Page 140 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Leading from the front; 2Lt Tse delivers a set of orders to his platoon
THE COMMAND ELEMENT KNEW THAT IT HAD ACHIEVED THE AIM WHEN THE FEEDBACK WAS, “TRULY AWESOME BOSS, NOT DONE THAT BEFORE.”
HQ Company
HQ Company has gone from strength to strength in 2017. One of the objectives is subordinate devel- opment with young of cers and NCOs.
In recent months, we have seen platoon commanders evolve and junior commanders develop, into strong leaders. The other priority was to grow the Company (Op FORTIFY) and retain its members with good training and Company ethos.
With a robust command team in Second-in- Command (2IC) Capt Joe English and Company Serjeant Major (CSM) WO2 Gemmell, with an enthusiastic Permanent Staff Administrative Of cer (PSAO) WO1 Soutter, the team have been driving the Company hard with positive results. Having a fresh view on training and active scenarios, it has tested junior NCOs at pace but also Ri eman, stepping up to stretch themselves in command appointments.
With well thought-out coordinated training plans, which target all levels of experience from 14 Platoon under the newly promoted 2Lt Tse and Sjt Hyland, to a separate training schedule for Junior Non-Com- missioned Of cer (JNCO) cadre and Junior Brecon being led successfully by our Permanent Staff Instructor (PSI) Sjt Tolley.
The Company has been training for deployment to Estonia (Op CABRIT 1) in the Baltic series, involving Fire Team and building up to Platoon Level tactics in Operations in Built-Up Areas (OBUA) and Operations in Woods and Forests (OWAF). Due to the in ux of more Rfn passing the Combat Infantry- man’s Course under the watchful eye of Regimental
Sub Unit Support Of cer (RSUSO) CSjt Spears, HQ Company is growing another Platoon.
During a Platoon attack and suppressing the enemy, a large number of casualties were identi ed. CSjt Bennetts executed an event with full make-up, including squirting blood and gunshot wounds. Using all BCD knowledge, Rfn were put through realistic and demanding experiences, which can only prepare them for operations. During this 40min scenario, which was deliberately testing following four platoon attacks, on one of the hottest days of the year, they gained their Mandatory Annual Training Test (MATT) quali cation. Command and control and troops-to-task was the greatest test for all, as the adrenaline was clearly pumping. The command element knew that it had achieved the aim when the feedback was, “truly awesome boss, not done that before.”
To add to this, HQ supported the Freedom of Faringdon parade in June, and the dedication of the Sgt Welch VC memorial near Reading and are leading with a strong social calendar. Highlights include the HQ Company smoker in April following the exercise, and the Company Summer ball, with live bands, hog roast, caricaturist and photographer, as well as a Ri eman all-ranks dinner, introduction to the Mess and conduct in October. HQ Company is growing, t and ready to deploy and looks forward to the impending Warrior training as we move to pair with 5 RIFLES.
Major Neil A J Perriton, OC HQ Coy
138 SEVENTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES