Page 88 - MERCIAN Eagle 2021

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typical Cheshire charm and has continued to deliver in all that has been asked of us. We have continued to deliver operational effect with the OC finally returning from
Op CABRIT in Estonia along with WO2
Mike Buckley, LCpl Ben Turner, LCpl Jake Sanderson, Pte Paul Goldsmith, Pte Patrick Stafford, Pte Neil Kirby, Pte Richard Stanley. LCpl Adam Pinder returned from Op TORAL in Afghanistan after his tour with 4 SCOTS
The PSAO leaving
and Pte Goldsmith has mobilised again on Op RESCRIPT to assist the Ambulance Service in Scotland. For the 3rd Christmas in a row, B Coy will have someone deployed with Coy 2IC Capt Matt Styles maintaining our operational presence in Estonia with
the RTR. We look forward to 2022 with
an overseas deployment to Lithuania
(Ex IRON WOLF) and the prospect of more operational deployment opportunities.
Socially distanced Trg
Parade in Widnes
Member of C Coy conducting ‘Ex Heavy Carry’ with the Mortar Platoon on EX SAXON LANCE in Warcop
affairs, C Coy always strive to maintain that readiness to support operations.
During August, the company enjoyed some Adventurous Training in Cumbria
and Lancashire. Groups conducted hill walking over arduous terrain under the lead of Sgt Carl Taylor MC, who hails from the West Midlands and mountain biking in the Gisburn Forest under the careful supervision of WO2 (CSM) Glen Woodward, who hails from Mansfield. The steep climbs in the lakes and precarious drops on the bikes
C (Kohima) Company
Maj Deepe Rawji
Amidst the COVID pandemic, we entered 2021 with an uncertainty of how the world would unfold and how the army would adapt. C Coy has relished the opportunity to try new methods of teaching, learning and exercising. The Force Health Protection measures implemented have been
followed meticulously in order to protect our workforce. With this, we have ensured our readiness and deployability whilst maintaining a fearless ethos.
The return to training was conducted as a field exercise with the troops partaking in a ‘back to basics’ exercise in the latter part of winter near sunny Otterburn! The troops conducted Battlecraft Syllabus training and conducted a confirmation exercise that was worked around the Decisive Action Training Environment (DATE). DATE is the
2Lt ‘Magnus’ Khan delivering a conceptual study lesson on platoon attacks in Leek to SNCOs and Officers
current NATO tool that consists of opposing enemy scenarios and geographically
related adversaries to assist in planning.
C Coy troops carried out infiltration, recces, ambushes, C-CBRN and C-EOD drills.
All culminating in a well timed CASEVAC involving plenty of smoke and aggression. We returned to training within their ARCs
and deployed to Leek Training Area in April to conduct Ex KNIGHTS CROSS. This involved section attacks and basic fieldcraft drills. A perfect way to shake off the cobwebs and return to the roots of infantry soldiering.
The momentum grew and this was observed by the handover of sub-unit command with Maj Gaz Dixon, who hails from Staffordshire, outgoing and Maj Deepe Rawji, who hails from the West Midlands, taking the baton. Gaz was given a good send off and is currently working at PJHQ in his new appointment.
As the training year progressed, we saw Cpl Etches from Mansfield, LCpl Collins from Scotland, Pte Mullee from Derbyshire, Pte McLaren from Grantham and Pte Davison from Bulwell returning from OP CABRIT in Eastern Europe. They served alongside our Regular colleagues in 5 RIFLES and the operation saw them taking part in multinational exercises and taskings on the border regions of Eastern Europe. Regardless of pandemic or global
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