Mind what you do with that finger! The Commanding Officer with the Imam to the Forces in STANTA
were meant to do once 1000 soldiers had left them behind at the Nanyuki Showground, leaving them with no one left to shout at.
The forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan on Op Herrick 12 remains at the top of everyone’s priority list for preparation - and rightly so. The training throughout the whole year has been geared towards this deployment and the time has flown by with the number of exercises conducted. It has been busy at both the collective level and the individual level. The sheer number of courses that many members of the Company have had to do in preparation for the tour has been breathtaking and a not inconsiderable task for the Company Sergeant Major to coordinate! It has not just been the exercises
The Commanding Officer briefs the Colonel in Chief in STANTA
in the field that have kept the Company busy. Battalion Headquarters have been busy throughout the year honing their skills in the planning exercises with Maj Alex Cooper (Battalion 2ic) strutting his stuff with his seven questions wizardry and Capt Adie Thompson (Ops Offr) never far from one of his three beloved computers. The Intelligence Cell under Capt Ben Stephens and CSgt Mick Rooney have grown to new heights in their ability to sell the ground and enemy paragraphs and come up with ever increasing complicated wire diagrams for anyone who needs further bamboozling.
Whilst it is disappointing that we now find ourselves deploying under the names of different Battlegroups, the many members
CIS Platoon by Capt Phil Dyson
RSO: Capt Phil Dyson RSWO: WO2 I Owen
Since summer 2009, CIS Platoon with the rest of the Battalion has been focused primarily on training for the forthcoming Op Herrick 12 tour of Afghanistan. This training began in earnest with the six week long Ex Grand Prix in Kenya, something which gave the CIS Platoon and, in particular, Capt Dyson the new RSO, an excellent opportunity to site, set up and run a full Battlegroup Headquarters. Unfortunately, early on in this exercise, the CIS Platoon had to say farewell to CV1 Sgt Graeme MacMillan who had been selected for training with the Brigade Recce Force. He is due to deploy to Afghanistan with this unit and we wish him all the best for the tour.
Despite the loss of one of our SNCOs, the Platoon performed very well over the six weeks and tackled the numerous G6 issues that arose with efficiency and flexibility. The exercise was not all hard work, however, and the Platoon was lucky enough to be given three days R&R at a local Safari lodge
The Mercian Eagle
where we enjoyed not only local wildlife at close quarters but the bar and pool in equal measures.
Upon return from Kenya, the Platoon found itself busy facilitating and participating in the Op Herrick 12 training exercises from one end of the country to the other – from ranges in Otterburn to Computer Simulations in Warminster. Throughout all this, the four Queen’s Gurkha Signallers who form the Royal Signals Infantry Support Team have proved of invaluable support as the systems that we require training on for theatre have not only grown in terms of numbers but also complexity. In terms of these systems, the Platoon has had to maintain not only their skills with regard to the standard Combat Net Radio but also adapt and bring ourselves and the Battalion fully into this new digital phase.
Changes in the current Platoon manning has seen Cpl Eric Bratchell stepping up to the plate as Platoon Sgt and, more recently,
BG Ops Room in STANTA
Cpl Paul Owens returning from RSDC of A Company to take up the rôle of Training Sgt. Further to this, LCpl Rob Good has been promoted to full Cpl and confirmed as C Company Signals Detachment Commander with Cpl Stu Grundy moving to take up the same rôle for A Company. We congratulate, also, Sgt Eric Jones on his promotion to CSgt which means that he will continue in his current rôle as the Bowman Systems Manager.
Most recently the Platoon has seen its rôle change in the run up to Op Herrick 12 with the emphasis being shifted from supporting a BGHQ to giving direct support to the individual Rifle Companies. The change in rôle will bring with it not only new challenges but new experiences which will see the Platoon reform after Op Herrick 12 with a wide ranging set of skills and moving forward to future training in 2011.
October 2010 27
of HQ Company will be well positioned in each of the four Rifle Companies to be able to add their knowledge and experience and provide the necessary thickening. It has been a fantastic year in the lead up to this deployment and, for me, it has been a privilege and an honour to have been able to serve as the OC of such a fine Company. It leaves me finally to wish all the very best to WO2 Alan Jones, who has recently finished his time as the Company Sergeant Major. Over the two years he has been in post, he has put in a phenomenal effort to keep a grip on the many competing demands of HQ Company and his work ethic, diligence and attitude should be an example to all.
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