Page 56 - Mercian Eagle 2017

OC Major Nik Lygo
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C (Kohima) Company
OC’s Foreword
Major Nik Lygo / OC C-Coy
This year has been as busy and fast-paced as any I have experienced to date. The
quick tempo and packed calendar has presented opportunities, reward and threats in almost equal measure.
Training for Operation SHADER
started in earnest at the back end of 2016, and it turned out that early planning and forethought paid dividends because early 2017 had the added complexity of UK Standby Battalion, and TEMPERER Support Battalion commitments running alongside Pre-Deployment Training serials. The first battle was to qualify Cat C and Foxhound drivers; this provided an opportunity for those who wanted to go on tour the chance to raise their profile. Get Foxhound qualified and your name was
likely to make it on to the team sheet for Iraq!
Early 2017 was
spent completing
the more interesting,
mandatory training
required ahead of
deployment. MATTs,
Ranges, Live firing
and Integration exercises all preluded the Mission Rehearsal Exercise in Thetford in May. The MRX confirmed without a doubt the KOHIMA Coy were ready for operations,
WO2 (CSM) Frost / A large number of key personnel will change over prior to the move to Cyprus- He will be sorely missed / Iraq / September 2017
the feedback and after action review highlighted what talented soldiers we have in the company and I left Thetford pleased,
but most importantly confident that whatever the tour through our way, we have the individuals to deal with it. Most impressive was the performance of
the Company’s JNCOs. LCpl’s stepped up repeatedly to Sect/FP
Comd appointments and never dropped a ball or missed a beat, they are a credit to the KOHIMA Company and the future of the Battalion.
On tour, the lads’ performance has continued to be top drawer. They have integrated with other cap badges, other coalition nations and most importantly the ISF with professionalism, empathy and humour. In arduous, extreme conditions (regularly 50C+) they have not once taken their eye off their primary job of looking after the Training Team Instructors. The ISF have grown fond of the Company and the feeling is reciprocated. They are a better fighting force as a result of our training and this training could not have taken place if it weren’t for the diligence and hard work of KOHIMA Coy soldiers.
Life in Camp Taji is comfortable by operational standards; good food, reasonable Wi-Fi and ice cream for at least three months of the tour! That said, they have still spent six months away from loved ones and in harm’s way. I am immensely proud and impressed with the way they looked out for each other, maintained morale and were committed to their job regardless of temperature, tiredness or any other factor. KOHIMA Company can be rightly proud of the job it has done and the standard it has set on tour, we have played our part in the fight against Daesh and have done it well.
Next year does not look like it will
be any different in terms of tempo or commitments; we will seek out and exploit the opportunities, enjoy the rewards and limit the threats as best we can. The Arms Plot move to Cyprus will be an exciting time for the Battalion and while the Cypriot heat may remind us of our time in Iraq, I hope that is where the similarities end!
‘On tour, the lads’ performance has continued to be top drawer’
Cpl Ring and Pte Jones-Young / Describe the C-IED training they conduct on Op SHADER to the Prime Minister / Iraq / November 2017
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