Page 29 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

1 Mercian Reconnaissance Platoon on completion of the Recce Cadre, Sennybridge, Feb 2019 Recce Platoon
It has been a busy and varied year for the
1 MERCIAN Reconnaissance Platoon. As always, the Platoon remains operationally focused, with troops currently (and for
the last twelve months) deployed on Op ORBITAL in Ukraine and on Counter-Terror Operations worldwide. However, in the margins, Recce have crammed a great deal into a thoroughly successful year.
The year began with the Recce Cadre; an opportunity to train
and qualify our soldiers
as Reconnaissance
Platoon practiced their dismounted skills, refreshing on the SA80, GPMG, 9mm Pistol and Sharpshooter Rifle.
Fitness is a key trait of a Recce soldier. A Recce Platoon team won the Battalion’s March and Shoot Competition and the annual Coltman Stretcher Race over the Malvern Hills, celebrating an antecedent Victoria Cross and raising money for the Royal British Legion.
It was fascinating to experiment with new tactics whilst understanding the British Army’s future Armoured capability and a great opportunity to exercise in a Battle Group context.
Most recently the Recce Platoon won a Gold Medal on Ex Cambrian Patrol - another fantastic achievement. Cambrian Patrol is recognised internationally as one of the hardest military patrol competitions in the world, hence the significance of the result amongst our peers and foreign armies. Our 1 MERCIAN Soldiers demonstrated their continued excellence, proving that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the very best across our Army and the foreign nations.
The Recce Platoon is excited for 2020 with deployment to BATUS and aim to continue our success as we build towards Op TORAL in 2021.
Patrolmen. They
conducted an arduous
eight-week course, as
troops were tested as
Armoured Infantrymen
and Light Role soldiers
in Castle Martin,
Salisbury and Brecon.
All participants performed strongly, with every man qualifying and being awarded the coveted ‘Recce Tree’. The pinnacle of the cadre was the week-long Observation Post phase where troops inserted covertly, constructed their OPs and observed and reported on the targets. Close Target Recce Patrols followed, and troops then delivered excellent back-briefs to a senior commander before Raiding and Destroying the Enemy Objective. The Recce Cadre provided a platform for our soldiers to showcase their fitness, intelligence, discipline and stealth - all vital skills for Recce soldiers. Congratulations go to Cpl Wilson who was awarded Top Student.
Next, troops deployed back to Castle Martin for the Dragon Company Gunnery Camp. As a result of the Camp, twelve new CVR(T) Gunners were qualified, with the remainder of the Platoon passing their Annual Crew Tests to ensure that Recce is ready to deploy in CVR(T). Meanwhile, the
1 Mercian Reconnaissance Platoon starting the winning attempt, 15km with a stretcher over the Malvern Hills
Most recently the Recce Platoon won a Gold Medal on Ex Cambrian Patrol - another fantastic achievement
Recce had an extraordinary run out
as the Battle Group’s Recce Screen during
Ex Virtual Eagle, an experiment to determine future forces capability and in-camp simulated training using the Unit Based Virtual Trainer.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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