Page 6 - Bugle Spring 2025

1 RIFLES
Op LAZURITE, A Year of Operational Support at Beachley Barracks
Beachley Barracks has played a pivotal
several bouncy castles and live music.
role in supporting Operation LAZURITE
CSjt Greg Edwards headed up
since October 2023, which at its peak
refurbishment projects on camp. So
has seen 800+ Entitled Persons (EPs)
far these have included new carpets
living in Beachley. This Home Office
throughout workspaces and the
programme has been a life-changing
redecoration of BHQ and Coy offices. The
experience for both service personnel and
gym hall has also seen a fresh coat of paint
families residing on the estates. Since
and the refurbishment of the squash courts.
then over 7,000 EPs have relocated to the
They are also working tirelessly to re-furbish
UK. Throughout this period, the Beachley
SFA accommodation as EPs move to new
Barracks Management Team (BBMT)
homes and BBMT prepare to welcome 1
have been the backbone of the operation,
RIFLES back home.
ensuring that all EPs are as comfortable
The year has been extraordinary, marked
as possible, before they move to more
by a fast-paced start with continued
permanent homes.
momentum. BBMT has undertaken
Highlights of the team’s support
tremendous team building activities,
include the successful delivery of two
fostering unity and camaraderie. Individuals
Eid celebrations; featuring cultural food
have pushed themselves beyond
displays and a variety of social and sporting
expectations supporting each other across
activities fostering community spirit. It has
internal and external tasks, deployments
not all been about supporting Op LAZURITE
and significant events like the RBL Poppy
however, the team under Sjt Francombe
Appeal. During the remembrance period, we
dedication and community impact.
Beachley Barracks and the BBMT
stand as shining examples of resilience,
collaboration, and perseverance. With
a foundation set for even greater
achievements ahead now that they
approach their final eight months of
delivery as a team.
LCpl Della Deechey
delivered a superb families BBQ including
raised £22,049 for charity, showcasing their
The universal
language of cricket
we raised
£22,049
for charity
Ex DESERT SOLDIER
Exercise DESERT SOLDIER 4 saw 1RIFLES
BHQ conduct a battlegroup planning
exercise, working with 109th Armd Bde
of the Saudi Land Forces as a partner
force. The focus of the exercise was
interoperability, with the aim of harmonising
the planning cycle between the Combat
Estimate, and the American Military
Planning Making Process (MDMP).
1RIFLES BGHQ was designated as Task
Force 61 (TF61) to align planning efforts with
the partner KSA Task Force 106 (TF106). The
exercise played out with deliberate touch
points between each UK CE question, ensuring
that we and TF106 (KSA) were both on the
same page in the coordinated delivery of the
Bde OpO.
Prior to the execution phase the 1RIFLES
team were hosted on two cultural days. This
included a horse riding trip which was met
with KSA entertainment at the amateur skills
of the 1RIFLES team and was followed by an
insightful Museum visit. The cultural days
concluded with a traditional Saudi evening
meal, with lamb kapsa eaten on the floor with
hands, a well-received and novel experience.
The team then transitioned to the execute
phase. Information of the battle picture trickled
in, providing the team time to reflect and
observe enabling opportunity to make deeper
studies of roles during execute under the
guidance of Maj James Flannagan CSTTG(G).
Internally, value was gained from this process,
with lessons identified in updating areas of
BG SOP’s. Defence engagement achieved,
and with useful lessons identified in the
BG planning process, Ex DESERT SOLDIER 4
proved to be a worthwhile training exercise for
1RIFLES BGHQ.
Capt James Prince, IO
6 RIFLES The Bugle
1RFILES BQHG hosted by 109th
Armd Bde of the Saudi Land Forces
A combined back brief at Q6 to support the Bde Op