The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Troops proving their point
The Courier’s Graeme Strachan spent time with TerritorialArmy (TA) members of 7 SCOTS during a two-week annual camp in Sennelager, Germany, where the climax was a full company attack with live firing. In the concluding part of his feature, he spends time with the soldiers who are gearing up for service at the Olympic Games in London and Operation Herrick 18 inAfghanistan in November. “IT’S NOT EVERYBODY that can say they are going to work at the Olympics.”
Dundee-based Private David McNicol (24) from Cupar admits it is going to be a busy time for him.
With the Olympic Games just around the corner, Pte McNicol will be spending six weeks in London before preparing for his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.
All this on the back of a two-week camp in Germany which included five days in the field with the climax being a full company assault with live firing.
No surprise then to see him wryly smile and admit: “It’s not really your average job.”
Pte McNicol, who is currently unemployed, believes it all shows just how diverse life in the TA can be.
Speaking as he prepared for the company’s final assault, Pte McNicol, who joined the TA in 2005 and transferred to 7 SCOTS last year, said: “I was in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) in high school and when I finished I went to university and joined the TA in 2005.
“I’m looking forward to taking part in the London Olympics and we’ll all be involved in security and then I’ll start my build-up training for Herrick 18.
“I’ve got a busy year coming up and luckily the TA has supported me after losing my job and given me days when I need them.
“This will be my first tour of duty but to be honest I have not really thinking about my own mortality or what I might come up against out there. I’m looking forward to getting out there and I think a training exercise like this just makes you more confident with your weapon and more aware of what’s around you.
“You get better as you progress and I think everybody can see the change and we are all getting a little slicker.”
Private Ryan Harley (20) from Perth has been in the TA for two years and dreams of joining the regular army and going into combat.
He is building up his confidence and skills in theTA for now and hopes he will be able to do enough to be accepted for Herrick 18 in November.
Pte Harley, who is dad to Mia (2), said: “I wanted to join the regulars but they said I lacked confidence and (should) try going for the TA. I joined the TA and I’ve really enjoyed it and hopefully in the future I will join the regulars.
“I am trying to get on Herrick 18 because I’ve always wanted to do a tour of duty.
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to join the Army — to serve my country.
“We are trained up to be as good as the regulars but we also try our best to be even better than the regulars. We want to prove that even though we are part-time soldiers we are as good as them.”
Private Dean Taylor (19) joined the TA a year ago after leaving Dundee College.
Pte Taylor, who is from Dundee, wanted to join the regular army but ended up in the TA. He is hoping to join up on the Herrick 18 mission in November and is looking forward to the challenge ahead.
He said: “I wanted to join the army but it was deferred so I went straight to the TA and managed to get in. I’m enjoying life in the TA. It is sometimes demanding but I’m enjoying it, especially the physical side of things because I like keeping fit.
“I’ve got my name down for Afghanistan and my mind has always been set to do it.
“That’s what I joined up for.”