Page 72 - Chronicle Vol 17

A Coy, 5 RIFLES, EX NORTHERN FOREST, Lapland, May 2023. ‘Sotakone’, War Machine
outnumbered in a realistic force-against-force scenario, our Riflemen acquitted themselves well. A Company’s logistical element was also presented with the chal- lenge of moving armoured vehicles by rail, something that has not been practised for many years. The team seized numerous opportunities to sample the delights of Finland’s culture and many saunas, with the highlight being a visit to Helsinki.
JUNIOR NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER CADRE
D Company were responsible for planning and delivering this year’s Potential Junior Non- Commissioned Officer course between 19 June and 4 August; a for- mal distributed training programme designed to test and qualify our Riflemen for promotion to Lance Corporal. The course was seven weeks long and based at Ward Barracks. It entailed several distinct elements including the mandated Army Leadership Development Package and qualifications for planning and run- ning training exercises and providing safety staff to static live firing ranges. The bulk of the course focussed on low level infantry skills and testing the Riflemen to ensure they could command a fire team in the field. This was achieved through a demanding and complex final exercise on Salisbury Plain, which included urban and trench warfare over a protracted period living and operating in the field. From the 56 candidates that started the course, 44 newly-promoted Lance Corporals passed off the parade in front of the mew Colonel Commandant Lt General Tom Copinger-Symes, their family, friends and the rest of the battalion.
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