Page 20 - LBV 2017

COMPANY TRAINING
Classroom preparation
command appointments over the rest of the training year.’
OCdt Spilman,
University of East Anglia,
B (Ladysmith) Company
B COMPANY WEEKEND 3
‘Once at Chalk Hill Farm, all Officer Cadets worked hard throughout the day to enable them to present a Combat Estimate the same evening, following the seven questions process.’
‘The Ambush was performed with speed and aggression, which consisted of killing and searching the enemy forces then returning with haste to Chalk Hill Farm (aka the freezer).’
‘Having worked on the Combat Estimate and Orders for two weekends: the first set of orders was an important milestone for many of the officer cadets and marked an important step in their progress through Mod B. ‘
OCdt Cox,
University of East Anglia, B (Ladysmith) Company
B COMPANY WEEKEND 4
‘This time, there was more focus on the actual act of giving orders, as B Coy built upon their knowledge gained over the previous weekends.’
‘Consequently, the OCdts were given an
hour to write up their Warning Orders and their Combat Estimates. This was a trying exercise as the OCdts felt the pressures and reality of a time constraint not fully emulated in the classroom.’
‘B Coy felt a sense of satisfaction in appreciating how the Combat Estimate can inform a set of orders and subsequently how
this influences the play of operative offensive actions on the ground. The OCdts learnt how to be an effective Platoon Commander, how to lead soldiers in the field and inspire, through eloquent and well-constructed orders, and how to fight.’ OCdt Curtis (DEResPO),
Lancaster University,
B (Ladysmith) Company
B COMPANY WEEKEND 5
‘Love it or hate it, firing the rifle with confidence, accuracy, and safety is an essential part of Army training. In preparation for our Annual Deployment Exercise in June, Ex BLUE MARKSMAN, was spent predominantly at the Thetford ranges, improving our shooting skills and fine tuning the rifles to enhance our performance.’
‘Not only were we expected to fire rounds with a small grouping, but to also hit the target exactly where we were aiming for.’
OCdt Zalas,
University of East Anglia,
B (Ladysmith) Company
B COMPANY WEEKEND 6
‘The training year for B Coy focuses on leadership and tactical skills, specifically the understanding of the Combat Estimate and Orders. Therefore, an opportunity was given
for OCdt’s to produce a full setof orders to be delivered to an Officer, a required element of the course to pass MOD B.’
‘The weekend was lead entirely by B Coy OCdts in command positions, allowing freedom to act and plan as a Coy, in order to test knowledge and skills.
‘The key objective of the field phase of this weekend was to set a deliberate platoon strength ambush on an enemy patrol under the cover of darkness.’
After a thoroughly enjoyable and somewhat challenging field phase of the weekend, Sunday was to involve a a trip to Duxford to visit the Imperial war museum and the Airborne Assault museum, made possible thanks to Captain Rowell.
OCdt Hahn,
B (Ladysmith) Company
B Coy visit IWM Duxford
18 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER