Page 38 - LBV 2017

INTER-COMPANY TRAINING & VISITS
Ex KENTISH BLUE
Collated by JUO A Stewart
Similarly to all reserve units across the country Annual Deployment Exercise marks the annual culmination of training, packaged into a two-week period which puts the CUOTCs officer cadets to the test. This year a company comprised of two platoons migrated to Napier Barracks (Folkestone, Kent) which served as the staging ground for the three-phase camp; OCdt Edwards
Phase 1 - Ranges
The ranges on this year’s annual deployment exercise were very useful for building and helping to improve basic shooting skills, but also an element of fun was thrown in too.
The first day of the range
package was the zeroing stage; this is where the rifles that were issued to you were zeroed to your eye. This was also a chance for people who had never shot a live weapon before to give it their first go.
The second day of the ranges was focused primarily towards passing the Annual Combat
Marksmanship Test (ACMT). Shoots in different positions such as, the prone; kneeling unsupported; kneeling supported; sitting; standing supported and finally standing unsupported.
The third day was the day of the ACMT. Before our test, General Sir Peter Wall, Ex Chief of the General Staff and current Honorary Colonel of CUOTC, paid a visit and talked to officer cadets about their university courses and aspirations.
With everyone passing the ACMT, the fun shoots could commence. Moving target ranges
and Glock ranges were just the beginning. There was a GPMG set up, which allowed officer cadets to have a taste of the machine gun. There was also a ‘Simunition’ package that was put on to, teaching officer cadets the basics of fighting in built-up
areas (FIBUA) and room clearances, which was immense fun, definitely a highlight. A March and Shoot competition was also held, whereby officer cadets had to run 1.5 miles and hit 20 targets and the team with the lowest time overall would take victory. Overall the range package provided useful training and experience for everyone and
...this is where the rifles that were issued to you were zeroed to your eye.
36 THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER