Page 66 - Mercian Eagle 2014

OC
CSM
CQMS
Pl Comd Mortars 2IC Mortars
Pl Comd Javelin 2IC Javelin
Pl Comd Recce 2IC Recce
Pl Comd Snipers 2IC Snipers
Major Jerome WO2 Hudson CSgt Smith Capt Priggs CSgt Webster Capt Wilson CSgt Bowles Capt Graves CSgt Maxwell Sgt Macpherson Sgt Buckler
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Commanders and Sergeants conducted realistic training and activity, as well as the Journey Home event run by WO1 (RQMS) Rollins. This included a tyre flip, a Gun Run, mini-mile with fingers on a treadmill and a Two Miler Competition as well as various insane attempts by platoons. The gym was packed almost all the time as people tried to work off surplus energy, and Op Massive was in full force.
The least routine aspect of the tour was undoubtedly the Med support to the ANSF. The ANA and ANP regarded PRICE as
a de facto Dressing Station and over the tour we handled 48 CAT A Casualties – more than any Role 1 at the height of the SANGIN campaign. TRiM, led by the CSM, became routine as the teams manning the Main Entry Point established a well-worked routine for search and immediate first aid and the Med team became well rehearsed in CASEVAC and treatment. This was arguably the most challenging part of the tour for the soldiers, seeing and having to deal with so many badly injured civilians, policeman and soldiers, but they were well prepared to deal with it due to their training on MST. After the tour, the skills developed
continued to pay off as Pte Chapman, faced with a traumatic bleed in his local gym, delivered care which undoubtedly saved the person concerned.
It was into the new year that austerity began to bite more so for the soldiers as comforts were all but gone after Christmas, and everything else was scaled back on a day-to-day basis. This meant for the last 6 weeks, the Company location was pretty much ready to handover to the incoming US Platoons.
Once in BASTION we were able to finish the process of recovering the vehicles, guided and directed by Sgt Swann and CSgt Johnson. The Main Body was able
to recover to Fallingbostel in good order through Cyprus, complete the normalisation programme without incident and depart on a ridiculous amount of leave!
Few in C Company will regard HERRICK 19 as a highlight of kinetic activity. For those who had never been out before it was a challenge and an experience which at least gave them a strong taste of operations. A number of awards were received during the tour – Commander TFH Commendations for Lt McNeil (COs recovery asset), LCpl Straw and LCpl Camilleri and Commander’s Coins for Pte Slym, Rfn Taylor, Pte Wright, Pte Williams and Cpl Naicobo.
D (Dragon) Company
As is usual in an Infantry Battalion, the muscle of the Support Company is what holds the whole unit together. This last year has been no different. In order to ensure the 3rd Battalion faced HERRICK 19 with the best possible chance of success it was decided to use Dragon Company personnel across all parts of the deployment. To this
end Dragon Company reinforced all aspects of the re-orbat to prepare for Afghanistan.
As this marks the last operational tour
and the final major event of 3 MERCIAN, we welcome the news that the Dragon Company name will live on in the new Battalions after the Re-organisation as we collectively move from 3 to 2 Regular Battalions.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE