Page 7 - MERCIAN Eagle 2020

Infantry
Engagement
Team
Sgt Kyle Smith CGC
During the COVID-19 Outbreak in March 2020 the RST/IET (Regimental Support Team/ Infantry Engagement Team) were tasked as part of COVID testing at the MTU sites (Mobile Testing Unit), working alongside our counterparts: 4 MERCIAN. The area we were assigned to was one
of the most hit counties in the NW AO, predominately Lancashire Lake District. The task was simple: complete an RSOI package, which included extensive training in the job we would be doing. The package in total required 2 weeks of training for
real life situations we could potentially find ourselves in whilst conducting accurate testing. This training was carried out at Altcar camp.
The RSOI package included all MATT training to ensure all soldiers were qualified and in date. This was rather challenging at times due to the circumstances we were up against whilst also making sure our
control measures were in place to make it a safe place to conduct training and prevent further spread of COVID-19. We find ourselves in an incredibly challenging situation but rose above all obstacles and barriers that were put in front of us and successfully conducted all the training that was required for us to deploy on Op RESCRIPT.
Warning orders were sent out to all personnel with any changes or new training that needed completing while we were waiting for the green light to deploy. This required things such as DLE training, ensuring our soldiers were medically deployable, and all necessary vaccinations were up to date. More and more obstacles in the way, but we were determined to be trained and be at the highest standard necessary to help and serve our people and our country in this difficult time.
When Op RESCRIPT was confirmed, we
deployed to the NW AO; our home would be Halton camp for the foreseeable future. This was central to where we would be deploying and setting up MTU sites. On
the deployment soldiers were seeing high numbers of the local population turning up to receive COVID-19 tests, with the soldiers regularly averaging anything between 100-400 tests per day. Soldiers were tasked to help assist and talk through the testing procedure as well as reassuring and answering any questions people may have had with the test they had just taken.
Some of the biggest site locations would be extremely busy and the soldiers stepped up to maintain a professional service as well as excellent running of the site itself. This would not go unnoticed, with many of the testing unit sites and soldiers receiving praise from residents, local authorities, and even county mayors.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
5