Page 173 - Chronicle Vol 17

CONCLUSION
Throughout history The Rifles have been at the forefront of tactical and technical innovation. The relationships fostered between Rifleman and the trust given to the lowest level allows the freedom for Riflemen to maintain flexibility of thought and implement new tactics and technologies. However, there must be conscious effort to maintain and resource this ethos. Lack of control over procurement pro- cess at the tactical level constrains this ethos. Commanders must endeavour to find innovative ways to access funding to procure the latest technologies and then implement this into realistic and challenging training opportunities. This may be achieved by brigade or higher formation funding being diverted towards experimental COTS equipment allowing freedom to those within the regiment (and in general the wider-Army). The historical successes outlined in the refer- ence case studies are testament to the experimental and professional standards of the regiment: care must be taken to continue to resource this as a regiment. The Rifles ethos prepares the regiment for success on a modern battlefield and our commanders need to ensure that time and resource is allocated to the Riflemen to allow them to practise this ethos.
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