Page 69 - Mercian Eagle 2017

Operational Deployments
This year has been mainly focussed on the operational deployments, Op SHADER and TRENTON, as well as the initial preparation for the future arms plot move to Episkopi Cyprus.
As pre-deployment training ramped
up over the early months of 2017, the welfare team focussed on ensuring families were issued with as much information
as possible, this included issuing family deployment packs and conducting a number of deployment briefs. These where conducted in Chester, Nottingham, Wolverhampton and Stoke on Trent throughout March and April, with facilities provided in each location by 4 MERCIAN.
Despite the pace of life, community engagement events continued, in particular, supporting Upton Westlea Primary School with a number of initiatives, which saw the Catering Platoon provide healthy eating lessons, children cooked their own meals under the watchful eye of the RCWO. The PTI staff also ran a number of physical events in the form of indoor assault courses and circuit training – they even managed to get the teaching staff involved.
From early June through to the end of the year, with companies deployed to Iraq, South Sudan and the Falkland Islands, families were offered a large range of
WO2(RCWO) Swinney/Upton Westlea/Chester/ May 17 with children from Upton Westlea Primary School during Healthy Eating Week.
activities and trips throughout the summer and half term breaks. These included Sandcastles in Blackpool, Knowsley Safari Park, Gulliver’s World Matlock, Trentham Monkey Forest Stoke, Alton Towers and Sealife/Legoland Manchester. Within our own Dale Community Centre, children enjoyed Super Hero and Pirate discos, as well as Halloween and Christmas themed parties. Children also visited Harry Potter World in London, supported by the AWS and RBL.
On the last weekend of the summer break, families enjoyed a full day of entertainment at The Dale Barracks. This was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of
the Regiment, as well as support all families with fathers deployed. Parents and children indulged in free fairground rides, music, face painting and BBQ. The day proved to be
a massive success and a great end to the summer holidays for the children.
CSgt Leighton Shirton arrived in September 2018 and fulfilled the role of Assistant UWO. Making the Cyprus move his primary task, the team’s key focus is now supporting families with the additional admin requirements involved with such
a move. We are now heading into 2018 delivering information briefs and issuing family information packs once more.
Pte Karl Williams/The Dale/ Chester/
Dec 17 cleverly disguised as Santa Clause during the Kids’ Christmas Party
Mercian Children/London/May 17 photo opportunity before visiting Harry Potter World
2 MERCIAN LAD
The LAD (Light Aid Detachment) has had an extremely busy year following the handover of over 260 vehicles, 6000 weapons and sighting systems that were part of the VJTF equipment, and the arrival of a fleet of Foxhound for Op SHADER MST.
Being a small LAD of 12 pax, supporting the three Battalion commitments; Op SHADER, Op TRENTON and Op FIRIC, was
always going to be difficult whilst
also maintaining an ROG. Three members trained for and deployed
on Op TRENTON which, fortunately for the LAD members didn’t require any specific equipment training, as the equipment that is deployed was similar to that which is held in Chester. However, after seeing some of the pictures from South Sudan it seems that any form of wet weather training would have been useful.
The three members that deployed
on Op SHADER had to train on
CAV (Civilian Armoured Vehicle) and Foxhound prior to deployment. The
few Foxhounds that made up a small percentage of our vehicle fleet went on to produce 99% of our workload during MST. Often working well into the night to ensure that driver training could take place, most of the LAD members were looking forward to deploying so they could have a rest from what the LAD considers a maintenance heavy vehicle.
The four man ROG, once the Battalion deployed, spent the next
6 months attempting to hand the Foxhound fleet back in their requisite state. Whilst this may seem an arduous task, it wasn’t all doom and gloom
for the ROG. They managed to get involved in some Adventurous Training exercises throughout this period. LCpl Lamb, an instructor, undertook scuba diving and an array of other lucrative sporting activities.
Furthermore, LCpl Whyte has represented both the REME Corps
and Army at rugby and he is already planning his next trip abroad with the team. The AQMS, WO2 Jackson has also been asked to represent the Corps at Hockey.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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