Page 40 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

7 RIFLES
EX BALTIC STRIKE
Exercise Baltic Strike saw a combined Coy group from 7 RIFLES train with, and be trained by, elements of B Company, 5 RIFLES on Salisbury Plain. It was a well-paced, chal- lenging and rewarding exercise intended to develop low-level mounted and dismounted capabilities alongside our paired Regular battalion. All Riflemen came away with
a renewed focus and refreshed skills
base that not only furthers the battalion’s armoured and light role capabilities, but deepens our relationship, and develops our interoperability, with 5 RIFLES.
7 RIFLES is tasked to provide support to
20 Brigade, notably 5 RIFLES, in the form of armoured infantry ‘familiar’ individual augmen- tees and sections and light role Riflemen up
to company strength. In either role, crucial to fulfilling our task is regularly training with 5 RIFLES – with whom we are fortunate to have a close working relationship.
In 2020 over 60% of the battalion deployed on either Op TOSCA 32, the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, or Op RESCRIPT, the military’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. For those remaining, training comprised virtual aspects alongside back-to-basics soldier first and battlecraft syllabus training objectives
as well as ranges to ensure a basic level of readiness was maintained.
Kicking off the new training year with Exercise Baltic Strike gave us a fantastic opportunity to reinvigorate our training; refreshing and practicing our understanding of
core dismounted and mounted close combat skills. By completion of the exercise 7 RIFLES had returned to having a solid skills base in both our armoured and light role capabilities to move forward from.
Being accompanied by the experienced and enthusiastic commanders and drivers from 5 RIFLES during the duration of the exercise, we not only benefitted from Warrior AFV platforms but also the knowledge and expertise of their crews – delivered in a manner conducive to learning. Using a crawl- walk-run mentality to ensure all Riflemen benefited, the focus initially rested on devel- oping our low-level mounted skills and drills to ensure all could safely and effectively operate out of the back of a Warrior. A clear progres- sion over the course of the exercise took us
to mounted 1-up and 2-up attacks. We also included serials designed to develop our light
40 RIFLES The Bugle
In 2020 over 60% of the battalion deployed on either Op TOSCA 32 or Op RESCRIPT