Page 46 - Bugle Spring 2023

7 RIFLES
A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE
There is one bus
that goes from
Oxford to Edward
Brooks Barracks
(EBB) and on my
first parade week,
I managed to take
the wrong one. Making the one-and-a- half-mile trek from Abingdon city centre towards EBB I was excited: day one with a foreign light infantry unit and I was already doing light infantry work - not too bad! Now after a couple of months of parading with A Company, I can say that 7 RIFLES are a switched-on reserve unit.
I saw this on a night patrol that was conducted during the Tuesday night training: the objective was to practice section-level patrolling in preparation
for the upcoming field training exercise. Incorporating the Recruit Platoon into
the Section, the Riflemen did their battle preparation and stepped off into the
night. With the small group of recruits sandwiched between the main body
and the rear man, the section worked its way through the dark communicating effectively through hand signals. The recruits were able to see an infantry section at work as they moved silently through the training area, and I was impressed by both the performance of
the section as well as their involvement of the recruits. By the end of the 90 minute patrol, the section (with its additional bodies) was moving fluidly through the woods with minimal noise. This standard of professional soldiering is a common theme with The Rifles and speaks of both the NCO’s and Officer’s leadership as well as the dedication of each individual soldier.
A major difference that I have seen between the UK’s Army Reserve and the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces is the use of the Dismounted
Close Combat Trainer (DCCT). Most Armouries (known over here as Army Reserve Centres) in Canada will have a DCCT but we never make good use of it. The opportunity for soldiers to use the DCCT and the unique scenarios that can be played in them not only incentivizes attendance but prevents skill fade and was a great way to supplement weapons- cleaning.
I am very much looking forward to continuing my attached posting and hopefully, I’ll be able to pick some things up that I can take back to my home regiment.
Capt Evans, Calgary Highlanders
On attachment to A Company, 7 RIFLES
46 RIFLES The Bugle
Exercise SPEARPOINT
Ex SPEARPOINT
Exercise SPEARPOINT was an excellent opportunity for Riflemen and Fusiliers alike to work together and to get a taste of the operational effectiveness of 20 Armoured Brigade Combat Team (20 ABCT). During the exercise phase, troops deployed for six days to Salisbury Plain Training Area. Occupying Greenlands Camp, we were tasked with establishing a foothold in the area while
the enemy, the Donovians, made constant attempts to dislodge us. Often, Reservists do not get to see the full capability of the Brigades which they are a part of, such as heavy armour. Ex SPEARPOINT did well to change this with the dynamic use of Warrior and Challenger, both friendly and enemy, adding excitement and realism to the scenario. This smooth integration between Regular and Reserve forces is imperative to operational effectiveness, not if - but when, we have to operate in cohesive fighting units.
During the second week of Ex SPEARPOINT, the troops entered Corsham Mines. The complex is an underground city leftover from
The complex is an under- ground city leftover from the Cold War; it is a fascinating and difficult area in which to operate
the Cold War; it is a fascinating and difficult area in which to operate. The troops learnt OBUA (Operating in Built Up Areas) skills in
the subterranean context – something we’ve not been exposed to before. We quickly learnt the complexities of tunnel warfare and the difficulties it presents, often breaking into a doorway that could be a cupboard or a cavern. As Commanders, command and control was a constant challenge and had to be managed by long chains of linkmen (technology advances, but the basics are ever dependable!).
The highlight for many was “Simunition” (non-lethal training ammunition) force-on- force training. This enabled the Riflemen to see what it was like to fight an opposing force with their own dynamic plan, a very welcome break to an ‘enemy’ popping up and firing off a couple of shots in one’s general direction. The experience reinforced the importance of individual skills and drills, as Riflemen saw first-hand the rate of casualties in the urban environment.
Moving forward, Ex SPEARPOINT laid the foundation for 20 ABCT exercises to come. Having Regulars as Exercise Control and Directing Staff allows for both consistent training and Reservists to stay in role for entire exercises, adding to the realism of
the scenario. Having specialists, such as the Gibraltar Regiment, come across and take on the teaching alongside 1 RRF gave Reservists the opportunity to focus on the job in hand. The whole experience was interesting and exciting, as well as a great way to show our 20 ABCT counterparts what it means to be Swift and Bold.
2Lt Harrington
G Company, 7 RIFLES
Rfn Kay, G Coy on Exercise SPEARPOINT