the Platoon’s learning curve will be steep but there is no doubt in my mind that every single member of the Platoon is up to the challenge.
Faces have come and gone within the Platoon yet again. Cpl Cooper has been brought in as a Detachment Commander to bolster us; Ptes Brookes, Marriot and Leeming have joined us from ITC and have thrown themselves straight into all the arduous training without any problems. Cpl Ritchie, having had a very successful and safe tour of Afghanistan with 2 MERCIAN, has taken up an Instructor’s role at ATR Pirbright. Cpl Shirton and LCpl Martin have moved to the Bn Intelligence Cell where they will hopefully put their grey matter to use! Pte Moffa has retired and has left the military to work on power lines around the UK – and we wish him the best of luck. Pte Varley has recently been promoted, having dragged his aged body over training areas around the UK! The Platoon has also said goodbye to WO2 Bates who has wangled a job within the Cadet Training Team – spending even more time Adventurous Training! In his place, we welcome WO2 Hayes from C Company who has been instrumental in the smooth transition of the Platoon into the FSG role and I thank him for his support and assistance.
Sniper Platoon – Capt Lawrence Moore
This has been a varied and challenging year for the Sniper Platoon or, as we prefer, the “Chosen Men”. It started with a demanding deployment to the Falkland Islands in support of both C and G Companies. Unfortunately, we were unable to go deer- stalking but we were allowed to practise our skills with the newly-introduced L115 sniper rifle on the local bovine population on Onion Range as part of a programmed cull. The Platoon deployed, also, as part of
LCpl Howden and Pte Elliott mark and record a dry GPMG SF target
the Battlegroup for Ex Grand Prix in Kenya in September. This allowed us to hone our reconnaissance and OP skills whilst working deep in ‘enemy’ territory. The utility of the sniper was amply proven when Cpl Parker almost succeeded in defeating the enemy on the Battlegroup final objective single-handed with a few well-placed k-kills. Training has been central to our activities and we now boast fourteen fully badged snipers although we will sadly lose two - Ptes Wilson and Young - as they go to seek pastures new in the outside world. We have also seen success through one of our JNCOs, LCpl Maas (known affectionately as “Mars Bar”) who recently completed the Army Officer Selection Board in Westbury; he is due to go to RMAS on return from Op Herrick and we wish him the best of luck.
Fire Support Platoon – Captain Andy Raven
It has been a full and busy year for the members of Fire Support Platoon, one which has seen a great deal of hard work but also some very good returns for our efforts.
Pte McLean with HMG on deck of HMS Clyde during the FIRIC deployment
Ptes McLean and Somerville supporting live firing on Ex Grand Prix
The Mercian Eagle
The main focus for all of us has been the introduction of both the HMG and GMG into the Battalion and the subsequent implementation of the FSG concept along with Javelin Platoon. Under the guidance of our specialist trainers, we have taken responsibility for the training of a large percentage of the Company and the Battalion as a whole conducting several range packages qualifying our men to fire these weapons during Op Herrick 12. This in itself has been no small task considering most of the men who have now become the Battalion experts with these weapons had not even touched them this time last year. Much work has been put in by CSgt Vickery, Sgt Borlace and Cpl Golden-Lockyer to ensure that we are up to standard.
Highlights of the year include Ex Grand Prix in September during which I believe both we and the Rifle Companies began to realise the benefit of having gunners to support their operations. They were also exposed to the arduous nature of the job that we do, often carrying heavier weights for longer times over more arduous terrain than any other troops in 1 MERCIAN. The Drums contingent of our Platoon continues to develop with an exceptionally difficult task of providing displays often at short notice with little time to practice. They proved that they are more than up to the task of doing this when they excelled during the Families’ Day performing to The Colonel in Chief. Special mention should go to Pte Robinson who took part after only three weeks’ tuition from LCpl O’Connell. It has been a productive year for promotions with LCpls Warsop, O’Connell, Shaw and Connor all successfully completing Cadres and, at the time of writing, Pte Elliot is one day away from obtaining a pass and, hopefully, his first stripe. LCpl Larkey has been away to complete AASAA and the Machine Gun Section Commander’s course which should place him in line to promote to Cpl when the space becomes available.
It would not be fair to finish this article without mentioning what is properly the greatest achievement of the Platoon this year. During the Battalion cohesion month, Fire Support competed against, and comfortably defeated, all the other Platoons in the Battalion March and Shoot competition. This not only gained us significant bragging rights but also the title of The Earl of Chester’s Platoon. All in all, it has been a busy but rewarding year for the Platoon. I am proud of what we have achieved and when we deploy into the three FSGs, I know that we will do this offering the Companies the best possible support and some of the best trained soldiers within 1 MERCIAN.
October 2010 21
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