commitment and effort in supporting both Battalions over this transition period.
The first day of the new tenure for 3 MERCIAN came as a bit of a surprise to many of the longer serving members of the LAD in that the Battalion PT programme up until December 2009 was published. It detailed substantially more PT sessions programmed into the working week than the previous unit had enjoyed and it left some of the LAD concerned yet excited at the prospect. Over the next couple of weeks, the LAD continued to embed and affiliate with the Battalion. Fitter Sections were assigned to each Company, MT and HQ LAD looked at their internal processes for B Vehicle repair and the LAD members said farewell to their dark blue berets and hackles, for the Mercian beret and Staffordshire Knot. There was also a changeover of command of the LAD with Capt Jo Hollins handing over to Capt Anthony Platt.
With the first few driving cadres underway and BCIP 5.2 training planned for the whole of September/October 2009, planning for the first range packages, CAST and CATT were well underway. A Company, realising that they were being attached to the SCOTS DG BG for BATUS in May 2010, quickly departed on numerous CT1 and 2 level exercises with their embedded Fitter Section. SSgt Murphy (Art Veh), commanded A Company Fitter Section over this testing period, fully immersing himself and his team in both the military and technical training on offer. A challenging range package in November 2009 was to be the first real test for my two Class 3 armourers, Cfn Frank and Cfn Gillett. With several Rarden and Chain gun problems arising from lack of firing over the previous 12 months, Sgt Cheetham and his merry team of armourers worked around the clock to ensure that the Battalion IGLFX range successfully qualified 38 brand new Warrior crews in preparation for BATUS. HQ LAD also deployed with the Battalion IGLFX to conduct some low level training for the LAD echelon. A strong performance from my RLC Driver/Radio Operator, Cpl Parry, on this exercise saw him running BOWMAN refresher training, admin in the field and even a bit of enforced recovery training out on the area. January 2010 was the coldest winter in Germany for the past couple of decades; snow covered the ground from December until at least 10th March. This was not enough to delay training for A Company and, again, SSgt Murphy led his Fitter Section of nine on CT level training with the Company in conditions you would only expect to endure on an Arctic Survival Course. All thawed out, the Battalion now had BCIP 5.4, BG CAST, 7X CAST and the final qualifying ranges for BATUS thrust upon them. With the fleet being grouped as a Company-strong BGTI fleet, each Company had to take turns in using the Warrior fleet
The Mercian Eagle
and this, in turn, created some interesting handover issues. The fleet was handed over no less than four times between Companies between February and March 2010. Fitter Sections often had to work late to meet the next mission and they did so with minimal fuss and doing what we as a Corps always do, which is to “make it happen”. An interesting Company manoeuvre exercise in the wet and cold conditions of Bergen-Hohne in March played havoc with the drivers’ and commanders’ ability to keep Warrior IFVs moving through the treacherous conditions. This exercise only served to test the Recovery capability of the LAD, challenging LCpl Cave in particular. He had to use both Warrior Recovery and Foden Recovery vehicles throughout the weekend training package.
proud sporting and social LAD. In 2009 alone, the LAD competed in football, cricket, skiing and snowboarding - all to a high standard. The LAD became champions at the Henglo Mini-World Cup in May 2009, BA (G) Minor Units Runners Up in Cricket in July 2009, 3 MERCIAN Inter-Company Champions in September 2009 and we are currently in the Semi-Finals of the Craftsman Cup Football Competition. Adventurous training has been a must this period to develop NCOs in aspects of planning, organisation and control and to maintain morale as much as possible. In September 2009, almost 60% of the LAD enjoyed a multi-activity week in Bavaria with twelve individuals representing the LAD at the REME Winter Sports Training Camp in Austria in December 2009.
Warrior 511 with crew stranded awaiting REME assistance
Throughout the whole of this period, the LAD had been battling with manning issues in order to best support the Battalion on each mission. From May 2009, the LAD strength was at an all time low of 42 tradesmen with 18 gapped posts due to postings after a busy year of Operations. Manning has increased steadily over the past months and we are currently sitting at 59 strong with several more posted in to boost our numbers ahead of PDT.
But it has not all been about work for the LAD over the past 12 months. The LAD is a
Cpl Roy, LCpl Foster and LCpl Madden adapting to German culture ahead of Oktoberfest in Munich
Overall this year has been a very frenetic but enjoyable period. The LAD have risen to the challenges of affiliating to a new Unit and have created strong bonds in a short time, setting the conditions to offer the best support to the Battalion through BATUS, PDT and Operations in 2011. The LAD has had to work hard at times to meet deadlines but has done so with a smile on the face and the utmost professionalism. I am confident that the LAD will deliver on their forthcoming deployment to BATUS.
Cpl Lea and Cfn Moir-Mullen preparing for Race training in Stubai, Austria
LCpl Cave reverting to the old faithful “Freddie” Foden October 2010 75
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