Page 11 - MERCIAN Eagle 2020

1 Platoon
Company Overview:
Pl Comd: Lt Daniel Rhodes Pl Sgt: Sgt Craig Fowkes Wr Sgt: Sgt Andrew Barton
March seems like a long, long
time ago now. A time when
a CQMS had to worry about
rations, water and C-supps;
not where his hand wash
station would best be placed.
A time when your green face mask meant applying cam cream and Strava sounded like a knock-off Czech Republic beer.
It was also the time of the year A (Grenadier) Company deployed on
Ex WATCHMAN GRENADIER; a shakeout for the Company following a period of post operational tour leave from Op CABRIT 4, Christmas stand-down, and adventurous training.
The Grenadiers, alongside the Assault Pioneers, deployed to Swynnerton Training Area in the heart of Staffordshire; a small but varied training facility that was, for many, a 20-minute drive from home.
The following days and nights consisted of harbour routine, recce patrols, strike operations, IED lanes, CBRN ‘lessons’, the promoting of Watchman VI (the mascot
of The Staffordshire Regiment) from Private to Lance Corporal, and the retiring of Watchman V at the rank of Colour Sergeant.
The exercise proved, yet again, to be
a success for the Grenadiers. Notable incidents included LCpl McCabe firing the GPMG from his doss-bag during a harbour ‘bump’ whilst simultaneously making sure his hair was fit for purpose; Cpl Luvuwaqa decisively choosing to roll every enemy position no matter the distance, and Sgt Gilham ensuring that the enemy ‘played the game’ during serials.
The exercise was concluded by
the promotion and retirement of the aforementioned Staffordshire Regiment mascot, Watchman. CSgt Watchman V, a loyal but aging Staffy was retired, but his successor, Private Watchman VI, who
performed excellently on the Kings Dogs Training Team, or KDTT, was promoted
to Lance Corporal by the Grenadiers. Promotion of men in the Company was a norm for the Grenadiers, promoting dogs was not, but it’s safe to say, with hindsight, that promoting a canine was not even close to the strangest thing to
CSgt Watchman V (left), LCpl Watchman VI (right), March 20
gloom, and it is worth highlighting a few
of the success stories that came around because of it. Ptes Rogers and Walker completed the David Goggins challenge;
4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours. LCpl Atkins covered 100km on foot in 13hrs. The Platoon contributed their fair share to some
happen in 2020.
The exercise wouldn’t
be complete, however, without the compulsory dose of Battle PT to see the Grenadiers
...it’s safe to say, with hindsight, that promoting a canine was not even close to the strangest thing to happen in 2020.
excellent video lessons both in the Platoon and within the Company, as well as a gun camp to Castlemartin in order to fulfil our readiness as part of Lead Armoured Battle Group.
Despite the unorthodox training year, the Grenadiers have continued to
into a long weekend;
a “section march and
shoot minus the shoot
part so just a march
really” around the
training area. Three miles and a few sheep dips later, the Company were ‘rounds complete’ in Swynnerton, and looked forward to what was in store for the year ahead. How naive we were...
live by their ethos in everything they have achieved thus far; having a ruthless will to win, seizing upon their initiatives, looking after each other and taking pride in their work.
Grenadier boresighting on Castlemartin Gun camp, July 20
The COVID-19 era was not all doom and
1 Platoon in Caerwent, September 20
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
9