Page 27 - Chronicle Vol 17

These include a 21-day journey down the Fish River and a 4-day expedition down the Orange River - which presented real challenges at times. He is a very keen golfer and skilled cricket player, and at Sandhurst took part in the British Army Warrior Fitness programme. He also played hockey for GB Under 21 and Under 23 Teams,. and for the South African Under 21 Team. Ross was promoted to JUO shortly before commissioning and joins 3 RIFLES.
We welcome into the Regiment the following officers, who commissioned from RMAS Commissioning Course No. 231 on Friday 15th December 2023.
2Lt JAJ Bishop. James grew up in Weymouth and attended All Saints CofE School, where he was Chairman of his School Council, and Budmouth Technical College. He decided not to attend university and went straight into a series of jobs mostly connected with the sea: instructing in kitesurfing, sailing and other water sports. He became a professional sailor in the British National 470-Class team and sailed a non-stop circumnavigation of the British Isles, including the Orkneys and Outer Hebrides. The sport has also taken him widely around Europe. He then joined the Army and after ITC Catterick spent 18 months with 1RRF, qualifying as a Warrior driver and gunner, and deployed on Op CABRIT and to Kosovo. James joins 1RIFLES.
2Lt J Giles. Joe was educated at West Park Community College and then Bilborough College, before moving to Sheffield Hallam University, where he obtained a 1st Class degree in Sports Science. He followed that with a master’s degree in management at Nottingham. Studying placed him alongside a range of foreign students, and travel has included India, Australia, and the USA. His first job lasted for 5 years with a company selling and managing software contracts. Sport has always been important to him: he gained a black belt in karate and excelled at rugby and cricket. At Sandhurst, Joe was promoted to JUO shortly before commissioning and won a Commandant’s Merit Award for exceptional achievement. Joe joins 3 RIFLES.
2Lt JN Harrington. Jack comes from a military family; both his parents served in the Army, as did several other close relatives. Brought up in Sussex, he went to The Academy at Selsey and then to Chichester College, before university at Queen Mary’s London, whence he graduated with a degree in History. He joined the OTC and achieved a Reserve Commission, then transferred to 7 RIFLES. He has instructed in diving for several biannual trips to Egypt, and eventually became a rescue diver. Rugby is a big sport for him; he was President and Captain of the team at Queen Mary’s, but he also qualified as a diver, took part in Exercise Frosted Blade skiing with 7 RIFLES, and at Sandhurst joined the British Army Warrior Fitness Programme. Jack joins 2 RIFLES.
2Lt CA Mackenzie. Conor comes from a family of soldiers, including his father and brother. Born in Middleborough, much of his growing up was at Blandford, where his father was serving at the time, and where he later returned for Phase 2 training with the Royal Signals. At school he was the lead for School Government,
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