Page 60 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

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5 Platoon
Sgt Ball
The UK has been going through turbulent times recently with uncertainties. We have had Brexit, the COVID pandemic, fuel shortages, and difficulties in the blue light services. The UK Government looked to the Army who, in turn, looked to 2 MERCIAN to help provide the answers.
Op ESCALIN is the commitment to help deliver fuel to the pumps which began at the end of September and is still ongoing
as we reach the end of November. B (Malta) Company soldiers were deployed across the country at less than 24hrs notice, mainly working in Immingham and Tamworth. After receiving specialist training in the operation of complex equipment and flammable
fuels, soldiers were paired up with other members of the military and went straight into shift work. Often working for five to six days straight, with shifts going throughout the night, the lads proved they were up to the task at hand. Their assistance to major haulier firms, such as XPO and HOYER, was critical to ensuring that the UK could get back to normal.
Op RESCRIPT is the British Army’s commitment to providing vaccinators to assist the NHS across the country. The Government is doing everything possible to ensure we prevent another UK wide lock down. One of the keys to this is to ensure most of the population is vaccinated and the more at-risk groups are given a booster jab to take the pressure off the NHS over the course of the winter. When the NHS turned to the Government for help, the Army again turned to 2 MERCIAN and B (Malta) Company to help.
Firstly, we sent a section under Cpl Graham to help take the pressure off the
blue light services. The sections stayed on task for over a month helping to drive first responders to where they needed to be. This was critical to ensuring hospitals stayed fully staffed as many workers were having to isolate at home.
Secondly, NHS Scotland was struggling to meet the demand for vaccinators with the staff they had available. Consequently, soldiers from B (Malta) Company were sent to Edinburgh, where they received extensive on the job training to enable them to help deliver vaccines. Due to demand, they have been extended on task and will likely be working into their Christmas leave but they are still determined to help in any way they can.
All in all, it has been a busy period for B (Malta) Company. At this point, most of the soldiers have been deployed on UK Ops to help the British public and, with Christmas leave fast approaching, the soldiers will soon take some well-deserved time at home with their loved ones before returning to Kenya in Jan 22.
When the NHS turned to the Government for help, the Army again turned to 2 MERCIAN and B (Malta) Company
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