Page 88 - The Bugle Autumn 2016 Issue 12

4 RIFLES Fireteam Commander’s Cadre
The rst RIFLES FireTeam Commander’s Course (FTCC), formerly known as a JNCO Cadre, was hosted by 4th Battalion from 15 Feb until 15 Apr 16. The title may have changed but the endstate and content of the course remain the same. The 1601 FTCC mission was simple: to teach, train and test students in order to best ensure those successful on the course are able to perform the duties expected of a Sect 2IC on operations as well as in barrack duties.
The course formed up on a cold February evening in Rollestone Camp, perched on the edge of Salisbury Plain, a training area familiar to all Ri emen. The initial three weeks of the course was based from here and served as a training period. The students spent early mornings developing their physical tness and the rest of the days learning the key skills required of a Lance Corporal. Throughout their time at Rollestone Camp, the FTCC students attempted many infantry physical tests as well as conducting conceptual assessments, all of which would be crucial in order to pass the FTCC.
Phase two of the FTCC saw the students move to Wales, speci cally Sennybridge training area located in the Brecon Becons. Sennybridge training area is a challenging area, synonymous with dismounted infantry operations. The bare landscape, steep
ALL THOSE WHO ATTEMPTED THE COURSE WOULD HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT THEMSELVES WHETHER THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL OR NOT
FTCC Final Exercise
gradients and poor weather conditions make for a challenging training environment, but the main aim of this phase was to break the myth that shrouds the Sennybridge training area. Students arrived at Sennybridge Camp and attempted the Brecon School of Infantry Annual Fitness Test (AFT - 8 Miler). Following the AFT the students were moved onto the training area where they would remain for a 72 hour physical endurance test. Over the next three days the students found themselves battling through sword ranges, close target recces, the infamous Fan Dance, administrative command tasks as well as numerous model-making exercises and back briefs given to the course staff. The Salisbury Plain progressive tness programme saw most students cope with the physical hardship thrown at them and pass the Infantry Battle School tests.
After the thorough teaching phase of Salisbury Plain and the physical phase of Sennybridge, it was time to test the students on the nal exercise set in Thetford, Norfolk. Thetford training area is extremely realistic and was seen as the perfect area for students to hone their tactical skills and prove they were capable of leading and administrating a reteam. The tempo of the nal exercise was relentless, the rst week saw the students experience less than three hours sleep a night, while focussing on section to platoon level actions. The second week of the nal exercise looked at more complex platoon level actions with far more time given to the students to correctly prepare their reteams. The nal attack of the exercise took place on an old Spit re ammunition compound which had been heavily forti ed, and a Russian trench system that ran for over 500m with over a kilometre of razor wire added to make the clearance that bit harder. After the nal attack, the students gathered around a pillbox which they had
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THE RIFLES