Page 30 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

4 RANGER
The Pilot Ranger Advanced Urban Combat Course
Last year, the Battalion conducted its first reciprocal six-month exchange with the Green Berets in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Our relationship has gone from strength to strength and has been key in the development of 4 RANGER.
While in the US on exchange one, our embeds were fortunate enough to see the Advanced Urban Operations Combat Course (AUC). This gruelling course teaches Green Berets to operate in the urban environment, conducting raids and strike operations alongside their operational partners. While on the course, in the margins between ranges and blowing up doors, our embeds broached the subject of establishing a UK-based pilot course along the same lines as the AUC with the Green Beret instructors. Enticed by the offer of Department of Defence funded trip to the UK and the promise of a night out in London, the Green Berets agreed.
Eight months later, in March 22, 6 instructors arrived in the UK. The course, named the Ranger Advanced Urban Combat (RAUC) pilot course, saw 28 students from across The Ranger Regiment, The Rifles and wider Army taking part in a 3-week package. Based on the training received on AUC,
the syllabus was split into three week-long phases. The first, hosted on Pirbright
and Aldershot ranges, was an advanced shooting package, building to a testing ‘stress shoot’ on the Friday.
The second week built on the skills
the students learnt in the first, using
the phenomenal urban facility at RAF Honnington. The instructors took them from simple room clearance up to complex multi- room scenarios at night. With the students’ low-level skills and tactics brought up to speed, we spent the final week on Salisbury Plain. The first few days were spent developing their skills in more complex
The course finished with a series of four raids across Salisbury Plain testing everything the students had
learnt
environments.
The course progressed further to an
abandoned nuclear bunker at Corsham Tunnels to truly test them to operate in the darkest and most complex environments. The course finished with a series of
four raids across Salisbury Plain testing everything the students had learnt and ultimately assessing whether they could plan and execute complex raids to a standard expected of a US Green Beret. Across the board British soldiers stepped up to the plate and hit the standards expected by our guest instructors.
4 RANGER is hugely appreciative of the support the Green Berets have shown to the development of the Army Special Operations Brigade. We look forward
to future joint training and operations together.
De Oppresso Liber. By all means.
Capt Dan Unwin
Like in so many other battalions, the Corporals’ Mess has been a difficult issue
to solve over the last few years. Corporals’ Messes are unbound by Queen’s Regulations and with fewer Corporals in camp because of training and operational deployments,
the demand for a Corporals’ Mess since I joined the Army has declined. At 4 RANGER we have transformed the Corporals’ Mess as a concept and made it more inclusive space open to everyone serving at the Battalion. This is in line with the way we operate – in small teams and with a flat structure where everyone has a voice.
We have renamed the Mess as The Ranger Tavern and this is a space for all
30 RIFLES The Bugle
of our Rangers to use and enjoy. With the re-designation of 4 RIFLES to 4 RANGER, we were cognisant that we needed to update the interior to acknowledge the importance of our rich antecedent history, but it also needed
to embrace our new identity. A small team
of Rangers set about updating the interior. Ranger grey seat covers, sofas and pool table cover were quickly procured and these stand proudly with our property accrued during our time as Riflemen. Thanks are owed to Captain Mick Gibbons for sourcing funding for The Tavern and the Battalion BBQ area and to all those who helped in the transformation of The Tavern.
The Tavern opens every day, and once a month we hold a Battalion quiz night – the battalion headquarters team have dubiously won twice so far! As well as low-level events organised by teams and companies, the Tavern is a useful focal point for hosting guests. We have used it on several occasions so far and it gets us away from holding focus groups and less formal meetings in a conference room.
The Tavern has taken off with the hot weather we have experienced lately and with us all putting effort and time into it, it can only get better.
Corporal Andrew Borthwick,
Training Wing JNCO.
The very popular Battalion Quiz Night in The Ranger Tavern
the Tavern is a useful focal point for hosting guests
CORPORALS’ MESS TRANSFORMED INTO THE RANGER TAVERN