Page 54 - The Bugle Issue 12 Autumn 2016

IT WASN’T
ALL ‘WORK
AND NO
PLAY’ AS THE
PLATOON
UTILISED
SOME OF
ITS RUGBY
TALENT
C Company overview
The ‘Other Tasks’ year that the battalion nds itself in has led to some fantastic opportunities for C Company. 9 Platoon travelled to Kenya to provide the BATUK Force Protection Platoon in Nanyuki, an on-going commitment to protect both the exercising troops and permanent staff in Kenya. The platoon managed to conduct some useful training with G4S, advising them on vehicle and personnel search, as well as some of the various ‘actions on’ required for camp security. It wasn’t all ‘work and no play’ as the platoon utilised some of its rugby talent and organised a Touch Rugby Tournament for all BATUK staff to get involved in.
Ex SHAMROCK MAYNE presented an altogether different challenge for the Company. Each company from the battalion entered a team in the 38X patrols competition on the north coast of Northern Ireland. The 60km patrol involves such treats as a section attack, 2 mile best effort, Falling Plate competition and mass casualty scenario. 2Lt Lee’s patrol put in an outstanding performance and nished with a Gold Award for the patrol overall, one of only 2 awarded.
September allowed some time for the company to reconstitute before the hectic process of PDT for Ex ASKARI STORM in January. This was short lived however as 10 Platoon received an up close and personal demonstration of the capabilities of the UK’s Special Forces on Ex TEMPLE GUARD. A few of the Ri emen and one unlucky Platoon Commander learned (in the most practical of ways) the true meaning of the principles of speed, surprise and aggression. Those who weren’t plast- icuffed had a front row seat to some extremely professional soldiering and a potential future career path.
The run up to Christmas was lled with the exciting mix of ranges and section and platoon attacks that will be familiar to any troops deploying on a major exercise. The chance to run out as C Company complete was an occasion not to be missed and the platoons seized the chance to conduct more attacks on Ex RAGING BUGLE. The exercise consisted of a three way rotation of advance to contact, defence and deliberate
attacks. It was an extremely useful training tool and insight for the Coy and Platoon HQs that had yet to work with each other properly.
The decision was then taken to tactically pause C Coy for the next 6 months to bolster the manning for the other two companies on Ex ASKARI STORM. Each of the remaining companies absorbed a platoon, with 9 Platoon moving to the A Coy and 10 Platoon moving to B Coy. With this news the Ri emen decided that they would have one last hurrah as a Company at the Christmas party (a BBQ was an unseasonal change to the usual curry). The party games were a particular highlight, allowing LCpl Bailey the chance to show off his exibility by completely annihilating the rest of the company in a game of picking up an increasingly smaller cardboard box with his mouth whilst both feet were rmly planted on the oor (a sight to behold).
As I write this in early July, C Company has just re-formed and the focus has rmly shifted to future
OC A and OC C get their Christmas spirit and out t on for morning PT
52 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES