Page 10 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

Pl Comd: Pl Sgt: Wr Sgt:
Lt Sam Richards
Sgt Dipak Rai
Sgt Dean Geoghegan/ Cpl Luke Willis
Looking back, I realise just how busy and exciting this year has been for the men
of 1 Platoon. The beginning of 2019 saw us, along with the rest of A Company, conducting Live Fire training at Castlemartin Ranges to prepare us for the Company’s deployment to Estonia. As if on order, South Wales provided us with a wet
and windy reception, but thanks to the tireless efforts of Sgt McCalpine-Gasse, moral was sufficiently lifted. These 3
weeks in Castlemartin gave the Platoon a chance to bond and integrate with all the new members from across the Battalion who would be joining us for our coming deployment to Estonia. With attachments from B and C Company, Recce and Pioneer Platoons we would be able to draw from
a vast range of experience during our 8 months in Estonia.
Then at the end of February we were off! The Company was deployed to Estonia on Op CABRIT. Without much time to catch our breath we were out on the ground testing ourselves and the Warriors in a cold and unfamiliar environment. After learning vital lessons in how to operate on Estonia’s terrain, (and a few in where not to drive Warriors - they know who they are!) we were ready to work with the Estonians and the Kings Royal Hussars (KRH) Battlegroup as part of the Estonian defence plan.
An early triumph for 1 Platoon was a very strong performance in the Estonian Army’s 30KM speed march, with 1 Platoon securing first in the Battlegroup and fastest Pte Soldier overall (Sgt Rai and Pte O’Loughlin respectively). The commitment to physical excellence was evident, with
1 Platoon having the most entries from any Platoon across the Company. Whilst the snow was still very much on the ground 1 and 3 Platoon assisted with training the Officer Cadets of the Estonian Defence Academy, the knowledge and insight of 1 Platoon’s NCOs adding to the young Officer hopefuls, it also provided a useful look into how the Estonians trained reassuring 1 Platoon about our NATO partner.
1 Platoon concentrated on becoming the fighting on wooded areas specialists in A Company, with an aim to teach the rest of the Company best practice. Focusing
on integrating the Warrior vehicles and the dismounts in the complex marshy wooded environment of Estonia the platoon quickly became well versed and highly competent. This all culminated in Exercise Lumberjack Grenadier, where NCOs in the Platoon provided instruction to the rest of the Coy on best practice both in the Warriors and dismounted. On the final day, the Company put the skills to use in a live fire attack
8
1 Platoon
The opportunities for LFTT on Op CABRIT were exceptional,
train each other in classroom based activities to build leadership skills, plenty of AT from sailing to fat-biking for almost every soldier to conduct throughout
the tour as well as AT qualifications
and unlimited IA&O events from half- marathons to rally championships, the Grenadiers were involved in them all.
The Company also explored the country during Operational stand down periods and the guys would disappear across Estonia, Latvia and even Finland to see the wider region and immerse themselves in local culture. My personal highlight was the victory achieved by the Company in the ‘Tapa to Tidworth’ inter sub-unit watt-bike race; a three-and-a-half-day race on a gym watt-
bike to cover the
couple of thousand
kilometres from Tapa
Camp (Estonia) back
to Tidworth Garrison
for charity. The early
competition saw the
Grenadiers and 8
Armoured Engineer Squadron competing for the lead with our Company coming in victors after a herculean effort in which every Grenadier contributed. Pride was at stake and the victory, delivered in the end by LCpl Baudromo raised morale amongst the Company and gave us a few days bragging rights in the battlegroup.
The almost unlimited opportunity offered by Op CABRIT was offset slightly by the length of the tour. Clocking up almost nine months away definitely took its toll and by the end the Company
were fatigued and looking forward to coming home. We hugely benefited
from a ‘Summer tour’ and this allowed
us to fully exploit all the opportunities available to achieve great variety. The new six-monthly rotation that CABRIT
will now employ feels about right in terms of duration. Being part of a Cavalry battlegroup meant that we did not deploy our Dragon (Fire-Support) Company; their presence and skills would have been a huge benefit to the wooded environment
and allowed us to enhance our training even further. We know that CABRIT
is likely to endure as an operation and, no doubt the Company will return one day
in the future. If we
Clocking up almost nine months away definitely took its toll
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
are able to take the
did on Op CABRIT 4 then our return will be a positive one. We now cast an eye to 2020, UK Standby Battalion, BATUS and, in 2021, Op TORAL. The Grenadier flag carried by A Company, 1 MERCIAN, marches forward as ever!
opportunities like we