Page 128 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Fentiman Shield Patrol Competition July 2014
This year the Battalion patrol competition was held on Stanford training area (STANTA) during a hot weekend in July. Teams from across the Companies and from 678 (RIFLES) Sqn 6AAC, previously E Company, competed for the ‘Fentiman Shield’.
The weekend started straight from
the transport on Friday with an overnight insertion march with full kit into section hasty harbours which they reached at 0400. A few hours later the teams had roused to
get to their first RV on time; a series of RVs followed on their patrol matrix taking them around the training area within a tactical scenario. The ‘orders stand’ launched the patrols on a tactical river crossing in Assault boats across the River Wissey followed
by a patrol through the thick undergrowth on the river banks to find a lost patrol. A withdrawal from ambush followed and now suitably damp the patrols continued to
be tested in their casualty treatment drills,
communications and low level team work. On Sunday the teams met at their final
RV, happily located at the start of the assault course for two timed laps against the other teams. On the assault course 678 Sqn were narrowly beaten into second place by a strong F Coy team. The teams finish tired and elated after a challenging weekend with A Coy emerging triumphant overall in the competition for the first time since the formation of 7 RIFLES.
Patrolling along the River Wissey during the Fentiman Shield Competition.
Teams race around the STANTA assault course during the Fentiman Shield.
126 SEVENTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES