Inters - Week 3

Hello again,

Spent week 2 doing a variety of training, including an extreme amount of CBRN training getting ready for the upcoming exercise in week 3, lots of range training as well as a bit of PT and the normal class room lectures. We spent a cold wet day on the training area doing a TEWT (tactical exercise without troops) practicing the orders process as well as the seven questions. It was an informative week and a usual period of time to practice the skills we hadn't done in a while. On the Saturday morning we then taken to the respirator testing facility, where we kitted up and were exposed to CS gas. Proving to us that the respirators function correctly. Then to ensure that we were aware of the effects of CS gas we were then forced to remove our mask, state our name rank and number, as well as any obscure questions the colour sergeants wanted to ask us before being let out. I can honestly say it was one of the worst things I have ever had to do. You cannot describe the fear you have when you struggle to gasp for air. But luckily the effects wear off after a few minutes once out of the chamber. We then spent the rest of the weekend getting ready for the exercise.

We woke up at 0300hrs on Monday morning, had some breakfast, collected our weapons and got the coach headed for Stanta Training Area in Thetford. We arrived at around 0900 and began digging almost immediately. The purpose of the exercise is to teach you the intricacies of defensive operations. Which basically involved digging a series of tranches providing security to a forward operating base in the centre. Each trench was dug by 4 men, meaning that there were 8 trenches per platoon. Another aspect of the exercise is to apply pressure to the situation using sleep deprivation. So we dug non-stop from early Monday morning until around 0200 on Thursday morning with no sleep. We were then given 4 hours enforced rest, woke up and continued digging. It was on the morning of the thursday that we were attacked for the first time, using a chemical attack, which meant we had to don our respirators and fight the enemy in full CBRN kit. The whole time being sprayed with CS gas from the colour sergeants. It was only a short attack and gave us a bit of a break from the digging which we got straight back to and finished off what was needed. The evening of the Thursday we ventured out to conduct a platoon attack on an enemy defensive position which went really well and conducted a tabbed march with full respirator kit which was quite emotional. That night we were then able to get a couple of hours of much needed sleep. We woke up on the friday morning to a full assault from the enemy, which for our platoon was quite boring as the attack came from the opposite side leaving us a little useless. But the event was exciting enough and we were used as the casualty evacuation group which was interesting in respirators. Once the attack finished we then spent the rest of friday, digging up the trenches, removing the corrugated iron and then refilling and re-turfing the positions. The exercise wasn't massively mentally challenging just one of the most tiring and exhausting exercises I've ever done. I think I can safely say that we are all glad that it is over.

Now that I have the real internet I can add some pictures to my posts.

Thats all for now!

Rob x