Page 21 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

goodbye to too many people to mention
in these pages, we both bid farewell and welcomed some key figures this year. WO2 Gareth Clements left for the Specialist Infantry Group, handing over CSM to
WO2 Darren Street. WO2 Mark Dugmore returned from Op CABRIT with A Company to take over as WSM from WO2 Mark Foster, who ended his service in the army. CSgt Kolodynski finally took a break from
1 MERCIAN, departing to Sandhurst, with CSgt Catterall arriving as CQMS(T) as his replacement. Lts Scott, Richards and Moore departed to new posts whilst 2Lt Olive,
2Lt Davies and 2Lt Rhodes moved onto new companies almost as soon as they had arrived. 2Lt Woodward arrived carrying a serious injury from Brecon and has been ideally placed as the platoon commander of our injured personnel through the second half of the year. Mid-way through the year we welcomed Cpl Willis from Recce, who has bolstered our PTIs, and Cpls Bradley and Copestake who have increased our number of instructors. Most significantly, in the summer the Company’s capability was increased by two Bobbies: Capt Bobby Gardner, the new Company 2IC, who ably
led the Company whilst I was deployed in Ukraine, and Sgt Ben ‘Bobby’ Charlton, our Exercise and Rehabilitation Instructor (ERI), who took our rehabilitation efforts to new levels.
It has been an absolute privilege to work with the personnel of C Company this year, all of whom have continually delivered excellent results in a context which might not necessarily match their expectations. I look forward to their endeavours as part of C (Meeanee) Company in 2020.
Kings of the Castle: STTT 128-19 on the high ground in the Carpathians. Maj / Edward Michell / Uzhhorod, Ukraine / 9 Jun 19
Op ORBITAL
WO2 Darren Street
In April 2019 the 1st Battalion, The MERCIAN Regiment, were given the excellent task of being the lead unit in 3 (UK) Division for the deployment of Short-Term Training Teams (STTT’s) to Ukraine as part of Operation ORBITAL. Running since 2015, Op ORBITAL aims to improve the capability of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) by delivering training across a wide range of military skills. This training helps them in the conflict with Russian-Led Separatist Forces (RLSF) in the Eastern Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk and Luhansnk, saving lives whilst demonstrating the UK’s support as an ally of Ukraine. 1 MERCIAN had previously led this task in 2016 and had supported the HCR’s delivery of STTTs in early 2019, including deploying a whole training team in January and February featuring the previous CSM
C Company, WO2 Gareth Clements.
Not your normal ‘grip and grin’! LCpls Grice, Kelsall and Marsden being promoted by Col Sobkho, Commander of the Ukrainian 128th Brigade. WO2 / Darren Street / Uzhhorod, Ukraine / 2 Jul 19.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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