of core skills lessons to almost 3300 soldiers. The core skills being taught consisted of Counter-IED drills, Convoy drills, FOB drills, detainee handling, and First Aid. The training proved incredibly rewarding for all involved, and allowed the instructors to deliver interesting lessons
with limited resources in unfamiliar surroundings. The Staff trainers had an opportunity to get back to basics and remember the days prior to digitised HQs.
It also proved useful for understanding the American Military Decision Making Process and thinking of different ways
to approach problems. The lack of IT really brought home how processes are sometimes slowed down by its use whilst others are speeded up. The CFX saw over 3000 soldiers deploy in and around the training centre, coordination was key and WO2 Peckitt (SPSI B Coy) delivered a first class exercise with limited resources. The 24 hour exercise saw the Ugandan soldiers
It also proved useful for understanding the American Military Decision Making Process and thinking of different ways to approach problems.
LCpl Narr delivers his C-IED Lesson
practise the skills that had been taught over the previous 6 days. The Bde HQ staff, with some guidance from the mentors, wrote and delivered the orders for the exercise
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