Page 32 - The Bugle Issue 12 Autumn 2016

CO: Lt Col CED Grist MBE 2IC: Maj MH Forde
RSM: WO1 D Marriot Adjt: Capt JD Murray Ops Offr: Capt G Crossley RSO: Capt D Pearson RCMO: Capt CJ Stevens IO: Capt P Barton
OC: Maj C Oliver MBE 2IC: Capt P Keating CSM: WO2 I Sweet
4 PC: Lt J Fellows
5 PC: Lt A Raymond 6 PC: Lt A Aitken
OC: Maj R Cave 2IC: Lt N Massey CSM: WO2 R Jones 7 PC: Lt M Burns
8 PC: Lt G Fisher
9 PC: Lt T Newman
OC: Maj RJ Hunt
CSM: WO2 P Sharpe
QM: Maj M Darby
QM Technical: Capt J Lindley UWO: Capt OG Mitchell
MTO: Capt S Tisbury
RQMS: WO2 D Daly
RQMS Technical: WO2 N Young
OC: Maj E Richardson
CSM: WO2 L Jones
OC Recce Pl: Capt J Foster
OC Mortar Pl: WO2 P Squires
OC Anti-Tank Pl: Capt AG Dishman
OC Sniper Pl: CSjt W Cooper
OC Assault Pioneer Pl/BuglePl: Sjt S Smith
OC: Maj J Mills
2IC: Lt A Creed
CSM: WO2 T Bramham 1 PC: Lt J Robertson
2 PC: Lt J Baldwin
3 PC: Lt A Gillies
Introduction
The last year has been an exceptionally Stanford Training Area. This was the UK’s largest
demanding year for the 1st Battalion. We are currently 12 months into a 16 month Op SHADER commitment providing the majority of the UK Training Teams (Iraq) Battle-Group. This has seen 4 rounds of Mission Speci c Training and an increased commitment early in 2016. From the rst rotation led by C Company last summer the requirement has grown to two companies and an element of Battalion Headquarters forward on an extended tour. The task in Iraq has proved to be popular and worthwhile, with the Ri emen seeing the bene ts of their efforts as better trained Iraqis and Kurds return to their front-lines.
Our Defence Engagement relationships in Central Asia have both deepened and broadened. We have deployed a number of Short-Term Training teams to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as well as hosting Exercise STEPPE EAGLE this summer on
home-based Defence Engagement exercise this year and with troops from 5 nations (Kazakhs, Tajiks, Kyrgyz, US and UK) in two fully integrated Battle-Groups. With half a dozen more Short-Term Training Teams to Central Asia before the end of the year the opportunity to visit far- ung corners of the globe is alive and well.
We’ve been very keen to seize leadership devel- opment opportunities around the commitments and although not in a position to run our own PJNCO cadre this year, we’ve been very well supported by the other battalions who have made spaces on their own cadres available. This has ensured that our Ri emen continue to get the opportunity to progress – such a key aspect of retaining our best. In a similar manner Adventure Training has been a determined effort both for those returning from Operations in Iraq and those back in Chepstow.
Supporting all of this from Beachley Barracks forward through the echelons has been HQ Company without whom we could never have sustained our various tasks. Sometimes the challenges faced by simultaneously supporting a deployment to Iraq, training teams in Central Asia and the inevitable assistance tasks has seemed like a mountain to climb but the experienced enablers in the Battalion have taken all this in their stride and consistently delivered.
The nal word must go to our families who have endured more separation than expected this year, sometimes at quite short notice. It is only with their forbearance and continued support that achieving all that we have has been possible and we all owe them our gratitude.
Major Matt Forde,
Battalion Second in Command
Guardian Angel Rfn Martin
30 FIRST BATTALION
THE RIFLES
FIRSTBATTALION A COMPANY HQ COMPANY BATTALION HQ
SUPPORT COMPANY C COMPANY B COMPANY