6 minute read
Ex Lion Sun
Ex LION SUN 21
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OC – Maj Ed McCann. CSM – WO2 Craig Nicholson
View above PARAMALI Village at H-2
Scribe Lt Will Rimington Overview
On Friday 19 Feb 21, 7 Close Support Company of 2 Close Support Battalion REME deployed on Exercise LION SUN 21, travelling from Leuchars Station to RAF Akrotiri. A total of 76 personnel took part, split between a CHQ element, Forward Platoon, Vehicles Platoon and Recovery Platoon. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and having spent the last three-months deployed on Op RESCRIPT (community testing in Lancashire), the Company was still able to continue with this overseas training, despite ever changing COVID-19 restrictions. The training promised to be challenging, yet rewarding, with a well-organised range package, a Potential Assessment Board (PAB) insight event and an evasion exercise.
Isolation Period
Lt Will Rimington – Forward Platoon
A last-minute change in COVID-19 restrictions saw the Company need to isolate for 10-days on arrival into Cyprus. This meant that the team would be forced to spend an isolation period in FOB PINETRACK, inside Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, before they could exploit the wider training area. To maximise the training opportunity during this period, SSgt McKendry of Forward Platoon organised a leadership training event (modelled on a PAB) for the LCpls and Cfn deployed on the exercise. This included an initial interview, a onehour essay on a topic based on the individual’s interests, a planning
Cfn Marquis working on his Class 3-2 during the RIB REHAB
exercise, an individual obstacle course and a series of command tasks. Despite the fairly heavy restrictions imposed by the pandemic, SSgt McKendry was able to organise an impressive event which, despite LCpl Livingstone completing an obstacle being taxing mentally on the Potential Assessment Board event and physically, was hugely enjoyable. This provided great training for the troops, a chance for the Coy to form as a team and provided an insight into the potential of the junior soldiers for the Chain of Command. In particular, congratulations go to Cfn Lonsdale who performed best of all who took part in the event. The rest of the isolation period included an ES rehabilitation of some of the Resident Infantry Battalion’s ageing B-Vehicle fleet and crew level training led by JNCOs.
Range Package
Lt Ollie Burgess – Recovery Platoon
Once the Company was free from isolation the first part of the military training plan was a range package which would take many of the deployed soldiers from never touching a GPMG to passing the ACMT, as well as some more advanced SA80 shoots. The first day consisted of some basic GPMG shoots from 100m to 300m which allowed everyone to get confident with the weapon system before we moved back to 500m. It also enabled us to run the ranges portion of the Inter-Platoon Competition. This had the teams collecting their ammunition from the 600m point before engaging targets at 200m
Lt Burgess overseas the GPMP Range
View from a sangar on the ranges at RAF Akrotiri Station
and 300m. The competition was comfortably won by the Recovery Platoon, but it allowed everyone more time on the weapon system before they completed their ACMT. Despite the wind, and a little bit of Cypriot rain, everyone was able to pass without too much difficulty and made a decided improvement to their marksmanship. A skill we often do not practice as much as we should.
Dry Exercise Phase
Sgt Sherman Cox – Vehicle Platoon
The fourth week of our time in Cyprus saw us deploy on the dismounted close combat training phase of the exercise. Having been in the unit less than a week, this was the perfect opportunity for me to learn the strengths and weaknesses of my Platoon. For this
Sgt Steele counts Recovery Platoon through an RV
period, we were driven to the training area North of the Episkopi Garrison to patrol into our harbour location from where the transport dropped us off. A stark contrast to previous training in the UK, that became immediately obvious Pte Chisambiro and Cfn Moore line up for the helicopter insertion was the lack of welldefined and well-ordered woodblocks. This became a problem on a very windy and rainy afternoon when a number of the Platoon had to re-learn their basha building skills. The exercise itself involved a range of Platoon attacks, recces and ambushes, ending with a Company attack on the derelict buildings North of Paramali Village. This training, although achievable from the UK, was far more enjoyable than it might have been and meant my Platoon got more out of this exercise due to the austere nature of the environment. A few late nights and Mediterranean rain showers later, a company’s worth of wellLt Ollie Burgess – Recovery Platoon
For the final part of the exercise phase, the Company returned to FOB PINETRACK to prepare for a Forward Repair Team (FRT) evasion event. The Company was put into teams of three-to-four and given several checkpoints to reach, with points being awarded for each. The teams then had to evade capture throughout the evening while being hunted by Military Working Dogs (MWD) provided by the RAF Police and five groups of D, all the while being filmed by the BFBS. Many teams were captured, but at the end of the night Sgt Steele’s team emerged as a clear victor, getting every checkpoint without being captured or detected. A Patrol Competition marked the culminating test of the skills learned on Ex LION SUN. This saw the FRTs compete as part of the Inter-Platoon Competition. With five stands laid out over the area, ranging from Close Target Recces (CTRs) to multi-casualty medical serials, the teams would be marked on their military abilities at each stand before returning to the FOB for a helicopter transfer (courtesy of 84 Sqn RAF) to the final stand; a gun run. The teams all performed well, demonstrating the utility of exercises like this, where a range of military skills can be taught and practiced in an unfamiliar environment.
Pic 8: LCpl Mills and Cfn Sauyngam lead the stretcher during a CASEVAC on the Patrol Competition
Sport and Adventurous Training (AT)
2Lt Frazer Howe – Vehicles Platoon
The Force Health Protection restrictions on the island limited the AT that was available to the Company. However, with some careful planning and the support of Cyprus Workshops (special thanks to WO2 (AQMS) Hutchison and SSgt Skelton) the Company was able to offer karting to all troops to cover the sporting aspect. This was followed with a visit to Lemmings Beach, which provided a great opportunity for the Company to practice Stand-Up Paddle boarding, other water sports and pony trekking; unfortunately, the 2IC forgot to book the weather. A tour of the Kourion Amphitheatre and the ancient town of Paphos provided cultural trips and an urban navigation exercise to finish off the week.
Summary
Exercise LION SUN has always been an excellent opportunity for units to deploy on an Overseas Training Exercise (OTX) to practice basic close combat training in unfamiliar and more interesting environments than those ordinarily afforded to them. This iteration of the exercise proved to be no different in this regard: a thoroughly enjoyable five-weeks for the soldiers of 7 Close Support Company. The deployment enabled the Company to form as a team following posting churn and COVID-19 restrictions which will pay dividends as we start on our road to readiness for the Light Brigade Support Group (LBSG) in 2022.
