Page 72 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

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Command Platoon
Sgt Powers
The last year has been a busy but rewarding year for the Comd platoon. After coming back from Cyprus there was no time to
rest. The need to unpack the Cyprus ISO containers and repack them for Kenya meant while the Battalion was on leave, Comd Pl was preparing for BG Main to deploy.
But no pressure, between Cyprus and Kenya Comd Pl also deployed with BG Main to conduct a CAST exercise in the snow on Catterick Training area.
This proved to be particularly challenging for the platoon. Not only did we have soldiers from 2 Sigs and 1 PWRR bolstering our ranks and working together for the first time, we also decided to drift away from the usual tented BG Main to try out a fresh style of setting up, 2 x SVs side by side and a 18x24 tent for plans.
There were several bumps along the way which constantly kept the platoon on its toes. Between the vehicles constantly breaking, to even the Plans tent falling asleep during a set of CO’s orders and collapsing under the sheer weight of snow it was holding, it was a everyone for themselves to climb out of there. Halfway through CAST half the platoon had to leave for Kenya drastically reducing the manpower.
This new set up proved to be a success, so after a few tweaks we decided this would be the set up to run in Kenya.
We expected to hit Kenya running, but
COVID had other ideas with a disastrous start as COVID forced the soldiers of the 2 MERCIAN Battlegroup on to the fence line. However, the couple of weeks on the fence line proved to be incredibly valuable to Comd platoon. With the FFR Fleet a mess and 70% of the vehicles not in any working condition, we were able to get a lot of training in. From the Pte soldiers to the RSO everyone was on the vehicles, we all learnt something new and refreshed ourselves on forgotten knowledge.
This extra training proved invaluable as
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