Page 27 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

4 RIFLES
Endex at the end of 40 days in the jungle.
Some beards looking stronger than others
In January 2021 Team 9 deployed to Belize as part of a Specialised Infantry Group overseas training exercise. The team operated as a dynamic enemy giving the training Companies within the wider Group the ability to test their skill sets against a free-thinking force.
After a testing journey to Belize, the
Team were only able to spend 24 hours
in Camp Price conducting administration before being moved to jungle camps on the Manatee training area. The first two weeks were focused on jungle foundation skills and introduced the Team to jungle reconnaissance, tracking and survival. The Team relished this new challenge and thrived in a demanding environment that tested skills at every level.
After the foundation training period was complete, Team 9 moved to the Baldy Beacon training area and established two jungle camps where they remained for the next 30 days. The team was split across two locations which were 600 metres apart and they built their camps from scratch, doing an extraordi- nary job of turning them into a home for the next month. This next period was focused on giving the exercising Companies an extremely hard time in conducting reconnaissance.
The team were given a great deal of freedom and this enabled them to conduct their own estimates, their own orders and generate oper- ational tempo; a far cry from scripted enemy tasks of old. Hard work in understanding the scenario and environment paid off and the Team took great pride in being able to create
a testing, dynamic enemy for the exercising troops.
After a tough period in the jungle camps, the exercising troops moved into a chal- lenging final exercise. Given complete free rein, Team 9 generated a robust plan and set about attempting to torment the enemy. The opportunity to be enemy allowed the Team to experiment and innovate on all their tactical actions. In particular it allowed junior ranks to consistently step up and demonstrate their ability. An impressive example of this was the Team’s effort in locating and tracking their sister Coy from 3rd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles for over 1 kilometre in very
austere conditions. They achieved this whilst orchestrating an ambush with another team. This was no mean feat, especially against an accomplished company of Gurkhas.
After 53 days in the trees and a humbling display of soldiering the team was able to relax and enjoy some well-earned R&R at Caye Caulker before the flight home. Overall the exercise provided an excellent opportunity to test the Team and individuals in an unconven- tional role in arduous conditions.
CSjt Kristoffer Griffith
Team Ops Officer
Given complete free rein, Team 9 generated a robust plan and set about attempting to torment the enemy
An evening spent in the basha built by the team during an exercise maintenance day
RIFLES The Bugle 27
TEAM 9 ON
EXERCISE MAYAN SPEAR