Page 27 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

4 RANGER
R Company prepare for operations on the training rotation
Since January 2022, Representative (R) Company 4 RANGER has been gearing up for operations as part of its training cycle. The Company has deployed across the UK; acquiring, developing, and honing the skills necessary to see them able to deploy as an effective task group alongside a partner force.
In January, R Company took part in the Army Special Operations Brigade-led EAGLE exercise series. This was a three-week package dedicated to handling foreign weapons, defence cultural specialisms and advanced medical training. The purpose of this was to ensure each individual Ranger begins the training cycle with the fundamentals
in hand and to provide the foundations for further collective training.
In February, the Company shifted its focus onto the combat estimate – especially critical for those serving at 4 RANGER because every soldier contributes to team planning. A week of intensive planning preceded Exercise APOLLO’S EAGLE, the first of the APOLLO exercise series, where teams worked through a series of increasingly complex scenarios. The focus was on integration of Divisional assets and implementation of a find, fix, finish, exploit and analyse (F3EA) targeting cycle.
By the end of the week, R Company felt its conceptual component had been considerably sharpened, especially for Rangers and junior non-commissioned officers who are integral to
team planning, but have received little formal estimate training.
R Company then deployed to Wales as part of a three-week training package covering standard operating procedures (SOPs) and close reconnaissance. Kicking off in Caerwent, teams updated their SOPs with the latest feedback from A Company 4 RANGER, who preceded us on the training cycle. With SOPs in place, R Company deployed to Sennybridge as part of a reconnaissance package covering both conventional and non-conventional means. To round the exercise off, the Company completed the time-honoured Fan Dance. Throughout March, R Company continued to test and refine these SOPs on exercises across the UK.
After some well-earnt Easter leave, the Company launched itself back into the training cycle. The second exercise in the APOLLO series, APOLLO’S FORGE, provided the planning team with a deeply complex and demanding problem set, with the legal complexities of operating sub-threshold ever present. The exercise was
a success and the Company held a BBQ and a few beers to celebrate a job well done.
Attention swiftly focussed on Exercise GREY SHARD. This is one of two key exercises each Company on the training cycle in the Army Special Operations Brigade must complete. The aim of this exercise is to focus on a task group’s ability to analyse and understand a multi-faceted and constantly evolving scenario and plan effectively against this. The days
of this exercise are long and little sleep was had for the week. The exercise culminated with the Brigade Commander and Brigade staff listening to the Company brief its plan and then being faced with some relentless and probing questioning. The Company performed well and were quietly pleased with their performance. Almost immediately the Company raised it sights to prepare for the final exercise in the APOLLO series, SABRE.
R Company is still deployed on APOLLO’S SABRE, which will validate them ready to go onto their operational cycle this summer. The exercise aims to test all the Company has learnt during the training cycle. The two-week exercise, similar to the unconventional warfare exercise series, provides an opportunity to work alongside a real partner force from our area of operations – this is rare, and we feel very lucky to be tested in this way.
The training cycle has been a very busy and productive time for R Company. We look forward to a short summer break before moving onto the operations cycle.
Capt Will Rooney, Team Commander.
The days of this exercise are long and little sleep was had for the week
R Company supports an Omani soldier conduct exploitation of a target
R Company begin integration with the Omani Desert Regiment on Exercise APOLLO’S SABRE
The training cycle has been a very busy and productive time for
R Company.
RIFLES The Bugle 27