Page 15 - Chiron Calling Spring 2017
P. 15
On 28 Sept 16, Pte Murphy (102 MWD Sqn) and I (105 MWD Sqn) deployed to Belize’s jungle to support the 1st Battalion the Irish Guards on Ex MAYAN STORM. This is a demanding light role infantry exercise, in the heart of the Central American Jungle. I deployed with my tracker dog Dingles and Pte Murphy deployed with his Infantry Patrol dog Bandi. This is a very popular and sought after exercise, in which we could both demonstrate our capability and push both ourselves and the animals to our limits. Upon arriving it became clear how arduous the exercise was likely to be. The weather, humidity and terrain ensured that our skills as soldiers and handlers would be fully tested. It was interesting to observe how quickly the dogs were able to adapt to the environment having both deployed to the jungle before. The Reception Staging Onward Interrogation (RSOI) gave me the valuable knowledge needed on how to safely and professionally deploy to the jungle. During the RSOI package we advised the Irish Guards on how best to utilise the dogs, as well as giving a visual demonstration of Dingles and how she operated. This then gave Dingles more credibility and the Guards a greater understanding of how we operated and how we could be employed.
The exercise was broken up into stages; the rst stage was the basic survival stage which was seven nights long. This was my rst time into the jungle whereas it was Dingles’s second time. In the jungle I learned valuable skills like simply putting up a hammock, which is a lot more dif cult than it sounds! I also learnt how to catch animals, as well as all the different types of traps you can set for both humans and animals. The survival stage also covered how to build a variety of shelters, as well as the different methods of starting a re. Another key element we learnt was what vegetation we could or could not eat. The noise of the jungle stands out most in my memory. Whilst it was quiet during the day, at night the jungle would come alive with the sound of thousands of insects, animals and other noises that I was never really able to identify. On completion of the basic stage I felt prepared and ready
LCpl Evans – Sleeping in the Jungles of Belize
LCpl_Evans and Dingles and trekking through the demanding environment of Belize
for the next challenge of the main exercise phase.
During the exercise it was very rewarding to see Dingles in action. We were tasked to be ready if any enemy ed the scene. We would then track the enemy with a Section on our shoulders. As I was the only tracker handler, I worked with both companies. Pte Murphy and Bandi played a key role in the ambush scenario where Bandi provided an early indication to the platoon that the
enemy was approaching.
Overall the exercise was a huge success for the MWDs, Pte
Murphy and I. We overcame a lot of challenging situations and also learned a lot from the infantry battalion. It was a fantastic opportunity to employ my dog in the eld. Seeing how we would operate in the jungle in any future con ict gave me a much better understanding of the demands and challenges I could potentially face. Unfortunately I have also learnt that Dingles snores extremely loudly but I took comfort in knowing she was safe.
On Exercise in Belize
By LCpl Evans, 105 MWD Sqn.
Some of the beautiful scenery that can be found in the Belize Jungle
LCpl Evans and MWD Dingles celebrate the end of a demanding Exercise in the Jungle
CHIRON CALLING 13