Page 42 - Bugle Spring 2024

7 RIFLES
URBAN WARFARE TRAINING AT COPEHILL DOWN:
A GLIMPSE INTO CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE
Exercise SWIFT SKIRMISH was delivered by 7 RIFLES in the unique setting of Copehill Down Village. The exercise, designed for urban warfare training, brought together 90 Riflemen who engaged in simulated combat using “Simunition” rounds.
The core of the exercise was to introduce the intricacies of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) and the “Streetcraft” Syllabus at Individual and Section levels. In the urban battlespace, our Riflemen faced a different set of challenges compared to traditional rural environment. Copehill Down, with its simulated urban
the exercise was to introduce the intricacies of CQB
environment, proved to be the ideal training ground for this purpose.
Enclosure clearance and occupancy control were key elements and the Riflemen were empowered to use their initiative to clear complex enclosures whist maintaining high standards of combat marksmanship and controlling live occupants. Simunition, a non-lethal training ammunition, added an element of realism. It allowed the Riflemen to understand their combat marksmanship without limiting the exercise’s complexity. WO2 Richard Marlow, Training WO
Practicing methods of entry at Copehill Down
THE RIFLES CADET CUP 2023
The Rifles Cadet Cup was held on
the Sennybridge Training Area by members of A, G and HQ Companies during September and October. This year’s competition was a demanding yet rewarding experience for the Cadet Units from the CCF and ACF against the backdrop of the Brecon Beacons.
The competition was in two phases:
• Phase one consisted of training
stands, instructed by 7 RIFLES JNCOs and Riflemen, which taught and exposed the cadets to a wide variety of soldering skills.
• The second phase comprised a tactical scenario in which the Cadets were assessed against the training stands taught the previous day. This included a Section clearance task, responding to medical incident, an arduous
stores carry, military knowledge test, submission of a patrol report, before a final shooting serial on the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer.
Five CCF and seven ACF teams from across the UK successfully completed the competition, with Canford CCF and Somerset ACF taking first place in their respective competitions. All of the Cadets left with memorable experiences.
“I cannot stress the huge sense of achievement and satisfaction my cadets have since departing Brecon. Your men are a credit to 7 RIFLES, and I thank you all for your time, efforts, and huge commitments to the benefit of Rutlish School CCF cadets and RIFLES Cadets nationwide.”
Capt R Sammons, Contingent Commander, Rutlish School CCF Capt Jason Richardson, G Coy
42 RIFLES The Bugle
EXERCISE BUGLE PURSUIT – ADVENTURE TRAINING
Ex BUGLE PURSUIT was a multi-activity Adventure Training exercise, held in August, at Capel Curig training camp
in Wales. It was planned and executed for members of HQ and B Company and covered hill walking, rock climbing and mountain biking, and was designed to be suitable for Riflemen of all abilities. Capel Curig did not disappoint, the weather at times was honking!
Weather aside, which broke at the right time to allow us to get out there, WO1 Jamie Dwyer took the rock climbers out onto the crags of Gwern Gof Isaf, setting up a variety
of climbs from Moderate, Difficult and Hard Difficult, allowing climbers of all abilities to be involved and challenge themselves.
Capt Alex Ladds, the Bn Padre (pockets filled with Werther’s Original) and SSgt Dave Snowling RAPTC led the walkers around and over the Glyders, under a low-level cloud base but they managed to find some good routes whilst marshy and boggy under-foot.
After a quick bike maintenance lesson, CSjt Dave Walker and Captain Dave Bell (on loan) led the mountain bikers around Coed y Brenin, a dedicated forest network
Capel Curig did not disappoint, the weather at times was honking!
of fantastic hand built all-weather singletrack trails in a breath-taking location. Coed-y-Brenin gave a truly inclusive mountain bike experience with routes of various standards classified as green, blue, red and black, dependant on skill level and confidence.
Ex BUGLE PURSUIT promised
to be and delivered an enjoyable
and challenging weekend in very picturesque scenery. We look forward to next year’s AT.
WO1 Soutter
ROSO