Page 112 - Bugle Autumn 2014

6 RIFLES SPS Det
The 6 RIFLES Detachment has had a demanding and challenging year. We have taken the lead on G1 support for the Bn
on deployments to Okehampton on a busy Skills Camp and an exciting OTX to Cyprus. The Detachment has planned and run three SPS training weekends, entered a team into the Corps Orienteering Championships for the first time at Minley Woods and raised a team for the Triple Crown Team for the third year running.
We have also seen many changes to
the Detachment and its members. WO2 Jason Mantle joined us last year and since transferring to us from the Regular Army has successfully passed his commissioning board. He has now taken up the appointment of RAO (R) 6 RIFLES. Sgt Mark Unsworth has joined us on transfer from the Regular Army, who was dropped straight in at the deep end, deploying on his first Reservist OTX to Cyprus on Ex LION STAR.
On the restructuring of 6 RIFLES under FR20 we have had 4 more HR Specialists join our ever growing detachment from the RMLY Sqn Hereford now E Coy 6 RIFLES, Sgt Carly Fisher, Sgt Derek Coyle, LCpl Faulks and Pte Jodie
Fisher.
6 RIFLES SPS Det OPFOR Ex LION STAR 3 WO2 Freer Sgt Unsworth Cpl Souness LCpl Mainwaring Pte Mather of 1 RIFLES.
As part of our pairing
with the 1st Battalion,
Pte Phil Mather joined
us on Exercise LION
STAR in Cyprus as part
of the G1 Cell. Pte
Mather integrated with
the team immediately
and assisted with the smooth running of the busy G1 Cell. This was a successful learning experience for us on how pairing will work in the future for a SPS Detachment.
The Detachment has run three successful
Who said the SPS ‘don’t surf’?
As part of our pairing with the 1st Battalion, Pte Phil Mather joined us on Exercise LION STAR in Cyprus as part of the G1 Cell
training weekends. Testing and developing the Detachment members in various ways. Our first was in September and included a
be; I am sure if the Referee could see what was going on under the water he would have sent us all off.
In June we deployed to sunny Cornwall including our new members from E Coy. During the weekend we received 1 to 1 coaching on the range, Basic Life Saving (BLS) and Battle Casualty Drill (BCD) and finished the weekend by taking us out of our comfort zone and our depth literally with a surf lesson. This was all rounded off with a taste of Cornwall, a delicious Cornish pasty followed by a Cream Tea.
This year has seen the Detachment take its first step towards integration and thus into the new era of the Army Reserve. The future for the Detachment looks exciting with attachments to ARC at RAF Innsworth, 1 RIFLES and Ex ASKARI THUNDER.
trip to the Arboretum and visit from the
Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC).
Our second weekend in Exeter was based around the Scenario of a working Coy Office. Each Detachment
member was tested on their knowledge and ability to research information and deal with difficult situations in a realistic working environment. We even managed to fit in a game of water polo. Here I discovered how vicious a friendly game of water polo can
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THE RIFLES