Page 38 - Bugle No. 17 Spring 2021

6 RIFLES
CONTINUING
TO MAKE
HISTORY
6 RIFLES on Op TOSCA 33
Call 999! Cypriot fire services
responding to a fire in the Buffer Zone!
This may be the first time in history that
two Army Reserve units have conducted a handover on operations and more notably, that it should be two RIFLES battalions transferring the responsibility of maintaining the security of the United Nation’s Buffer Zone. 6 RIFLES battlegroup comprising of over 120 Riflemen from the battalion and supplemented by 60 Rangers from 2 R IRISH deployed as part of the UK’s contribution
to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force
in Cyprus (UNFICYP), assuming the mantle from their sister battalion, 7 RIFLES.
The pre-deployment training package commenced on a misty summer morning
in Okehampton, where we stood – socially distanced – on the parade square and welcomed some 238 members of the deploying battlegroup to the start line.
The Commanding Officer read from HRH
The Duchess of Cornwall’s letter, wishing
the Riflemen well for the tour. A series of demanding training events followed which were initially enabled by our own 6 RIFLES real-life support team and focussed on the ‘soft’ skills that would be required once we arrived in Cyprus. The pace steadily increased
Padre Wainwright leads the way.
This may be the first time in history that two Army Reserve units have conducted a handover on operations
Padre Martin provided the sermon
for the Service of Remembrance
in Wayne’s keep Cemetery
Significant Events
• Pre-deployment training and mission rehearsal exercise in Okehampton and Nescliffe.
• Virtual training and battle school ‘pre-screening’.
• Deployment of over 120 members of the Battalion on Op TOSCA 33
• Second half of the tour and a return to the SW for the 6 RIFLES BG
• Homecoming and Freedom parade in Exeter – 22 May 21
• Battalion Annual Deployment Exercise – Brecon (live fire battle camp).
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