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in the Platoon and he will be missed. Good luck. Cpl “Slab” Dineen leaves the Army in September 2009 after 12 years’ loyal service. Once again, a very good storeman with plenty of valuable knowledge and stores experience who cannot be replaced overnight. We wish him and his family all the best. LCpl Porter was promoted to LCpl in November 2008 and Sgt “Ginge” Hartshorn was promoted to Sgt in June 2008. WO2 (RQMS) Pete Lewis was selected for promotion to WO1 and the next RSM 2 MERCIAN. WO2 Baz Mitchell was also selected for promotion to WO1 and is now RSM 3 MERCIAN. WO2 (RQMS) Dave “T” Triandifilou became RQMS (T) in December 2008. Finally, around July 2009, I am handing over the reins to Capt Fred Slaney who is returning for a QM re-show. In the photograph, WO2 (RQMS) Lewis is dressed in his helmet and Osprey body armour for protection whilst collecting B Company’s recent ammunition amnesty; members of the QM’s Dept absent on course or already deployed on Op Herrick 10 are represented by Fig 11 targets.


Signals Platoon by Capt Charlesworth RSWO:


RSO:


their ComBAT terminals (laptop computers allowing for situational awareness); secondly, after a two day turn round, it was on to the Battalion Confirmatory Exercise (CFX) at STANTA where the OMLTs were put through their paces and the detachment commanders fought (and mostly won the fight) for comms. After a short Christmas leave, the 19 Brigade Combined Arms Live Firing Exercise (CALFEX) started. The Platoon received (temporarily!), a Battalion level uplift of signals kit which enabled us to provide the full communications infrastructure for this exercise. This involved a number of complicated and different communications systems in several locations (spread over the whole of Otterburn Training Area (OTA)) and with numerous attached units, allowing for the whole spectrum of assets attached to 19 Brigade to be commanded and controlled. From the CALFEX, it was a quick pack up and close down and a long drive to the 19 Brigade Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX) on Salisbury Plain, where the majority of the Communications Information Systems (CIS) equipment we will use on Herrick 10 was introduced to us (and refreshed for those who were part of Herrick 6 only 20 months ago!).


Capt E L Charlesworth WO2 D J Booker


Since the last edition, the Signals Platoon has been busy as usual providing the Company detachments and running various signal cadres in camp in preparation for the forthcoming tour to Afghanistan. The Platoon is now fully settled into the swing of being in Belfast and all it as to offer!


We welcome to the Platoon Capt Charlesworth from ITC Catterick, Cpl Painter who rejoined from civvy street, LCpl Atherton who transferred from RLC and Ptes Burridge, Carr, Cook, Dawkes, Evans, Humphries, Johnson, Lafferty, Munro, Ridley, Risi, Sammutt and Spencer from the Rifle Companies. We say farewell to Ptes Birchall, Glossop and Rudd who are leaving the Army in the near future and we wish them the best of luck. The Pl extends it congratulations to the following on their promotions: WO2 Booker as RSWO, CSgt Saunders as CIS CQMS, Sgt Pointon to CIS Pl Sgt, Cpls Castledine and Rees and LCpl Green. Congratulations also go to Sgt Pointon on the birth on his son, Logan, and to Cpl Painter on passing the IRSAS course, to Cpl Rees on passing the IRSA and to LCpl Atherton on passing both the IRSA and IRSI courses.


Over the last year, the Platoon has deployed numerous times to the mainland; firstly, we went on a Battle Group (BG) Combined Arms Staff Trainer (CAST) which proved to be a good shake out especially for the application specialists (APPSPECS) who did a great job of keeping the BG staff happy with


44 October 2009


Throughout this period, the Platoon has shown a positive and well humoured approach to the tasks given. I praise those who have repeatedly deployed the week before everyone else to set up and lay the foundations for every exercise the Battalion has had this year. All in all, a very busy year for the Signals Platoon although it has served as a stepping stone as we have come together, learnt each other’s rôles, further developed our flexibility and placed ourselves in very good stead for the forthcoming tour.


SPS Detachment by Capt Reynolds


OC:


Capt K Reynolds


The Arms Plot move has happened, everyone is now in Northern Ireland and the pace has continued in the run up to the forthcoming deployment on Op Herrick 10. Exercises have continued with the majority of clerks involved at one time or another. Our focus, as for everyone, was training and preparation for both the annual SPS inspection by Brigade and the deployment, ensuring that everyone was ready and that all eventualities were covered. Success would be crucial and I am glad to report that the team pulled together and that the preparation was a total success.


Having returned from Op Herrick 6, taken some well deserved POTL and Christmas Leave, we prepared in January 2008 for the move to Northern Ireland. In February and March, the Battalion moved en masse to the Province with both Sgt Gail Evans and Cpl Amanda Buckley part of the advance party. Sgt Evans obviously took the move as very stressful and managed to book a seat on Ex Red Stripe in Jamaica to relax during May, June and July 2008. Having returned from Jamaica, Sgt Evans then changed posts moving from Regimental Accountant to become the Systems Co-ord with Sgt Dougie Cunniff moving the other way.


Having moved to the Province, we knew that movements back to the Mainland would be a crucial tool to the overall success of the Detachment. Moving the Battalion over a stretch of water en masse for exercises in both north and south of UK would be difficult enough, let alone taking over the majority of flights into East Midlands on a weekly basis. Our work was eased by Mrs Jennifer Tallon and Mrs Brenda McIlmail in the creation of the Movements Cell. With soldiers now entitled to twelve journeys, whether single or unaccompanied, or three family journeys if married accompanied, life


Pte Gemma Colley tackling a demanding canoeing course The Mercian Eagle


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