Page 27 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

Javelin Platoon
Capt Reece Courtney
Through 2019 Javelin Platoon has been steadily building
towards success for the training year; with three newly-qualified Javelin Det Commanders, two Section Commanders and one completing the Javelin 2IC’s course, coupled with an injection of twelve new soldiers into the platoon (eight of which came directly from ITC Catterick). All new soldiers have been impressive displaying the vigour, robustness and maturity required in the Support Weapons environment – especially since they arrived for the start of the Javelin Cadre. Four weeks of intense training on the weapon system culminating in a demanding field exercise put their newly acquired skills to the test. Particularly impressive was Pte Pierce, whose drive and application throughout the cadre lead him to be awarded with the best student accolade.
The transition from Phase 1 & 2 training did not stop there and the guys moved straight from the cadre to gain their Armoured Infantry qualifications – from never having stepped into a
Warrior, to live firing 30mm rounds in a simulated battle shoot on Castlemartin Ranges, the Platoon fully-qualified ten new Warrior gunners and re-qualified a further seven. Performances of note included Pte Parry whose quick and accurate firing from the turret impressed us all.
Post-summer leave, the Platoon’s manpower has been committed across a plethora of taskings, be it providing upstream capacity building with the Ukrainian Armed forces on Op ORBITAL, practicing Anti-Tank tactics in the latest simulated training environment on Ex VIRTUAL EAGLE, or helping the Brigade to develop the fledgling Strike tactics on Ex IRON STRIKE. The soldiers from 1 MERCIAN’s Javelin Platoon have carried themselves with professionalism, pride and humour throughout and they look forward to further hard-work and
success in the upcoming training year. Next year will see challenging, progressive training culminating in a deployment to Canada – I am in no doubt that the soldiers will continue to demonstrate that drive for excellence and will represent the Battalion with the modest yet highly capable spirit typical of a MERCIAN soldier.
We say a warm farewell to WO2 John Hough who has served as the Platoon’s Second-In-Command for the last two years
and moves onto Loan Service with the Royal Army of Oman; we thank him for all the hard work he has put in for the Platoon. A big congratulations is also in store for newly promoted Sgt Ashley James, who moves into the role of Section Commander and Tech Sgt, taking over the outgoing Sgt Martin Keaveny. We wish ‘Keaves’ all the very best with his future posting and thank him for his outstanding work in maintaining the fleet (and morale).
OC: Capt Reece Courtney 2IC: WO2 John Hough Sect Comds: Sgt Stuart Crawford,
Sgt Martin Keaveny, Sgt Martin Leatherbarrow
Assault Pioneers
This year consisted of courses and operations for the Pioneer Platoon, with eight members of the Platoon deploying
to Estonia. Here they provided Pioneer capability with A Company as part of the NATO EFP Battlegroup, and spent eight months training hard in Estonia and the Baltics. Back in the UK, there was great success on courses, with nine soldiers attending their Corps of Drums courses at Catterick. Our 1 MERCIAN Pioneers won awards for Best Bugler, Best Drummer, Most Improved and Best Fitness! In December we said goodbye to Sgt Lavelle, who has led the Pioneers through thick and thin. In the New Year Sgt Strong is set to take over and continue building on the Platoon’s ethos of practical, down to earth professionalism.
Pte McGlone bugling for Latvian Independence Day whilst deployed with the NATO EFP battlegroup.
Pl Comd: Sgt Chris Lavelle &
Sgt Graham Strong (Des)
Pl 2IC: Cpl Nick Andrews
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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