Page 22 - Bugle Spring 2025

3 RIFLES
THE LT CHESTERMAN COMPETITION
– HONOUR IN ENDURANCE
At dawn on Wednesday 2nd October,
Riflemen gathered for the annual
Chesterman Competition, a demanding
event honouring the legacy of an Officer
whose courage and leadership continue to
inspire. Designed to enhance the Battalion’s
warfighting skills, the competition focused
on the fundamental principles of shoot,
move, and communicate while reflecting the
challenges Lt Chesterman faced during his
service in Afghanistan.
The day began at 0600 hours with a
gruelling 10-kilometre march in full patrol
kit. Teams then faced a fire-and-manoeuvre
shooting test scored on marksmanship,
followed by dragging two casualty dummies
to safety – a task requiring strength,
determination, and teamwork. After a timed
return march to camp, bringing the total
distance to 15 kilometres, competitors tackled
combat PT; a simulated unarmed fight
testing both physical endurance and mental
toughness.
The next challenge was a gun run,
combining cognitive precision and raw
strength. Teams carried heavy equipment
to simulate mortar setup and ammunition
transport, all under punishing time constraints.
The final stages pushed participants to their
limits: a pistol shooting test of marksmanship
under exhaustion, followed by a military
knowledge quiz assessing mental acuity.
The competition sparked fierce inter-
company rivalries, with OCs boasting of their
teams’ chances in the lead-up. Ultimately,
F Company’s Fires Platoon claimed victory,
narrowly beating a determined B Company
team.
This annual event serves not only as
a test of skills but as a living tribute to Lt
Chesterman’s leadership and sacrifice.
Through grit, camaraderie, and a focus on the
basics of soldiering, his legacy endures within
the Battalion.
Capt Wheatley, MTO, HQ Coy
The day began at 0600
hours with a gruelling
10-kilometre march in
full patrol kit.
22 RIFLES The Bugle