Page 36 - The Bugle Issue 12 Autumn 2016

This year has seen S Company evolve from supporting a wide range of commitments to training for deployment on future operations. The transition was marked by a complete change of headquarters personnel in spring 2016, welcoming a new OC, CSM and 2IC.
The main thrust of S Company’s energy this year has been the delivery and assurance of mission speci c training for the Battalion’s nal rotation of Op SHADER. This included training personnel from across the Battalion, as well as welcoming non-formed unit attachments and members of 6 RIFLES into the S Company team. Training began in April 2016 and culminated in a Mission Rehearsal Exercise which nished with all personnel ready to deploy in August. S Company Ri emen will now remain deployed in various training locations across in Iraq until Christmas.
Separate from training for operations, S Company provided the lead for two other major commitments; the provision of Short Term Training Teams to Central Asia and the real life support for Ex CAMBRIAN PATROL in October 2015. Ex CAMBRIAN PATROL saw the Company provide Real Life Support as well as nine competition stands. These stands included reacting to CBRN, captured persons, treating battle eld casualties and the establishment of a tented village from which the exercise administration was conducted.
S Company’s Short Term Training Teams were led by Capt Guy Walker with members of his Recce Platoon and Sniper Platoon. The rst
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exercise saw the team deploy to Illsky, Kazakhstan in April. This was to conduct pre-training with the Kazakh’s in preparation for their subsequent deployment to the UK for Ex STEPPE EAGLE in July. The second saw the team deploy to Uzbek- istan in May to conduct low-level training and to re-establish the link between both armies during Ex FORISH. Separately the Sniper Platoon, under Sjt Thomas sent a sniper pair to compete in Ex GOLDEN OWL in June, a sniper competition in Kazakhstan in which they were the only British team to compete.
Other S Company commitments have included support to Joint Force Headquarters exercises, community engagement and continuing to build our relationship with Marlborough and Cheltenham Colleges CCFs. The Bugle platoon has been active as ever, supporting a variety of ceremonies such as the State Opening of the Welsh Government, Royal Gun Salutes, the dining out of Lt Gen Tim Evans CB CBE DSO and performing with the wider Regiment on Horse Guards Parade during our Sounding Retreat. One of the buglers, LCpl Koen, also competed in the coveted Cutlers’ Sword competition, placing a very respectable joint- second from across the Army’s pipes and bugles.
S Company now looks forward to completing on-going operations in Iraq and preparing to build on its support weapons capability through cadres in the New Year.
Maj Ed Richardson, Of cer Commanding S Company
S Company
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34 FIRST BATTALION THE RIFLES