TA put through their paces

Soldiers from the West Midlands have been put through their paces in a weeklong battle exercise with the British Army's newest regiment.

Almost 300 Territorial Army members of the 4th Battalion Mercian Regiment were involved in four days of manoeuvres leading to a full scale attack. The part time soldiers – including 100 new recruits completing their first five weeks of training – crossed a ravine to strike at an enemy stronghold dug deep in a forest.

Then they faced a gruelling six mile forced march against the clock over hills and rough ground carrying packs, rifles and webbing – and all beat the 90 minute deadline.

Lt Colonel Ivan Yardley, Commanding Officer of the 4th battalion said: "It was a great success – everybody passed with flying colours. They can all be very proud of themselves." The training programme for new TA recruits normally takes up to seven months but on this occasion it was telescoped into five weeks of non-stop arduous action ending in the battle exercise on the Sennybridge Training Area in mid Wales.

They had to get fighting fit very quickly whilst learning battle skills along with how to live in the field, cook rations, construct shelters and get out of bed very early in the morning.

The group, previously known as the West Midlands Regiment and made up with a mix of TA battalions, got its new identity under Army reorganisation that saw the creation of the Mercian Regiment from the amalgamation of the Staffords, the 22nd Cheshire and the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.

Lieutenant Colonel Yardley commented: "This is a very positive step that has put us back into the Army family fold.

"Previously we were a mix of several different cap badges but now we have a true affiliation to a regular sister battalion.

"It gives us a much greater feeling of unity and sense of belonging."

The TA regiment has not just changed its name but also grown in strength with 100 extra part time troops joining from three other TA companies.

Lieutenant Colonel Yardley added: "In its current state it involves units that have sent 440 TA soldiers on operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas in the last four years – a record second to none that shows how important the TA has become.

"It is therefore vital that we have well-trained and keen soldiers capable of supporting military operations. The skills that the recruits learn on exercises like this are absolutely crucial."

Private Simon D'Arcy, 21, from Codsall was among those training with the new unit.

Private Simon D'Arcy, who normally works as an outdoor instructor and has been in the TA for three years, said after the exercise finished: "It has been a great learning experience"

Simon is set to go to Iraq in November with the 1st Battalion, the Mercian Regiment, one of his new regiment's regular army units.