Page 56 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

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Reflections from a Pl Sgt at RD
Sgt Costa
After spending time at a training establishment, I returned to Regimental Duty and took over as platoon Sergeant
of 2 Platoon, A (Grenadier) Company in Episkopi Garrison, Cyprus. The battalion had changed so much, and I could only recognise a few familiar faces, however,
this was a positive as I was able to focus
on tackling the new role and meeting my soldiers. The platoon had personnel with
a varied amount of experience, from the most junior soldier who had just arrived at the battalion to Corporals with operational experience behind them. We covered a variety of tasks on the island which included camp duties, Ex AETOS FURY and Force protection at RAF Akrotiri. However, our main goal was the preparation for Op TORAL prior to this being removed from the FOE. As a Pl Sgt this was an exciting task, and a challenging goal to work towards as
I prepped the G4 for my soldiers to ensure deployability.
My new role instantly presented me
with many challenges, such as getting to grips with the new level of responsibility
I had to maintain the effectiveness of
my platoon. I had a very keen platoon commander who had been in the role a few months before I arrived, and he assisted me in understanding the platoon better. Managing the platoon in a pandemic was very hectic to say the least, this was just
an extra challenge on top of trying to get the platoon ready to be fully deployable. Passport applications, dentals, Military Annual Training Tests (MATTS), new arrivals, clothing packs and maintaining camp duties were all hard to manage in a short space of time before the Battalion deployed to Kenya. During the deployment on Ex ASKARI STORM I found it much easier to manage the platoon in the field rather than in camp as there is less to worry
about. A gruelling exercise always brings troops together and the platoon bond was strong at the end of the 3 months overseas. We returned to the UK and enjoyed 2 weeks leave following a period of isolation.
The Battalion was busy upon returning from leave, we had a new CSM in place
and a new Coy 2IC shortly after. My soldiers were sent on various courses including Foxhound (FH) and Ridgeback drivers,
team med, BRU and other courses. I did a Trauma risk and management (TRIM) course as a practitioner, Op CARDELL instructors Course, along with the FH commander’s course. During this period tracking and maintaining soldiers spread around the county proved to be a challenge in itself!
I was also trawled to run the Battalion Pre-Platoon Sergeants Battle Course and Section Commanders Battle Course (PSBC/ SCBC). Among all this activity we had all ranks briefs (ARB) and a short exercise in
preparation for pre-deployment training
in Swynnerton. A Live fire tactical training (LFTT) package in Warcop followed. It
was here when we found out more detail about what would happen regarding the deployment to Afghanistan. We were told that one platoon would deploy at a time
and do 2 months each on rotation on Op BATONNE which was effectively the last operation for UK forces in Afghanistan. A month later the evacuation of allied forces and foreign personnel had started in Afghanistan after the Taliban started seizing control of the country. At very short notice my platoon had been placed on standby
for OP PITTING. We were later stood down and did not deploy which disheartened the platoon following so much build up training. This would have the first operational tour
for most of my platoon and the reason that most of them enlisted. Following the anti- climactic stand down, the Battalion started to get into a calm battle rhythm. The training and tasks ramped up as multiple trawls came to fruition now that the battalion had been freed of TORAL commitments. I found I had soldiers deployed on Op ESCALIN around the UK, and we were also able to conduct an Urban Operations week with Simunition in camp. There was also a pl Sgt’s competition which included fitness,
an assault course, navigation, signal tests and a plan ex in which I achieved a second place overall.
In an effort to raise morale, my platoon commander and I asked for other opportunities for 2 Platoon to fill the void before Christmas. As a result, we have since deployed as OMs in Oman which my platoon commander led, and as Force Protection in Poland where I am currently still located. We are all looking forward
to coming together in Battalion during Christmas week and enjoying some time together before we break for leave.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE