Page 94 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

THE TEAM KNEW THEY HAD DONE WELL; THEY JUST WEREN’T SURE HOW WELL. WHEN THE ARMY’S TOP 100 SHOTS WERE ANNOUNCED ALL EIGHT FIRERS HAD MADE IT INTO THE TOP 100
The 4 RIFLES Shooting Team has gone from strength to strength over the past three years, proving that time and practice on the range is seldom wasted. The operational tempo of the Battalion this year proved to be somewhat dif cult for the team, with key elements being deployed on OP SHADER in Iraq. Those left behind used the opportunity to hone their skills in order that they may improve on their 2016 performance.
It is impressive how innovative even our most junior Ri emen are when given the time, resources and support network to re ne their skills. Excel- lence has constantly crept upwards through the employment of different methods to train, found by the Ri emen themselves over the course of their time in the team. LCpl Stanton has been an exemplary coach and mentor to the most junior Ri emen. Respected amongst the battalion for being one of the best snipers in the world and having won the international competition in 2015, he took the whole team under his wing and coached them into having the same ruthlessly determined mentality that he has. Due to battalion commitments to OP SHADER and EX ASKARI STORM, there was a very small pool from which to select the best team; the decision was therefore made to take a large number of newly trained Ri emen fresh out of Catterick. This decision provided mixed results, with it being evident that some new Ri emen needed time in a Ri e platoon to learn and develop their trade prior to being selected for something like the shooting team. However, one particular Ri eman stood out and that was Rfn Appleby of B Coy who made it into the A team for all three competitions this year, and is one to watch for the future.
Being in a different Brigade and Division brought a new challenge to the fore. That challenge was 1 RGR, who came second at the Army Operational Shooting Competition (OSC) in 2016 (4 RIFLES came fth). The team were hot on their heels in the 11 Armoured Brigade OSC and the 1 Division OSC. The A and B team came second and third respectively, both times; notable performances coming from LCpl Stanton who won top shot at Brigade and Lt D’Souza who won top of cer at Div. The team won many individual shoots throughout
both competitions, of particular note were the falling plate competitions and the march and shoot at both competitions.
The next challenge on the team’s calendar was the Army OSC, held at Pirbirght and generally referred to as Bisley (due to some of the competitions being run on Bisley’s Century range). After a concentrated period of intense training, including most weekends, the team felt well prepared. The team knew they had done well; they just weren’t sure how well. When the Army’s top 100 shots were announced all eight rers had made it into the top 100; a real testament to the hard work and dedication shown by all rers. Outstanding individual performances came from LCpl Stanton who came third and Rfn Galloway who came 14th in his rst year ring. The team position was an even bigger surprise with 4 RIFLES coming second out of 55 teams, the rst time a team from the regiment has placed in the top three. Breaking into the solid band of Gurkha teams that have monopolised this competition for the past few decades, and beating most of them should have been something to celebrate. However, the team’s drive and determination mean that they will not be satis ed with anything but the overall win. Next year should be very interesting.
With Bisley over, one could assume that the shooting team would now be disbanded and move back to their companies; however they have shot so well, ve of the eight have been selected as part of the British Army’s top 12 rers and will be repre- senting the British Army Combat Shooting team in Canada with Lt D’Souza Captaining the squad. Away from competing, the team has been tasked with spreading the knowledge they have gleaned over the course of the training period to the rest of the Battalion. This will consist of running train the trainer packages for small groups of NCOs in the battalion so that this knowledge can be dissemi- nated. This is going to be hugely important in the nascent Specialised Infantry Battalion that 4 RIFLES has recently changed into. The aim, prior to compe- titions next year, is for the team to spread as much knowledge as they can amongst the Battalion and the Regiment.
Lt Franklin D’Souza
4 RIFLES Shooting Team
92 FOURTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES
The Shooting Team in action honing their skills ready for the Army OSC
Members of 4 RIFLES being taught the tricks of the trade by the Shooting Team