Page 34 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

S Company
This year has seen a marked change for S hugely varied and rewarding deployment. As well
Company, with its members returning from opera- tions in Iraq to re-establish their war ghting capabil- ities through support weapon cadres. The Company has achieved this whilst delivering a wide range of commitments, including short term training teams to Uzbekistan and command elements deploying to Uganda.
S Company saw out 2016 as the Battalion’s nal Company committed to operations in Iraq. Its members subsequently handed over to their counterparts in 2 LANCS, marking the end of a
as its operational successes, Rfn Grayson was awarded a Brigade Commander’s coin for his actions to de-escalate a potentially life threatening situation, and CSjt Peart a General Of cer Commanding’s commendation for his outstanding contribution.
Following the Company’s return, it commenced its greatest challenge of 2017; the design and completion of cadres for its six platoons. This was a welcome challenge for S Company’s commanders, who quickly took to revising their skills and devel- oping challenging and competitive exercises for their Ri emen. The cadres commenced in May, with new members resourced throughout the Battalion and welcomed by the Platoons. Anti-Tank Platoon and Mortar Platoon completed their cadres in June, Machine Gun Platoon and Sniper Platoon are forecast to complete in August and Reconnaissance Platoon in October. The Assault Pioneers completed training throughout the year, developing both their operational and bugling capabilities. The cadres saw some fantastic performances. Rfn Lott and LCpl Abbott of Mortar Platoon and Anti-Tank Platoon respectively took top student of their cadres, whilst the others remain on-going.
Concurrently to the cadres, members of S Company undertook a variety of courses, both to promote and qualify in their specialist capabilities. More widely its members supported 6 RIFLES’ support weapons cadres, trained the Uzbekistan Cambrian Patrol team, performed the Freedom of Chepstow and competed in Battalion shooting competitions. The Company’s buglers, led by Bugle Major Lewis, also had resounding success at the Regimental bugling competition, winning best platoon.
The Company now looks forward to further developing its war- ghting capabilities through autumn and winter 2017, and in preparation for Exercise ASKARI STORM. This will see exercising of the ISTAR and Fire Support Groups, with the Intelligence Cell re-structured under S Company command. This period ends with a changeover of HQ personnel, with a new OC, CSM and 2IC in role from September.
Maj Ed Richardson, OC S Coy
An S Company Mortar team engaging enemy trenches on the Mortar Cadre
An S Company Sniper extracts from his observation post on the Sniper Cadre
32 FIRST BATTALION
THE RIFLES