Page 81 - Mercian Eagle 2014

F (Gaza) Company
OC (Acting) PSAO
CSM
SPSI
CQMS CSgt Pl Comd (SF)
Capt Gaz Dixon
Maj Pete Bullard WO2 Dougie Spooner WO2 Dean Hudson Paul Bywater
CSgt Paul Ainsworth
Since the last edition of the Eagle,
F Company has undergone some major changes – some positive, some not so welcome – but has at all times endeavoured to perform beyond what was believed to be our ceiling. Although the vast majority of our time has been taken with maintaining our base skills, a few extra minutes were found spare in the CQMS stores for some other bits of fun!
Goodbye! and Hello!
Throughout June and July of this year,
F Company has said a sad farewell to a number of those movers and shakers, and in some cases old war horses.
Firstly, Major Ian Bond, the OC, has moved to take command of D Company. After being with F Company from its formation, Major Bond has seen it through its peaks and troughs, through a large number of personnel deploying off to sunny and warm places, and countless Battalion activities. It’s our hope D Company realise what they have truly won from us!
Others that we say an ‘adieu’ to are: Capt Chris Hymas (PSAO) departed for pastures new in June, after tenure of years being a repository of sound advice and knowledge second only to our retiring QPSI, CSgt ‘Merv’ Malec, of whom no one ever really got to know what was worse; bark or bite! WO2 Ronnie Duffey (SPSI) also departed, after 24 years of service in the Army, for the green fields of retirement. We wish them all the best for the future, hope that they look back on their time with a certain fondness for us and thank them for all the hard work through the years they put in.
We also said our goodbyes to our Platoon in Kidderminster, who as of
July became part of the Battalion’s HQ Company.
And the welcomes.
We welcome Major Pete Bullard and WO2 Dean Hudson to the fold. Major Bullard joins us to step in to the PSAO
desk after leaving the halls of BHQ and Mr Hudson joins us from the Third Battalion after returning from Afghanistan to serve
as the Senior Permanent Staff Instructor (SPSI). And it cannot go without mention, our new recruits who are currently working hard getting through CIC prior to coming on strength.
King’s Own Borderer Regiment Cup (Match 9), 15 March
On the wind – and rain-swept range of Charlie High at Warcop Ranges, four GPMG(SF) gun teams from F Company competed in the annual Kings Own Borderer Regiment Cup.
King’s Own Borderers Regt Cup flanked by the winning Guns
The gun teams were comprised of Cpl Noon, Cpl Rogers, Cpl Perryman, LCpl Josey, LCpl Deacon (RLC), Pte Watts, Pte Tristram and Pte White. After five days
of intensive training, for most a refresher, all were judged to be ready to enter the competition.
The teams competing against both Regular and Reservist teams from across the Infantry produced a fine display of skills, and after a slight drop in the wind and rain, proceeded to win the Gold in the Match 9 and were awarded the Kings Own Borderer Regt Cup.
The gauntlet has been thrown down to A (Fusilier) Company who now take on the SF Platoon.
Good luck!
Support to Operations –
Cyprus (Op TOSCA)
As part of the future pairing of the Regular and Reserve Battalions, six of the Company have been called upon to serve with the
2 MERCIAN Group on Op TOSCA, as part of the UK commitment to the UN Force In Cyprus. Capt Dixon, Sgt Robinson, LCpl Neal, Pte Tristram, Pte White and Pte Watts, together with others from across the Battalion, will join the 2 MERCIAN Group late in August of this year, for what, it is hoped, will be a rewarding six months in Cyprus.
It has proven devastating for a couple who had to give up their places on the Battalion Cambrian Patrol team for 6 months of Cypriot sun!!!
Estate near the M54 for soldiers of the two locations to join together and exercise as a rifle platoon, under the watchful observation of the 143 Brigade Commander, Brigadier GH Wheeler OBE. There were over 50 soldiers involved including a strong platoon, enemy forces, G4 support – and even Sgt Preece, the master chef, who laid on a
tasty barbecue for everyone involved after training. Also present were both recruits and potential recruits who were at the training area to carry out field craft training and were able to see the final positions being cleared. The evening was a great success and the
HQ Company
OC
2IC CQMS Pl Comd
Maj T Carpenter-Balmer Maj Watters
Sgt Newell
Lt D Rawji
This year has seen HQ Company
entering into a new era of change and innovation. HQ Company is restructured to establish rifle platoons within a traditional HQ Company. To reinforce the change, and although a rifle platoon was still
being formed in Wolverhampton ARC,
the rifle platoons at Kidderminster ARC have re-subordinated to become part
of HQ Company. In order to establish a
rifle platoon in Wolverhampton, the first and foremost task was to recruit extra volunteers into the company on the one hand and reorganise the training to focus in the basic combat infantry skill on platoon and section level on the other.
The Recruiting Team, headed by Cpl Bolus assisted by LCpl Jones and Pte Edge, and also supported by a number
of volunteers whenever required and available, went out to set up booths in
the Wolverhampton area to promote the uniqueness of serving in the Army Reserve. As a result of their hard work, the number of potential recruits, dressed in civilian clothes prior to their kit issue, were seen increasing on the drill nights. Training on the drill nights has also been redesigned for the members of both Wolverhampton and Kidderminster ARCs to train and exercise together. A recent exercise on FIWAF was conducted on private land at Chillington
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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