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‘D’ Company


Javelin Platoon by Capt Ballard OC:


Capt J Ballard 2ic: WO2 D Thomson Javelin away LCpl Joynes with Javelin


The Javelin Platoon has had an extremely busy and varied year. The soldiers have found themselves variously playing Iraqi car salesmen, climbing in the French Alps and destroying Squadrons of tanks on Salisbury Plain, all in the space of three weeks.


In June and July, the Platoon was fully ensconced in its LWC role. Ex Wessex Warrior allowed the Platoon to practice and refine its tactics, techniques and procedures in a combination of light rôle and armoured exercises. The Mission Rehearsal Exercise (MRX) for 3 Commando Brigade was a chance for the men to recreate an authentic Afghan town complete with shops furnished with the best products that Copehill Down could offer. These exercises were interrupted by a week of blissful sunshine in the French Alps climbing, white water rafting and trekking. It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to enjoy some quality adventurous training in an area tailor- made for outdoor pursuits. The photograph shows Javelin Platoon on Adventure Training in the French Alps with the White Glacier in the background.


A hard-earned period of summer leave was followed by a busy period of LWC taskings, providing OPFOR for the Support Weapons School exercises in Warminster. It is a testament to the professionalism and adaptability of the men that they can fulfil a multitude of different rôles with determination, humility and a robust sense of humour. At the end of a long year, the


Platoon held an internal cadre at Rollestone Camp allowing new gunners to be trained, core skills to be refreshed and Rifle Company personnel to be familiarised with the Command Launch Unit (CLU). The culmination of the training year is the Combined Arms Firepower Demonstration at which the Platoon will fire four Javelin missiles at a cost of £67,000 per missile… so no pressure on the nominated gunners!


The Platoon enjoyed a successful year of command courses and promotions. Cpl Joynes, Cpl Warburton and LCpl Adams successfully passed the Javelin Detachment Commander’s course. Sgt Bowles, Sgt Williams and Cpl Lennon successfully passed the Javelin Section Commander’s course. Many congratulations


go to the following on their promotions: Sgts Bowles and Williams, Cpls Joynes, Warburton and Matthews and LCpls Adams, Davies, Wright and McCarl. Further congratulations go to a number of soldiers who have found the time to become fathers. Cpls Matthews and Joynes, Ptes Essel, Dasousa, Lagilagi and Nuinitoga have all been working hard to create the next generation of anti-tankers. The Platoon would also like to extend its thanks to Sgt Bell who has moved to B Company, to Sgt Harding who is deploying with 2 MERCIAN on Op Herrick and to Pte Essel who is leaving the Army to pursue other interests. As we leave the LWC rôle behind and move to Germany, we are all looking forward to resuming training in a deployable Brigade and to the challenges of BATUS in 2010.


Javelin Launch 68 October 2009


Javelin Platoon adventure training in France - a far cry from Tidworth. Back row: L-R: Cpl Sutherland, Capt Ballard, Cpl Lennon, Cpl Joynes, Sgt Harding, Sgt Bowles. Front row: L-R: LCpl Adams, Sgt Williams, Cpl Bradley, Cpl Warburton


The Mercian Eagle


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