Page 60 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

Press-ups, Pakoras and PKMs:
2 RIFLES compete at the Pakistani ‘PACES’ competition
On a somewhat crisp Ulster morning in October 2016, 12 ri emen of I Company huddled around the back of a lorry with brews to warm their hands as the last of the kit was loaded on board. Where they would be travelling to would be a far cry from the cold of the Northern Irish autumn; soon they would be scrambling for the shade and swapping the early morning cappuccinos for the refreshment of chilled water.
October 2016 saw the inaugural International ‘PACES’ (Physical Agility, Combat Ef ciency System) Competition, founded and hosted by the Pakistani Army. A total of 16 militaries from across the globe (including China, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Saudi Arabia) travelled to Lahore to compete in Pakistan’s military tness and skills competition against some of Pakistan’s top teams. The aim of the trip was predominantly that of defence engagement; building and maintaining relationships between our global allies. But it should go without saying that as a Ri es team, winning the competition was also at the forefront of everybody’s mind.
The visit to Pakistan had three elements; physical tness assessments, the combat ef ciency assessment and defence engagement events. Drawn from across the Sniper, Reconnaissance and Javelin Platoons, 2 RIFLES had put forward their best. In the physical assessments, the team vehemently defended the regiments’ honour, outperforming a number of other national teams. The four day event was broken down into maximum press-ups in 30 minutes (without leaving the press-up position), maximum chin-ups in 30 minutes (without leaving the bar), maximum sit-ups in 30 minutes (with no rest) and nally a 3.2 kilometre run through the streets of Lahore Cantonment. Stand out perfor-
STAND OUT PERFORMANCES OF NOTE WERE RFN JACKSON FOR HIS 421 PRESS-UPS AND STAFF SERGEANT THOMAS (RAPTC) FOR HIS 781 SIT-UPS PERFORMED WITH NO BREAKS!
mances of note were Ri eman Jackson for his 421 press-ups and Staff Sergeant Thomas (RAPTC) for his 781 sit-ups performed with no breaks!
The team’s time in Lahore culminated in the combat ef ciency assessment; a test of physical robustness, agility and marksmanship. Akin to a march and shoot, but performed at a sprinting pace, participants were to conduct a course of repre- sentative military tasks (including casualty carries, a 50 metre leopard crawl and grenade throw) that concluded in a short competition shoot. The assessment was scored as an individual best time combined with rounds on target. Having conducted a crash course of training on the Colt M4 and with an afternoon’s practice, the 2 RIFLES team performed well, narrowly missing a podium nish. This success happily coincided with the visit of Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade, who arrived just in time to see Captain Prince bite the dust having misjudged his third ‘commando roll’ of the circuit.
But the visit was not entirely spent testing one’s physical limits in the 40 degree heat of the Punjab. The defence engagement events throughout the visit were undoubtedly the most enjoyable element and provided the ri emen a chance to immerse themselves in Pakistani culture as well as that of their international counterparts. Throughout the visit the team was expertly hosted by of cers of the Guides Cavalry Regiment, whose hospitality during outings to the Waga Border Ceremony, Lahore Fort and the Cantonment Country Club for a dinner with General Raheel Sharif was at all times superb.
During the nal three days in Pakistan, the team moved to Rawalpindi to conduct visits and defence
Sweating it; the 2 RIFLES team attacks the sit-up competition with vigour
58 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES