Page 18 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

Pl Comd Pl Sgt Wr Sgt
Lt Ben Arnold Sgt Will Saunders Sgt Jase Evans
16
6 Platoon
2021 has provided a reality check for
6 Platoon, learning to train and operate when constrained by mass isolation and severe weather conditions. Nonetheless, 6 Platoon performed admirably, particularly throughout our successful deployment and recovery from Op CABRIT 8. This year has been a credit to the determination and attitude of each member of the platoon.
6 Platoon began the new year battling the icy wastes of Sennelager Ranges, dodging COVID and surviving sub-zero conditions in our first armoured rollout
as a platoon. Pte Wilson made his best attempts to end Ex TALLINN DAWN before it started, successfully contact tracing OC B Coy on the morning of deploying into the field. The wider platoon also managed to play its part, with various other outbreaks resulting in the resounding success of only deploying one man from the Platoon on a Battlegroup exercise. These COVID complications would come to characterise the first months of 2021; training often consisting of more time spent firing SA80s on ‘Call of Duty: Warzone’ than on exercise. Nevertheless, despite successfully consuming more takeaway donna tash
6 Platoon celebrating their Malta Cup victory, September 2021
kebabs in isolation than 24-hour ration packs consumed in the field throughout our pre-deployment training, 6 Platoon left Germany ready for Op CABRIT 8.
On arriving in Estonia 6 Platoon hit the ground running with Corporals organising and running training in anticipation of
our first forays into the swamps and trees of the Central Training Area. It was here we spent most of our exercises
in Estonia, testing our mettle fighting across rugged terrain with freedoms and resources not available in the UK. As our armoured proficiency developed so did our dismounted skills. River-crossings, dismounted platoon FIWAF, and armoured route clearance became our bread and butter. By the culmination of Ex SPRING STORM such was our effectiveness against the Estonian enemy that we consistently became the unfortunate
(and somewhat unlikely) casualties of 500lbs bombs, delivered in anger by our Estonian observer referees to hamper our movements.
The second half of Op CABRIT permitted more time for us to train as a platoon. Ex MALTESE TRIUMPH gave 6 Platoon the opportunity to practice
6 Platoon on Ex MALTESE MARKSMAN in Nursipalu, April 2021
our marksmanship, developing our competency on pistol and sharpshooter ranges. It also gave us the chance to explore more of Estonia, allowing a hard- earned chance to explore Nursipalu (in southern Estonia) with trips to a local beach and BBQs.
On returning to the UK, 6 Platoon
had business to finish before POTL. As inevitable as a mass contact trace prior to deploying on exercise, 6 Platoon was to secure the MALTA CUP prior to the end of the training year. Pte Higgs, in a fashion not too dissimilar from Michael Phelps, led 6 Platoon to victory in Ex MATLESE MANTA RAY (the inter-Coy Swimming gala). After a long 12 months this was
a real triumph for 6 Platoon, hence we celebrated our close call with drowning
in Tidworth Pool with well-deserved cool refreshments at the Company social in Amesbury.
2021 has been an excellent year for
6 Platoon. Both through the aptitude and comradery of our men the performance of the Platoon has been exemplary.
6 Platoon is now looking forward to Christmas leave, ready to return in 2022.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Warrior c/s 23 on Ex BOLD EAGLE in Tapa, April 2021