Page 48 - Bugle Issue 19 Spring 2022

8 RIFLES
Officers and Serjeants Mess Leadership Weekend and Dinner
After years of hibernation, 8 RIFLES’ Messes held a dinner at the York Castle Museum in late October. Under the diligent eye of WO1 (RSM) Danny Long, the WOs’ and Sjts’ Mess arranged a club-style, suitably distanced, dinner setting in the middle of Kirkgate, a street that had been moved from the centre of York and rebuilt, brick-by-brick, in the museum.
The Officers’ Mess managed to arrive just
in time for pre-dinner drinks and looked quite at home in the Victorian-era setting. The dinner ended with leaving presentations for Capt Tim Exley (ex-RSM), WO2 Newsom (HQ Coy SPSI), and Sgt Pearson (Chef)
but the revelries continued with a disco
that thankfully played music from an era before any of the Subbies had been born.
In retaliation, the Subbies managed to convince the DJ to set up an impromptu
Karaoke to educate the more senior Riflemen in the contemporary youth music scene.
This long-awaited dinner has set the tone and standard for future events and thanks go to Sjt Verdell Davis who did the vast majority of the legwork that made the night such a great success.
Maj Dowdall, Bn 2IC
This dinner has set the tone and standard for future events
8 RIFLES SECOND
ANNUAL DEPLOYABILITY EXERCISE
EX IRISH BUGLE
Following on from the success of Ex PLATINUM WOLF, 8 RIFLES overseas ADE, the Battalion deployed to familiar territory in Northern Ireland for its second annual exercise.
Focusing on capability building, the primary aim of Ex IRISH BUGLE was to give members of 8 RIFLES the chance to gain qualifications in range and exercise safety, driving and fitness as well as prepare individuals to attend battle courses. Its secondary aim was to build cohesion within the Battalion through several social and cultural events as well as more traditional team building activities such as command tasks and a shooting competition.
As with most two-week long exercises, 8 RIFLES had to hit the ground running to fit everything in. Not 12 hours off the ferry, and on a damp Northern Irish Sunday the ETL course began. Not 24 hours after that there were five courses in full swing and the exercise was off to a good start. Cat C licences were one of the more sought-after courses with two people actually getting a pay rise in their civilian jobs after passing!
By the first weekend, the initial courses were complete and everyone settled in to enjoy some sport, a BBQ and even the Game of Thrones tour! For some members
of 8 RIFLES this was their
Not 12 hours off the ferry, and on
first time in Northern Ireland and the Battalion was keen for them to experience the country outside of the beaches of Ballykinler.
The second week focused on range work including a shooting competition and safety courses than ran run most of the week. This culminated with the 51 Brigade Commander coming to visit and giving out the prizes to the winning teams.
In regard to both of its aims, Ex IRISH BUGLE succeeded in both developing the capabilities of the Battalion and bringing the collective Battalion closer together.
Maj Sutherland
Bn Training Officer
48 RIFLES The Bugle
a damp Northern Irish Sunday the ETL course began