Page 108 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Lt Col Wilson and a French soldier talk The Countess through the VBCI
Bogged in! 2 Platoon negotiating the swamp
SO FOCUSED ON CHUCKING UP THEIR BEST SALUTE THAT THEY FORGOT TO POINT THE VEHICLES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
ESTONIA – OP CABRIT 1
The Countess of Wessex’ Visit
The recce team for the visit of HRH The Countess of Wessex arrived just days after our arrival in Estonia. We weren’t exactly comfortable with our surroundings at that time, so the suggested programme had an air of ction to it. Thankfully, the recce team were understanding and gave us the freedom we needed to make things work.
We had foolishly hoped that a visit by the Countess to her own Battalion could remain a closed affair, as it would in the UK – how wrong we were! Interna- tional diplomacy should have been part of Mission Speci c Training, but we successfully tip-toed our way around the protocol mine eld with only a few cross words.
The Estonian attitude towards visits – largely a result of the overwhelming number of VVIP visits they get each month (The Estonian Prime Minister popping in unannounced for a chat with WO2 Ridley
whilst he stood in his boxer shorts is a story for another time) – is refreshing but a touch unnerving for those organising events! They certainly do not play our game of rehearsing to the nth degree, not liking to waste time pretending to do something they will do for real the following day.
Regardless of the slightly unconventional run-in, the day duly arrived and it started well. During HRH’s last visit to the Battalion the Ri emen who were to direct her motorcade were so focused on chucking up their best salute that they forgot to point the vehicles in the right direction. No repeat this time - we knew it would be a good day.
The visit began in Tapa Camp. HRH met with the Chief of the Estonian Defence Forces, General Terras, Commander 1st Estonian Brigade, Colonel
5RIFLES eFP BG on EX SABER STRIKE
106 FIFTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES