Page 38 - Bugle Autumn 2023

6 RIFLES
RIFLEMAN’S CADRE
PREPARING THE THINKING SOLDIER
Running through smoke, feet pounding and gasping for breath, I saw the enemy ahead. The directing staff had ordered us to assault their position. Gripping my rifle with sword fixed, I charged. This is a very different situation to what I normally find myself in on a Thursday afternoon in February, compared to my day job as a small animal vet. This was the moment two weeks of training had led to. We’d been put through our paces, with daily physical training, completing our Basic Radio User (BRU) qualification and learning what it takes to become a Rifleman. This was the final day of Rifleman’s Cadre 2302 course at Beachley Barracks.
The course was led by the Capt Jones
and the RIFLES Training Team (RTT), which
is designed to give Riflemen of all ages and experience the opportunity to start developing into “the thinking soldier”. Most of the Riflemen on the course are Regular soldiers, some having just completed basic training at ITC Catterick, others having been in thier battalions for two years. A small group – including myself – are part of the Army Reserves and putting our civilian lives to one side, were keen to live and breathe the ethos of The Rifles for the duration of the course.
I had volunteered myself for this course to experience the well-known excellent training standards provided by the RTT and gain
my BRU qualification. I was also excited to experience the progressive fitness and military training involved and learn more about The Rifles’ Characteristics, history, ethos and come out the other side a better Rifleman – albeit one likely with a few blisters and aching muscles.
The course started with a 10km steady- state run led by the PTI, which set the high
bar for the remaining 14 days. We learnt navigation theory and then got straight into the BRU course, learning how to assemble, dissemble and set up a BOWMAN radio and send communications over a radio network. The three-day course was expertly delivered and to help break up the mentally challenging yet necessary classroom-based learning, the PTI broke things up with some lung-busting sessions including strength and conditioning and hill sprints in “The Bowl”. The qualification finished with a marked assessment involving a theory and practical exam.
Before we knew it the first week was over, but not before the training team treated the course to a challenging battle PT session which involved leopard crawling, tyre flipping
38 RIFLES The Bugle
and team-based stretcher runs which left a few wishing they hadn’t eaten quite so much for breakfast.
The second week started as ever with early morning physical training. This time however, with an introduction to the obstacle course for which we would become well acquainted. We were briefed and walked through how best to navigate the individual sections including 6ft walls, monkey bars and high ropes without injury but as efficiently as possible. Once familiar with the obstacles we ran through the course continuously, putting to the test our speed and agility but also our balance and composure.
The second week also involved basic medical training and introductory leadership training with Capt Jones, the Officer Commanding, giving an insight into what it takes to be a good leader but more importantly how every Rifleman can be a leader and inspire others by their actions.
We also visited RHQ Winchester where
the Regimental Secretary Lt Col (Ret’d) Balls gave an informative talk about the formation and history of the Regiment, as well as the ongoing support available for serving soldiers as well as veterans. What really struck me was the community ethos within The Rifles and the continued network through The Rifles Association.
Back at Beachley further combat skills were learnt and put into practice during
an Operating in Built-Up Areas training
day, with instructors teaching us the most effective methods to assault buildings. It
was an incredibly useful training session, learning how to break down the complexities of operating in an urban environment into simple yet effective techniques to clear multi- story houses. The key takeaway being how important maintaining momentum is when moving through a building and every member of the team being a commander in one way or another.
Finally, the course ended with the Sir John Moore Competition. An all-day individual assessment starting with a 4-man assault
of an enemy compound, treating a dummy casualty and delivering a radio report to organising medical extraction of the casualty. The afternoon consisted of the highly anticipated physical test of the competition; a 2-mile weighted run straight into the obstacle course, finishing with a sword lane – a unique training experience to develop controlled aggression within Riflemen whilst testing
Running through smoke, feet pounding and gasping for breath, I saw the enemy ahead
your physical stamina. The end of the sword lane marked the end of the competition and the end of the course. The last day involved the closing address by the training team and the presentation of the Chosen Man award, for which I was fortunate enough to receive and the first reservist to do so. But not before the PTI had us running around the field for his final battle PT session of the week to end on a sweaty high note.
The Rifleman’s Cadre is a unique training course that I couldn’t recommend highly enough. Every Rifleman who attended left with an enhanced set of basic soldering skills that will stand them in good stead in any battalion and for their future careers.
Rfn Griffiths A Coy 6 Rifles
Rifleman’s Cadre
The Infantry Training Team based at Beachley Barracks
runs development cadres and pre-promotional courses to hone the skills and abilities of Riflemen and junior NCOs
in The Rifles. The Rifleman’s Cadre I attended consisted of developmental PT sessions, the Individual Basic Radio User course, navigation, Operating in Built-up and Urban Areas, Casualty Battlefield Drills as well as Military Knowledge. The two-weeks culminated in the John Moore Competition, a series of challenges that assess the lessons learned during the course, the physical capabilities of the Riflemen and their resilience.
I have had an eye on the Rifleman’s Cadre for a while
and was looking forward to completing the Individual Basic Radio User course. Like most junior Riflemen I have had few opportunities to practice with radios and I was looking forward to learning something completely new. After a bit of trial and error and much needed training, I now feel far more confident operating with radios, in particular talking to the rest of my section using the correct call signs and terms. The course itself builds up rapidly and the second week is a lot more challenging, although there is a welcome break in the form of a visit to Regimental HQ in Winchester, as well as The Rifles Museum to help us understand the workings of the regiment as well as exploring our own regimental history.
The John Moore Competition on the last day of the course assessed everything we had learned over the previous two weeks and the night before everyone was a little nervous about the challenge that was to come. The tests allowed each Rifleman to do their best and then to join together as sections to complete an array of physical assessments. I was declared Chosen Man at the end of the course, an achievement that I am extremely proud of and I hope to live up to on future operations and exercises.