Page 49 - Bugle Issue 19 Spring 2022

8 RIFLES
The Great North Run
Following some limited success on the Northeast Triathlon Circuit, the 8 RIFLES team turned its sights onto something with less swimming and cycling; the 40th annual Great North Run. GNR40 was a huge event, with over 50,000 people taking part and being broadcast in over 100 countries. It was the first public running event of its scale to happen since the world began to close in early 2020. A truly landmark occasion!
Keen to challenge ourselves and to raise as much money as possible for our chosen charity, Well Child, we agreed to not only run the half marathon, but to do so while wearing a giant nurse’s outfit (pictured). Swapping out every couple of miles so everyone could have their fair share of the spotlight (and more practically, the burden), it meant it was still an enjoyable day rather than a tunnel visioned slog.
While some members of the team defiantly enjoyed the day more than others, everyone was extremely happy to raise over £2,000 and to see the Northeast leading the way in opening events the world had missed!
While some members of the team defiantly enjoyed the day more than others, everyone was extremely happy to raise over £2,000
Birmingham Officer Training Corps Annual Exercise – Support from E Company
Having been Officer Cadets (OCdts) at Birmingham UOTC before commissioning, we considered it a privilege to be able to return and assist in an instructional capacity alongside our commitment to E Coy, 8 RIFLES. Throughout this bumpy, stop-start year, both 2Lt Pratt and I have been Platoon Commanders, and have facilitated the online and physical training for the Intermediate and Senior Companies of BUOTC respectively.
The ADX (Annual Deployment Exercise) is a two-week exercise period which OCdts must attend to qualify for their annual bounty. The ADX consisted of several phases to expose them to as many elements of the Commissioning Course Short as possible, such as ‘The Sandhurst Experience,’ a Field Training Exercise (FTX) and a cultural visit
to the Tower of London. BUOTC were lucky enough to receive training from several external instructors to enhance their experience, with 2Lt Pratt testing his own OBUA drills in the Skills House. I was the Platoon Commander for the exercise, leading Advance to Contacts and Deliberate Attacks, culminating in Fighting in Woodlands and Forests (FIWAF) on the final attack. I found this to be particularly rewarding, putting my own skills to the test while mentoring others in their command appointments.
As I leave 8 RIFLES to attend the Regular Commissioning Course in September, I hope the excellent relationship between E Coy 8 RIFLES and BUOTC is sustained.
2Lt Mould, E Company
RIFLES The Bugle 49