Exercise MAYAN WARRIOR Short Term Training Teams

By Lieutenant T S Minihan

Officer Commanding Number Four Platoon

Number Two Company 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards

If there is a platoon commander out there who has ever researched a moon state before delivering a set of orders, then I would like to meet him. ‘We’re going to have a full moon tonight gents’ I had uttered with confidence as I delivered my orders earlier that day. I had made it up, of course. Yet, as the silver clouds separated in the dark night’s sky like great white sharks sleeking through oily black waters, they unveiled to my delight the most spectacular, bright, full moon. To my left and right was a platoon of students from the Belize Defence Force (BDF), laid out in perfect formation for an ambush. It was the denouement of 5 weeks of hard work from a 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards training team, to take 33 private soldiers to the rank of lance corporal, imparting upon them all of the requisite tactical knowledge. To this point, they had executed my plan perfectly, establishing an ambush in complete darkness on high ground along the banks of a fast flowing river. Suddenly, the chord around my wrist began to pull at my arm furiously, a silent warning from my section commander. The enemy approached. The following 30 seconds felt more like 30 minutes as the unsuspecting enemy nonchalantly strolled through our killing area. It was like a scene that has been played out endlessly in Hollywood. The camera shuffles through the faces of those lying in wait, the music reaches its crescendo and the whole ensemble nervously pray that no one loses their nerve and springs the ambush early. At the height of this edgy drama I squeeze the shoulder of the gunners to my left and right and with a shower of light machine gun fire the ambush is sprung.

In early May this year, 10 members of 1WG deployed to Belize as part of a Short Term Training Team (STTT).  Our intent was to deliver a skill at arms course and a PJNCO cadre to the BDF. The skill at arms course, led by CSM Cope, aimed to take junior non-commissioned officers, both Belizean and overseas, through the process of planning, preparing and delivering skill at arms and field craft lessons. The PJNCO cadre aimed to take 33 private soldiers to the rank of lance corporal and was modelled on the course run at the Household Division and Parachute Regiment Centralised Courses (HDPRCC). The skill at arms course ran successfully for 3 weeks, during which time the students became proficient at confidently delivering rifle lessons as well as battle lessons on a local training area. The improvement in their bearing and confidence when speaking in front of their peers was remarkable. This was due in large part to the diligent and careful instruction given to them by LSgts Harris 35 and Parry 91 and LCpl Jones 89.

The PJNCO cadre ran successfully for 4 weeks. The first 2 weeks saw students receive tactical theory lessons from Sgt Green and LSgts Jones 91, Millins 52 and Williams 43. Our day would begin at 0500 with physical training (PT) for both courses. Students were introduced to the delights of the 2, 3 and 5 mile fitness assessments as well as log races, circuits and obstacle courses. Week 3 saw the students deploy to the savannahs of Manatee Training Area for a battle exercise that included a navigation test, battle lessons and section attacks. The final week of the course was a 6 day final exercise in the pine ridge and secondary jungle of 1963 Line Training Area. The students were pushed to their physical and mental limits through innumerable section attacks, reconnaissance patrols, ambushes and raids. The week concluded with a surprisingly successful platoon deliberate attack and obligatory kilometre long casualty evacuation before the immortal words ‘stop, stop, stop’ were finally called.

Student on the skill at arms course delivers a lesson

Sgt Green takes a PJNCO through the ‘condor moment’.

With opportunities to deploy operationally becoming fewer and fewer, STTT's offer the faintest hint of the same experience.  They are packed full of a sense of adventure, and many of the minor difficulties one would encounter when operating overseas remain the same. 11 of us lived atop one and other for 6 weeks in a room that would not dip below 30 degrees Celsius at night. The officer to non-commissioned officer relationship was tested but never once threatened to break. For all of us it was an experience that brought challenges, frustrations and ultimately a great sense of achievement. As my platoon withdrew from their successful ambush under that full, silver moon I beamed with pride. Through no small amount of hard work, preparation and determination, both courses had delivered to their students a sense of fulfilment, pride and great achievement.  I am proud of them all for their efforts and leave Belize with some of the best memories of my career thus far.