Page 29 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

Exercise CHURCHILL’S CHALLENGE
Back in in in in in January Gaza Company deployed on Ex CHURCHILL’S CHALLENGE
in in in in Caer- went Training Area South Wales Our first urban counter insurgency-based exercise we we would no longer be battling the the the Zabzimek hoards in in in in the the the the the open but rather conducting a a a a a a a a a a stabilisation operation in in in in in in the the the the heart of Gorgas to root out the the the the enemy within Operating Operating from inside a a a a a a a a a a Forward Operating Operating Base proved a a a a a a a a a a refreshing change from our our previous stints in in in in platoon harbours and and trenches Whilst we all missed the fresh air and and earthiness of our previous accommodations nobody was heard to to complain too much For myself the the the the highlight of of the the the the exercise was the the the the opportunity to take on the the the the the role of of of Company Intel- ligence Officer (IO) This offered me the the chance not only to to to escape bod life without actually having to to to to command anyone but also to to to to gain a a a a a a a a first insight into into intelligence work in in in in in in in in the the field As As a a a a a a a a cadet commissioning into into the the Intelligence Corps this was invaluable As As IO I I I played an integral role in in in in the the Ops room working closely alongside the the the the Company Company 2IC to shape and direct the the the Company’s efforts I I built the the the J2 picture by creating intelligence collection plans and utilis- ing ing ing the Company’s organic resources Outgo- ing ing patrols were briefed on on what what I needed from them what what to to look out for on on on the the ground ques- tions to to to ask civilians or or CPERs key pieces of evi- dence which they might encounter and need to to collect On their return I conducted hot-debriefs with the the the the commanders: what had they managed to to ascertain? What was was their opinion on on it? Tired and wet as as as as they often were it it was was important to to get this information from them immediately while everything was fresh in in in in their minds These ses- sions produced reports and patrol traces which when added to the Intelligence map quickly built a a solid J2 picture I also conducted Key Leader Engagements meeting with important figures in in in the local com- munity in in in in my capacity as as both a a a a a a a a a a a a a military ambas- sador and of course tacit intelligence gatherer These interviews required me me to balance reas- surance and reinforcement of the NATO mission with subtly probing questions designed to find out out more about the local local situation These local local leaders (who for Gorgan Caucasus natives bore an an an an uncanny resemblance to members of the Royal Irish Regiment) gave nothing up will- ingly but persistence revealed a a a a a a a a few key pieces of intelligence Unfamiliar faces had been seen in in in in in certain areas carrying weapons and acting suspiciously All of of this fed into my growing Intelligence pic- ture and and soon we we were identifying areas of of enemy concentration and and specific buildings to strike To aid my my fledgling efforts an an an Intelligence Corps Warrant Officer dropped in in in for for a a a a a a a few hours Scanning an an an experienced eye over my enthusiastic but no doubt clumsy work he he gave me a a a a a a a a a few invaluable titbits of advice: the proper way to to to identify key questions and to to to track how we we we were working to to to answer them the the approved method for tracking important individuals and how to apply the the the intelligence gathering cycle in in in in in real time By this stage the the the situation seemed to be developing organically and was genuinely engrossing Unfortunately all good things must come to an end My sleepless 18 hours in in in in role were over and and and after handing the reins to my my successor I found myself a a a a a a a private soldier once once more and and and was soon snoring ensconced in in in in in my my sleeping bag There is always a a a a a silver lining SANDHURST
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