Page 86 - The Bugle Issue 12 Autumn 2016

CO: Lt Col C W Boswell
Bn 2IC: Maj I D Hastings
RSM: WO1 (RSM) Rafferty MC
Adjt: Capt A C Morley
Ops Offr: Capt J B Warburton
RCMO: Capt S G Lennon
RSO: Capt A M Norton
IO: Capt C J Barrett
Training Of cer: Capt J L Rowntree / Capt S A E Wilson Padre: Revd I C Rogers RAChD
OC B Coy: Maj A N L Boardman
CSM B Coy: WO2 (CSM) Metcalf
2IC: Capt D J B Stirling / Lt M J O’Connor OC 5 Pl: Lt T I Jamison / 2Lt T J O Lane
OC 6 Pl: Lt T G Joyce / 2Lt P J Q Henriques OC 7 Pl: Lt D R Coombs / 2Lt T H Court
OC MG Pl: Capt S A E Wilson
OC R Coy: Maj R W F Bassett
CSM R Coy: WO2 (CSM) Exley
2IC: Capt H St C Thomson / Lt J W Miers OC 9 Pl: Lt J W Miers / Lt B J D Udy
OC 10 Pl: Lt N J Reynolds
OC 11 Pl: Lt M J O’Connor / 2Lt F D’Souza
OC HQ Coy: Maj D Brown / Maj T H Foulkes-Arnold CSM HQ Coy: WO2 (CSM) Brown
QM: Maj A Pemberton MBE
QM(T): Capt D Sharp
UWO: Capt S N Dickson
MTO: Capt G A Robinson
EME: Capt D M Melia REME
RMO: Capt V Vijayakumar RAMC
RAO: Capt G L Giles AGC(SPS)
Det Comd: Lt A C Pearson AGC (SPS) / Lt J H P Rasbash AGC(SPS)
OC S Coy: Maj R P Cutler MBE / Maj R J O Sawers CSM S Coy: WO2 (CSM) Bolam
OC Mors: Capt A I G Perry / Capt T J Legge
OC Recce: Capt T P Hamblin / Capt D J B Stirling OC Javelin: Capt S A Sharpe / Capt T C Foster
OC A Coy: Maj M E Whitehouse
CSM A Coy: WO2 (CSM) McCutcheon / WO2 (CSM) Gribble 2IC: Lt T C Foster / Lt D R Coombs
OC 1 Pl: Lt C R Cathcart
OC 2 Pl: 2Lt S J R Burton
OC 3 Pl: Lt A L I Barron
CO’S Foreword
Since arriving in our new home, New Normandy Adventurous Training expeditions varying from
Barracks in Aldershot, the pace of life for the fourth battalion has not diminished in the slightest. The completion of the conversion to the Mecha- nised Infantry role was marked by deployment to Otterburn and then Salisbury Plain on Exercise WESSEX STORM, a battle-group level live and blank- ring test exercise. This exercise proved to be challenging and rewarding, validating the battalion to assume readiness in 2016 as part of the Lead Armoured Task Force.
During the rst half of 2016, the battalion has focussed on generating capacity both through the training and promotion of 56 new Lance Corporals on the Fire Team Commanders’ Cadre and subse- quently the quali cation of new Support Weapons specialists to bring S Company up to strength. Meanwhile the ri e companies have been held at readiness and also deployed on CT2 exercises around the UK as well as to Belize and Canada. Driver training has continued as the MT’s Driver Training Cell has worked hard to maintain the required number of crews for our Mastiff and Jackal eet.
Ri emen have enjoyed considerable success on the sports eld, with our football, rugby and cricket teams all performing to a high level. The Battalion Boxing team have competed in the Army Boxing Championships, losing by a single bout to 2 PARA in the semi- nals and also in the inaugural 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade Boxing Competition, narrowly losing out to 1 RRF. Many ri emen have conducted
nordic skiing in the Alps to skydiving in the USA and trekking in Greenland, pushing them beyond their comfort zones and providing new and exciting challenges. This year has also seen a signi cant step forward in the area of competitive shooting as the newly-created Regimental Shooting Team has trained and competed at Brigade, Divisional and Defence levels. Continuing last year’s dominating performances at the Brigade ( nishing rst, second and third) and Divisional (coming rst and third, the rst time that an infantry team has won this compe- tition) Operational Shooting Competitions, the team managed to claim a fth place nish out of 56 teams in the Defence OSC at Bisley. As well as winning three of the team shoots, and with notable individual performances by LCpl Stanton and Rfn Eggett, ve ri emen attained the much coveted spots in the Army 100. Meanwhile, the battalion’s snipers have continued their current utter dominance of the disci- pline by winning the Tri-Service Sniper Competition.
Throughout the year we have continued to be well-supported by our families, the Regiment and our af liated livery company the Carpenters. The local community of Aldershot has been very welcoming to us and we look forward to our continued engagement with them and the wider garrison. As the battalion prepares for an opera- tional deployment, the ri emen are excited to put their training into practice and prove the mechanised concept on current operations.
Lt Col CW Boswell, Commanding Of cer
84 FOURTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES
FOURTHBATTALION A COMPANY HEADQUARTERS COMPANY BATTALION HEADQUARTERS
SUPPORT COY R COMPANY B COMPANY