Page 20 - Bugle Autumn 2023

3 RIFLES
EX ORION
Exercising with NATO allies in the Champagne Region, France
Ex ORION 23 was a divisional French exercise held in the Champagne region of France, with one brigade in the
field and a further three conducting a simulated exercise. 3 RIFLES contributed a mechanised battalion with a small amount of engineer attachments to
the French ‘2e Brigade Blindée’ (2nd Armoured Brigade) as part of the field exercise. The field phase constituted only a small element of the overall commitment with the Battalion having to conduct a heavily condensed training pipeline (owing to Op INTERFLEX), receive a large uplift in fleet and
deploy itself to France with all vehicles, equipment, and personnel – a task underestimated at peril.
The exercise was unlike anything anyone had experienced, with the vast majority taking place in ordinary French towns and countryside. This made for some of the more memorable elements
of the exercise where charm, and a
basic French vocabulary were needed to secure a barn to hide the vehicles and get much-needed sleep. The Riflemen soon adapted to this change and were quick
to win over the local population. Much to the everyone’s surprise, ration requests were far below expectations as gifted baguettes became the staple diet of the thinking fighting Rifleman – I’m sure a few bottles of the local delicacies found their way into the vehicle storage bins too!
we did... the feedback was in French too! Whilst deployed the Battalion was able
to take a well-deserved two day stand- down to explore the local area; plans varied between champagne tasting in the local area and pushing further afield to sample the Parisian nightlife. Additionally, two battlefield studies were taken to both Verdun and Bois de Buttes, we were awed by both locations and honoured to retrace the footsteps of our forebears at Bois de Buttes.
Capt Bywater, Operations Officer
Operating amongst the local population and the scale of both the terrain and the sheer number of soldiers, over 10,000 in total, amounted to a
very realistic scenario. Working within
a French Brigade was another unique experience – we were forced to adapt to orders in French and try and bend our own processes to match theirs. Overall, the Battalion performed superbly and achieved mission success on everything we were asked to do, or at least we think
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we were forced to adapt to orders in French and try and bend our own processes to match theirs
20 RIFLES The Bugle
The calm before the storm. Crews prepare their Mastiffs before a long march
Commanding Officer’s Intent, Band of Brother’s style
If only I had a Bugle! A section commander attempts to communicate with his section
THE BATTALION HQ PERSPECTIVE