Page 138 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

THIS LONG PERIOD ON EXERCISE GAVE A BRILLIANT INSIGHT INTO REGULAR ARMY LIFE
6 RIFLES Lead First
Lead First is a new program, akin to a Gap Year Commission, where civilians can join after a reserve commission on a Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) contract for a year with a reserve unit. 2Lt Jack Maymon talks of his year with 6 RIFLES.
After a hectic but thoroughly enjoyable Reserve Commissioning Course (April 2016) the rst day of my Lead First contract followed a few months later.
I spent a short time with BnHQ 6 RIFLES in Exeter. Here I was inducted into the Battalion and got to know faces. Soon after a brilliant opportunity was presented to me and almost immediately I found myself a Platoon Commander at 4 RIFLES for the following ve months. During this time, I deployed with 3 Platoon, A Company numerous times, including on Exercise LIONS STRIKE in the UK and very memorably for 10 weeks in Kenya on Exercise ASKARI STORM, where A Company were tasked as COEFOR. This long period on exercise gave a brilliant insight into Regular Army life and presented
an awesome opportunity to get to know A Company and 3 Platoon particularly, very well. While at 4 RIFLES in the UK, I also did a few Adventurous training trips but mainly spent my time immersed in the battle rhythm of a regular infantry battalion – certainly a period of time I will never forget.
Having left 4 RIFLES in late 2016, I returned to Exeter for another short spell before heading to Val D’Isere just after Christmas to compete on Exercise FROSTED BLADE with 6 RIFLES’ Alpine Ski Racing Team. During the course of this incredible exercise we raced in the four disciplines, Slalom, GS, Super G and Downhill, and while my main personal ‘take home’ was that I’m not quite as great a skier as I envisaged, it was brilliant to ski competitively for the rst time, I can’t wait for next season!
Just a week after my return from France, I went to sunny Brecon to complete the Platoon Commander’s Battle Course, being fortunate (!) enough to be granted a place on the Regular course. In hindsight especially, but occasionally during the course itself, this was an epic experience. Being immersed in a fantastic cohort, fresh from Sandhurst and train with them to improve upon the skills I’d developed during and since my own commissioning course was great. Particularly memorable was our month-long nal exercise in Belize which was tough but provided a welcome change in order to test our Platoon and Company skills from Brecon. I very much hope that this course will have set me up for a successful and enjoyable Reserve career with 6 RIFLES.
I have had an unforgettable year with Lead First. 6 RIFLES and the wider Regiment have looked after me and I am looking forward to the rest of my career as a Reservist Of cer.
2LT Jack Maymon
WO2 JAMES MBE
After 43 years of service to The Light Infantry and the Ri es WO2 Jesse James was dined out on the 25th March 2017 by D Company 6 RIFLES. Jesse joined the Light Infantry in 1972 entering a relaxed and easy going training regime at the Light Division Depot Shrewsbury. On completion of training he joined 3LI in Minden. He then went on to serve in various locations around the world including Northern Ireland, Rhodesia and the Falklands. In June 1995 he was awarded the MBE for his work on Ten Tors. He then served in various post with the reserves joining D Coy the Ri es Volunteers in 1999 where he stayed and nally retired in May 2017.
Jesse remains a strong supporter of The Ri es and is the Chairmen of the Bodmin Li association. He will be sadly missed with his keen sense of humour and friendly smile. We all wish him the best for the future and our sympathies now lie with Tina who has to put up with him every day.
WO2 Jesse James MBE. Dined out after 43 years of service
136 SIXTH BATTALION THE RIFLES