Therefore, on our return, Sniper training was at the forefront of our minds and the guys couldn’t wait to get back into the “conventional” rôle again and were looking forward to proving themselves on the Basic Sniper (Part Two) course and, if successful, becoming “badged”. The Battalion Jobs Fair produced eight experienced soldiers who were selected to join the Platoon out of forty eight who expressed an interest in joining, proving once again that the Sniper Platoon is still seen as the place to be for any Infantryman worth his salt!
The Basic Sniper Cadre (Part Two) was run during February in Ballykinler and was a great success, managing to badge the soldiers who managed fit their Part One in only before the tour. The course also gave the “new guys” a great insight into what they would be required to do later in the year once they had passed the Part One course in April. The course is notoriously difficult and for good reason: the Sniper is an integral part of the BG and can inflict massive casualties upon an enemy. The course was run over three weeks testing map reading, use of aerial photography, observation post (OP) construction and occupation, judging distance, camouflage and concealment, observation and, finally, the stalks where the Sniper has to insert into a fire position, fire several shots and extract while under constant observation by two trained Snipers - no mean feat!
The new additions, Cpl Edwards, LCpls Gavan and Tipton, Ptes Baikirewe, Gines, Jenson Van Rensburg, Surmon and Van Rensburg, could not be tested or badged having not done the Part One course but they all coped with the Part Two Course extremely well, showing good potential and skills in the parts which they attempted. This is all credit not only to the individuals but also to the Rifle Companies from which they came and I have every confidence that they will go on to become good Snipers in the future. Straight after the Basic Sniper (Part Two) Course, we remained in Ballykinler to conduct a Platoon Live Firing package on both the Gallery Ranges and Field Firing Areas. This was a chance for the Platoon to re-zero weapons, shake out into the new ORBAT, start working in pairs and obtain data for the L115A3. By this time, the snow had covered Ballykinler (even though I booked it for Part Two) but it gave us fine shooting conditions throughout the two weeks. The package ended with two days’ Field Firing out to various ranges.
After some well earned Easter Leave, the Sniper Pl is now back into it and busy as the Battalion Shooting Team. This again sees us back in Ballykinler but, this time, honing our 5.56mm rifle marksmanship, preparing to compete at the forthcoming Combined 3/4 DIVSAAM to be held in Bulford during May and then CENTSAAM at Bisley during July. I have every confidence that the Platoon will
46 October 2010
continue to produce first class results during DIVSAAM and CENTSAAM and put the Battalion name back up where it used to be as “The Shooting Battalion”.
Mortar Platoon by Capt Hadland
The third edition of The Mercian Eagle finds the Mortar Platoon in very good health, despite being disbanded ahead of Op Herrick 10. We are now fully manned, the cadres have been carried out and we are now getting our teeth into a number of Regular Army Assistance Table (RAAT) tasks that will get our firing up to the standard that we wish ahead of the Battalion’s trip to Kenya.
The year started with a few weeks in camp relaxing after our Christmas leave before the real business of the mortar cadre started at Ballykinler in February. The cadre, which was run mainly by WO2 Barnett, was a busy time for all involved with the staff, as always, working as hard as the soldiers on the cadre. During our time in Ballykinler, we also ensured that we kept our basic soldering skills going with small arms shooting and fitness making up a large part of the programme - one particular fitness session which was held a few times was dubbed “the emotional mile” and was a mile long dash up the water’s edge. The soldiers’ fitness was again tested on another non-mortaring highlight - Sgt Slingsby’s bayonet fighting which was enjoyed by all. Finally, it was at Ballykinler that we said goodbye to Capt Rob Agnew who has been the Platoon Commander for the last two years. Capt Agnew has worked tirelessly with WO2 Barnett recently to ensure that the Platoon has re-formed well and it is down to the hard work of these two men that we are in as good a shape as we are now. Capt Agnew has now gone to be Adjutant at ITC (C) and we wish him well.
The cadre finished at Salisbury Plain with live firing to qualify the new mortar men, the shoot being support to the Fire Support Team Commander’s course. Having fired, they were now officially Mortarmen and all that remained was to hand out the prizes; all through the cadre, a Section competition had been running with 1 Section led by Sgt Slingsby and Cpl Coombes and 2 Section led by Cpls Smith and Dennis. It was a hard fought competition but, finally, 1 Section prevailed. The last prize was to the
The Mercian Eagle
best student on the cadre and this went to Pte Pickering who received his prize from the Commanding Officer when he came to visit. With the cadre completed, the next phase involves plenty of shooting between now and summer with support to both SCBC and PSBC in the next few months amongst the live firing we will be doing. Also, we will join up with the rest of D (FSp) Company for joint training where we can prove - yet again - that we are the best Platoon not only in the Company but also the Battalion.
Finally, there are a few “well dones”, welcomes and goodbyes. We have welcomed many new soldiers into the Platoon in the last few months, many of them joining straight from ITC (C) although a few have come across from other parts of Battalion: we even managed to recruit Cpl Bennett from the QM’s! A “well done” for LCpls Price and Ridgeway for passing their Mortar Standard Course at Warminster – they will be well tested this year as newly qualified MFCs. As for goodbyes, we have lost not only our Platoon Commander but also, not long afterwards, our 2ic when WO2 Barnett left at the beginning of March. WO2 Barnett has spent the majority of his career with the Platoon and it is very sad that there will now be a whole new generation of 2 MERCIAN Mortarmen who will grow up without his gentle hand to guide them. WO2 Barnett has left to become SPSI at the Mansfield Company of 4 MERCIAN although I am sure that he will keep a watchful eye on proceedings from afar.
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