Page 40 - MERCIAN Eagle 2019

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THE MERCIAN EAGLE
CO Foreword
Lt Col Mark Davis
LCpl Betram and Pte Richards as the Ram Orderlies with Pte Derbydos
It feels slightly odd that as I write this article, we have already completed most of the planning
for our return to Weeton Barracks. It seems only yesterday we arrived in Cyprus. The Battalion have been phenomenal in managing a significant operational commitment whilst being poorly manned. This has put the lion’s share of the work onto our most junior members and their stoicism and grit has been awe inspiring. Cyprus has a challenging operational role, but I hope we have ensured that everyone has also had the fun side of living in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The year has been dominated by our role as the Cyprus Operations Battalion. The role is fixed into a company protecting the strategic sites
on the island and providing Commander British Forces a reserve at extremely high readiness. The professionalism of our junior commanders has been remarkable; they have used what could just be a ‘stag’ and turned it into a laboratory where they can test and rehearse vital tactics, techniques and procedures for operations other than war. They have built robust surveillance, targeting and acquisition plans, updated standing operating instructions to counter drones and developed their search training. In many ways, operating in Cyprus provides an opportunity to solidify those soft skills required to operate in
the ‘Grey Zone’ between conflict and peace. They have been operating in a contested virtual environment where they are hunted by Foreign
Stand Firm Strike Hard!
2MERCIAN