Page 7 - Chiron Spring 2020

It has been an exceptionally busy period for the 102 MWD SQN Protection Troop. As part of a Squadron held at high readiness, Protection Troop has dived into all sorts of intense training and exercises; making sure that we are ready to deploy anywhere in the world.
Since arriving at the Sqn, I have taken over the delightful duties as a protection section IC/2IC (this is Gen, so no sarcasm involved). Having had a couple of weeks back at camp for admin and to catch up on certain courses such as EFSCC (also known as Sea Survival) and Heli-dunker, I was ready to get to work. Heli-dunker is pretty rats, but once you end up doing it 7 times (due to the fact that you panic because your brain is telling you that it is not normal to be turned upside down in water in the dark and escape), it became fun. I know! Crazy right? But it is all good training that will always be in the back of my mind every time I fly. All of this is to make sure that you are fully deployable for land, sea and air (well, we are working on the air bit currently), should the occasion arise.
Having sat in a brief with SHQ, I have noticed the amount of work we will be doing throughout the year. The first being attachments to the IBS (Infantry Battle School) Brecon in order to support their Platoon Sergeants Battle Course (PSBC), showing the future SNCOs how they can best utilise protection MWDs offensively through buildings and urban environments, as well as defensively during ambushes and cordoned locations. The fantastic feedback we’ve received is due to the hard work of guys on the ground. As a result, we have opened up a huge opportunity for protection; IBS are keen for us to support future courses. Not only have we supported the PSBC, but we have been supporting the Urban Ops Instructors Course (UOIC), demonstrating to user units the huge
variety of tasks Protection dogs can be used for.
Prot Sect have gone through vigorous training in Urban Ops and Close Quarter Battle (CQB) techniques to make sure that we will be an effective member of any team, especially as an attached unit. This training taught us the basic techniques of moving as a 6-man team through and in-between buildings, identifying the critical communication and teamwork required. We have also explored the illustrious tunnels underneath villages and towns, using the cover of darkness to our advantage. We’ve completed training in first aid & casualty drills and different methods of extracting casualties from buildings safely. The biggest highlight, apart from hearing the beautiful word “ENDEX”, is the opportunity for the teams to do a little environmental training on the Chinook helicopters and hearing the all too familiar “WAKKA WAKKA” of the engines in the distance before you see it on the horizon, moving to your location on the HLS. Being a very young section, this brought many happy faces with a lot of banter and stories to tell in the future.
Not only have we supplied our professional dog teams to support infantry units, we can’t forget about our Commandos, now can we? We have deployed our dog teams to the Baltics, spending time on ship and keeping busy by going through drill upon drill, upon vet lessons and more drills and more vet lessons. Well that is one way to keep the guys out of trouble! The Ex gave the teams the opportunity to work with other international armed forces and engineering units, exchanging knowledge and support with our NATO friends.
Having now been deployed on ships, we have gone through some intense training for that environment. We’ve put our teams under pressure by tasking
them with casualties in speed boats; creating demanding veterinary first aid scenarios aboard ship; as well as delivering training in hoisting, lifting and pushing through the tiniest of maritime spaces for CQB with the dogs.
Throughout the year our main and continuous effort for protection is to make sure the teams are ready for any environment; making sure that both the soldiers and their MWDs are ready. We do this by placing them in realistic situations under pressure throughout their training and licensing.
Time and time again Protection Troop have proven themselves and have been constantly requested for deployments and exercises with Infantry user units. This has been a huge step up for the protection capability in our Sqn. Gone are the days in which we just patrol around 10ft fences with the odd handler that is lucky enough to get an awesome tasking come through. Times have changed for this capability. We are out there doing more. Not only are we used as base or camp security, or as part of cordon keeping raucous crowds at bay, but we are being used more by ‘hunter forces’ and being a part of the main assault teams in CQB environments.
We have worked hard throughout the last year and the first months of this, constantly training and deploying on exercises in which Protection Troop conduct themselves with great professionalism. Not only handling but advising user units in using this capability in different environments. 102 Sqn has led the way for the protection capability, utilising new equipment and pioneering MWD CQB. I am deeply proud and honored to be IC of this section and look forward to the new challenges and opportunities 2020 will offer.
“102 LEAD THE WAY... ALL THE WAY”
102 PROTECTION SECTION
LCpl Goument, 102 MWD SQN, Protection Section IC
This is what we do...
and who we are...
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CHIRON CALLING 7