Page 45 - Bugle Issue 20 Autumn 2022

7 RIFLES
BATUS with 5 RIFLES
What role do you deploying in and what did do you do for the two weeks? I deployed as a mortarman with the 5 RIFLES Mortar Platoon and to participate in the live fire package. Unfortunately, due to a shortage of rounds we did a light role live fire package from fire team, working up to company level. This included a FIBUA package.
Was the training requirement to deploy easy to meet? Because
I’m mortar-qualified, the only pre-deployment training needed was a mortar WHT done under our SPSI at our Army Reserve Centre in West Ham.
What are the preconceptions of deploying with a Regular unit from a Reservist’s perspective? Did they hold up or were they all wrong once you were there? I’ve deployed with
a Regular unit in the past so I knew it would be hard graft at first but would be good training. They do this for a living, so I find it best to watch, listen and learn.
What was the training benefit of deploying to Canada? There was enormous training benefit - especially because I got to participate in a full- blown live fire package whilst living and working out of a Bulldog. This
is not an experience you can really replicate in the Reserves.
LCpl M MacGillivray, Mortar Pl
7 RIFLES took the lead in this year’s Reserve RIFLES Battalions PJNCO Cadre, with the fortunate ability to open several spaces up to 4 MERCIAN and 5 RRF. The Cadre, held in Otterburn, proved to be a demanding but rewarding two weeks for the junior soldiers who were pushed to their limits whilst demonstrating some great potential. The Army Leadership Development Programme delivered in the first week helped build the foundation leadership skills required and was reinforced through various team-based exercises allowing soldiers to stretch out of their comfort zones.
Weathering the sub-zero temperatures,
the soldiers pushed through a demanding five-day exercise spanning across the entire training area. Starting with a defensive
phase, the students effectively dug in over
two days with interspersed clearance exercises designed to test in appointment.
The second phase saw the students move to the physically demanding northern area for a reconnaissance phase further developing their future soldiering capabilities. Ex APPRENTICE BUGLE was a great success, and 7 RIFLES looks forwards to hosting the challenging cadre in years to come.
Capt R Martin, 2ic C Coy
LCpl Alloway, who joined the Army Reserve five years ago, is in C Coy 7 RIFLES, based at Brock Barracks in Reading. His dad was a boxing coach and ran his own gym for
26 years, and not surprisingly, LCpl Alloway followed him into the sport. He used to box competitively and over the last few years also became a professional boxing coach. It wasn’t too long before he got involved with the Army Boxing Association.
“I tend to work one day a week with the British Army Boxing Team at its headquarters in Aldershot. I assist the full-time coaches with the squad, in all aspects of its training program, in the lead up to their competitions. I help with the runs, technical/tactical sessions, individual training sessions with the boxers and assist in overseeing some of the sparring – and it is great to see fellow Riflemen boxing at this level.”
LCpl L Alloway, C Coy
Boxing Coach
Ex FROSTED BLADE 36, France
What is Ex FROSTED BLADE?
Ex FROSTED BLADE is the annual Infantry ski championship held in Val d’Isère. Run for five weeks over the Christmas period, the exercise aims to test Infantry soldiers both mentally and physically through Alpine race training. Ex FROSTED BLADE provides a venue where all Infantry battalions can race against each other in the four alpine ski disciplines.
7 RIFLES on Ex FROSTED BLADE
7 RIFLES competed in Ex FROSTED BLADE for the first time in the 2019/2020 ski season where they placed 7th overall. This year, it was the only military exercise of its type to complete all four disciplines (slalom, giant slalom, super giant slalom and downhill) against the restrictions of Covid-19.
LCpl Alloway overseeing some sparring for LCpl Jack Hindmarch (3 RIFLES), who recently won
the UK Armed Forces Heavyweight Title
The Cadre, held in Otterburn, proved
to be a demanding but rewarding two weeks for the junior soldiers
RIFLES The Bugle 45
EX APPRENTICE BUGLE – PJNCO CADRE