Page 12 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Table 1 – Firm Base Relationships
Capitalise on the ve pillars to sustain the Regiment and build esprit de corps, ensuring full manning
14. Our ethos starts from the position that we are
“a national Regiment with strong historical ties to the cities and counties whence our forming Regiments were raised”. This is important because it informs the way we capitalise on our ve pillars to build esprit de corps, to give meaning to our Regimental family and to sustain our manning. Now that we have established our own identity as a Regiment it makes sense to allocate regions, counties and cities to battalions within the Army’s Home Command, and to establish pairings between Regular and Reserve battalions. These relationships are set out in Table 1, recognising that we do not necessarily have bases in all cities and counties.
our Regular battalions. And we should seek to encourage close connections between our bands.
b. We have a huge opportunity with the size of our Ri es-badged ACF and CCF footprint to enhance our brand and our community connections. Our effort though needs coordination and appropriate prioritisation, not least to ensure we are able to provide appropriate support, and determine where the CCF Expansion Programme is targeted for maximum bene t. Key tasks include: the establishment of the right governance at RHQ level, and through County Cadet Commandants; a whole of Regiment approach to recruit and encourage ACF leaders to serve; coordinated senior of cer visits; utilising the Firm Base relationships matrix in Table 1 to ensure counties are properly supported; improving passage of information with routine conferences and better data management; demonstrate our investment through our National Cup, and through individual recognition.
c. Our founding Regiments’ Associations have generously opened their doors to The Ri eman’s Association, and we should be leaning into these relationships, recognising that there is no need to reinvent the wheel and that gatherings of the whole Regiment will bene t everyone. We should continue to work on establishing the widest possible network through all our Associations with a view to maintaining a link with all those who have served – this is a vital part of being a Regimental family – and will help with our manning as well as transition from Regular service.
In sum
16. We have made an excellent start as a Regiment in our rst 10 years. We are living through an era of unprecedented change as well as oppor- tunity. The foundation we have built, supported by our broad footprint, provides an excellent basis for us to move forward. The main effort is leadership – for that is the means through which we unlock our collective potential as Ri emen. Swift and Bold.
Colonel Commandant 31st July 2017
Region
County / City
Reserve Battalion
Regular Battalion
South West and West
Cornwall
6 RIFLES
1 RIFLES
Devon
6 RIFLES
1 RIFLES
Dorset
6 RIFLES
1 RIFLES
Gloucestershire
6 RIFLES
1 RIFLES
Somerset
6 RIFLES
1 RIFLES
Herefordshire
6 RIFLES
1 RIFLES
London and South
Wiltshire
7 RIFLES
5 RIFLES
Berkshire
7 RIFLES
5 RIFLES
Buckinghamshire
7 RIFLES
5 RIFLES
Winchester
7 RIFLES
4 RIFLES
London
7 RIFLES
4 RIFLES
Oxfordshire
7 RIFLES
5 RIFLES
North and Midlands
Birmingham/Coventry
8 RIFLES
2 RIFLES
Shropshire
8 RIFLES
2 RIFLES
Durham/Tyneside
8 RIFLES
3 RIFLES
Yorkshire
8 RIFLES
3 RIFLES
Liverpool
8 RIFLES
3 RIFLES
Mans eld
8 RIFLES
2 RIFLES
15. Assistant Colonel Commandant Home Command will coordinate our activity routinely through the Regional Colonels and these relationships. There are a few areas for additional emphasis:
a. Regular and Reserve relationships must be based on mutual respect. Each component plays a complementary role, with the Reserve ultimately having an obligation to be available for mobilisation at 180 days notice. We should though be leading the way in providing opportunity for our Reserve Ri emen to volunteer to train and deploy with
10 RIFLES REGIMENTAL DIRECTIVE 2017
THE RIFLES