3 MERCIAN Foreword
by Lt Col G D Woodhouse Commanding Officer - 3rd Battalion The Mercian Regiment
On completion of its first year in 7 Armoured Brigade, the Battalion has fully re-integrated with the “Desert Rats” and has been reacquainted with many familiar haunts from our previous stint in Fallingbostel nearly 20 years ago. The busy programme has been dominated by training and preparation for this summer’s BATUS deployment which culminated in a richly-deserved CT 4 accreditation - the last one to be awarded.
It is a privilege to have inherited a highly trained and motivated Battalion that has achieved almost full manning after several years of toil on the recruiting and retention front. I am very grateful for the efforts of my predecessor, Lt Col Richard Spiby, in giving me the best possible start for our forthcoming operational deployment to Afghanistan next year.
Our rôle on Op Herrick 14 is manifold and covers the full gamut of partnering and mentoring activities with the Afghan
National Army (ANA). We are providing the Brigade Advisory Group (BAG), formerly the OMLT BG, for 3/215 Bde based in Camp Shorabak adjacent to Camp Bastion. The BAG will command a number of Kandak Advisory Training Teams comprising elements of Dragon Coy, SCOTS DG, 9/12L and 4 SCOTS. B Coy will deploy in rôle with the latest OTEP WARRIOR fleet as Task Force Troops working to 3 Cdo Bde RM from Lashkar Gah. A and C Coys are deploying in the light rôle and will be working in CF NES (N) AO, Central Helmand, under Danish command. In light of the recent operational experience of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, a great deal of effort is being expended in ensuring that we have a robust Rear Operations Group to support our soldiers and families here in Germany and on the Midlands home front.
At home in Germany, the infrastructure of Lumsden Barracks continues to improve
‘A’ Company
by Maj Cox MBE OC:
2ic:
CSM: WSM:
CQMS (M): CQMS (T):
1 Platoon 2 Platoon 3 Platoon
Major A Cox MBE Capt P Shergold
WO2 D Illsley/WO2 K Chappelle Vacant
CSgt G Pemberton
CSgt R Conway Pl Comd
Lt D Rossiter Capt T Causer Lt C Groves
Pl Sgt Sgt R Garner WR Sgt Sgt J Ross
Sgt J Woodward Vacant Sgt Davies
Vacant
The move to Germany, back to Fallingbostel, which started for advance parties around April time, went smoothly and the soldiers of A
The Mercian Eagle
Company found themselves experiencing the heat of a German summer. During the next few weeks, the Company was able to relax
after the hectic schedule of the Land Warfare Centre BG and then begin a slow build up to the BATUS deployment. Some much needed sport and fitness training took place with football and running competitions before the training began at low level. There was an enthusiastic embrace of the local German culture with trips to major cities such as Hannover, Bremen and Hamburg and some over-indulgence in Bratwurst, Bockwurst and German beer and interaction with the locals! There were also various functions in which the different messes were introduced to other units in 7 Armoured Brigade. Capt Pete “Judo” Shergold ran a very successful Families Day enjoyed by soldiers and families alike in a thoroughly entertaining start to out time in
October 2010 55
in spite of the current funding austerity measures. A major win for the single soldiers is the construction of two new accommodation blocks which should be complete by our return from Afghanistan next year. With a considerable amount of self help, the JNCOs have established their own Corporals’ Mess facility. With a burgeoning accompanied soldier population, now in excess of 250 families, the Welfare facilities continue to expand and improve.
My feeling is that the soldiers are eager to deploy as a Battalion for their first operational tour in Afghanistan and to do their level best to emulate the successes of our two sister Battalions. With our proud operational track record, an excellent pre- deployment training package and with the sage advice of some Afghan veterans in the orbat, I have every confidence that we will cement the Regiment’s reputation for operational excellence in Afghanistan.
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