Page 13 - Bugle Autumn 2023

1 RIFLES
In February, A Company delivered 1 RIFLES’ Junior Non-Commissioned Officer (JNCO) Cadre with the aim of training the next cohort of Lance Corporals (LCpls) for
the Regiment. Principally operating out of Oakhampton Camp and Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA), the prospect of a winter JNCO cadre was dauting for many. The aim of the cadre was to produce as many high-quality LCpls as we could
for the Regiment, so this drove a ‘train
in’ philosophy where the training team focused on creating an effective learning environment for Riflemen to grow and develop and ultimately give them the best chance of meeting the standard to be considered fit to lead Riflemen.
It made little sense thrashing people
to make it difficult because that invariably undermines the learning and teaches counterproductive lessons about leadership. This golden thread was pulled through and resulted in plenty of sleep and generally treating the Riflemen maturely and like the JNCOs they seek to become – all to create an environment where they could absorb and retain the information taught. But what about the requirement to test physical and mental robustness, motivation and leadership in
the face of adversity? Not to worry, because
Preparing for an operation
throughout the 47-day cadre, the students spent 21 days on exercise in SENTA, in winter. The students didn’t need the directing staff
to make the exercises challenging; operating as light role sections in Brecon during winter, whilst applying high levels of professionalism and battlefield discipline is a challenging as
it gets. Whether that was conducting section attack battle lanes or operating out of stage three trenches and then straight into patrol actions by night; each day had a steady but relentless tempo which really stretched the students and ensured that those who reached the standard and passed the course were as prepared as possible to lead Riflemen.
each day had a steady but relentless tempo which really stretched the students and ensured that those who reached the standard and passed the course were as prepared
as possible to lead Riflemen
1 RIFLES JNCO cadre was a huge success, delivering 55 high quality soon to
Furthermore, conducting the cadre whilst also tracking the vivid live events occurring
in Ukraine served as a very useful vehicle to illustrate the importance of the morale and conceptual components of fighting power, and hammered home the critical role that JNCOs play in delivering that. The 1 RIFLES JNCO cadre was a huge success, delivering 55 high quality soon to be LCpls, ready to start leading and serving Riflemen.
Maj Rhys Jones, OC ACoy
The Sword Lane to the sound of Bugles
be LCpls, ready
to start leading
Understanding leadership through adversity
Enemy identified
RIFLES The Bugle 13
JNCO CADRE