Page 56 - MERCIAN Eagle 2020

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In September, Ex MIDNIGHT HACKLE saw members of HQ Coy attach to 5 RRF for a week-long OBUA package. In the
first phase of the exercise, troops had a familiarisation with the Warrior IFV and conducted a rifle and pistol ACMT. Phase 2 saw them deploy to Salisbury Plain, where they conducted recce patrols, ambushes and a final OBUA attack. Phase 3 saw them move to Corsham Mines to conduct subterranean training with blanks and simunition. Troops also had the opportunity to work with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and sniffer and protection dogs from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps.
The Battalion returned to training with Ex VIKING SLAYER which saw us deploy to Sennybridge Training Area to conduct a 2-day FIWAF package
and a weeklong live fire
package (TLFTT). The
force-on-force FIWAF
phase saw us conduct
recce patrols, lessons
on orders and a final
platoon attack.
An MTU during a snow storm
sharpshooter range and culminated in a day and night section in defence range with sharpshooters and GPMGs.
September also saw the first wave of HQ Coy members to deploy on Op
CABRIT with 5 RIFLES. Three members of the company deployed to Estonia, with another three due to join them in December. They will be deployed until March 2021.
Drill nights in October saw HQ Coy preparing for Ex URBAN DAWN. We covered the basics of operating in an urban environment and room clearance. The exercise saw the Battalion deploy to Swynnerton
to conduct urban environment training and CQB drills. Conceptual training was put on for the Junior Officers to learn about how to
During the exercise,
the Battalion hosted
Commander Field
Army’s first visit to an
Army Reserve unit in
his tenure. CFA praised
the Battalion for our
work on Op RESCRIPT
and spoke about the
utility and future of the Army Reserves. The second phase of the exercise saw troops conducting an ACMT, moving target range,
Ice Breaking Drills – 2Lt Hugh Murdoch
SWORD. By now England had once again gone into a nationwide lockdown, so social distancing was enforced rigidly throughout any training that was being conducted.
This saw the Battalion deploy to Caerwent; a building with bays, wide enough for two people to sleep in, allowed us to socially distance at all times and became our FOB. Troops from HQ Coy joined onto B Coy for the first part of training, which was a ‘remind and revise’ of the things learnt the previous training weekend. After orders had been delivered, we conducted a platoon attack onto a complex of three large buildings, which gave the troops a chance to put into practice what they had learned. In the early hours of the morning, we set off to conduct a company level attack. As we arrived in the FUP the sun began to rise so night vision equipment was removed. Members of
HQ Coy had formed a section in 2 Platoon, for which I was Platoon Commander. After 1 Platoon had assaulted their objectives,
I led the Platoon through our 3 objective buildings. After the successful attack the new Commanding Officer, Lt Col Spalton, introduced himself to the Battalion for the first time.
December will see members of HQ Coy deploy on Ex SNOW EAGLE, the last training weekend of the year and a series of stands and patrolling skills tasks. Overall, 2020 has been a year of change for HQ Coy. The change to life caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic brought new opportunities in the form of Op RESCRIPT, as well as changes in the way training is conducted. There has been a change in appointments such as CO, RSM, OC and Pl Comd. Despite the pandemic however, 2020 has been a busy year with training still being conducted that has allowed the company to be in brilliant stead for 2021.
After orders had been delivered, we conducted a platoon attack onto a complex of three large buildings, which gave the troops a chance to put into practice what they had learned
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
LCpl Jack Harley, front cover Solder magazine
lead and make plans in the urban environment, with an opportunity to practice writing and delivering
orders. Meanwhile the soldiers practiced room clearance at section level
by day and night. October also saw a
change to the way that HQ Coy conducts training.
In the past each Tuesday has been a drill night. Now however, for non recruits,
there will be less drill nights. Instead there will be a Saturday each month
that will encompass a whole day’s training. The aim of this is to make
training more efficient, requiring people to come in less often, but with
a full day’s training that isn’t restricted to the two hours available in the evenings.
Following on from the success of Ex URBAN DAWN, drill nights were
focused on the next level of operating in the urban environment in preparation for Ex IRON