Page 18 - Bugle Autumn 2014

REGIMENTAL
UPDATE
This year has been a momentous one for The Rifles in terms of changes to the structure of the Regular and Reserve battalions, their command and control arrangements and adjustments to the way that the Regiment recruits.
The Regular battalions have now adapted to their Army 2020 establishments and this has brought changes to their liability. Army 2020 has significantly reduced the number of Riflemen and cut away a few Lance Corporals, but maintained the numbers in ranks above Lance Corporal; increasing slightly the quantity of Corporals and markedly our amount of Colour Serjeants. The result is that the Regiment requires every other Rifleman passing out of training in the future to become a Lance Corporal within four years (including their 6-months basic training) and the prospects for promotion first look thereafter have been significantly improved. This is a powerful message that requires us to ensure we recruit the best possible Riflemen to achieve this and attract mostly those that are keen to promote fast on merit.
2 and 3 RIFLES have moved since The Bugle was last published. 2 RIFLES relocated from Ballykinler to Lisburn and 3 RIFLES moved from Redford to Dreghorn Barracks, both in Edinburgh,
in Summer 2014. The final Army 2020 moves will see 4 RIFLES based in Aldershot from Summer 2015 and 5 RIFLES returning from Germany to Bulford in 2016. Our Reserve forces will be commanded by the same Brigade Headquarters as their ‘paired’ Regular battalion and so our final situation will be is as follows:
Doncaster and Washington. Recruiting for the Reserve remains vital and will determine our final footprint. Maximum support is needed here.
Finally, there have been exciting developments in terms of the Regiment’s Regular recruiting. 2013/14 saw the largest number
of new Riflemen (486) complete training at Catterick and join the battalions. The combination of the transition to the Recruiting Partnering Project, which saw the closure of half of the Army’s High Street Careers Offices and a shift to an on-line recruiting solution, and the appeal the Regiment has generated since its formation has resulted in a marked increase in the number of applicants wishing to join The Rifles from outside of our historical recruiting areas. Whilst we rightly still attract the majority of our recruits from the cities and counties that we have always done, this development is significant and welcomed by The Rifles. It demonstrates the distinctiveness and attraction of being a Rifleman, our reputation for contemporary professional excellence earned largely in Iraq and Afghanistan and the unmatched opportunities (both in role and location) that the Regiment offers. It also compensates, rather than replaces, the outstanding ten per cent of our Riflemen that have been recruited from Foreign and Commonwealth Countries since The Rifles was formed, and which since July 2013 are no longer able to join the Army without first qualifying for British nationality.
The message today, with an increased UK geographical area from which young men are asking to join The Rifles and fewer spaces in
Battalion
Location
Role
Brigade
Main Vehicle
Defence Engagement Region (Adaptive Force only)
1 RIFLES
Chepstow
Light Roled
160 Infantry Brigade
Light wheeled
Eastern Europe & Central Asia
2 RIFLES
Lisburn
Light Roled
38 Irish Brigade
Light wheeled
Southern Africa
3 RIFLES
Edinburgh
Light Protected Mobility
51 Infantry Brigade
Foxhound
Middle East
4 RIFLES
Aldershot (from 2015)
Heavy Protected Mobility
1 Mechanised Brigade
Mastiff
Reactive Force
5 RIFLES
Bulford (from 2016)
Armoured Infantry
20 Armoured Brigade
Warrior AFV
Reactive Force
6 RIFLES (paired 1 RIFLES)
See below
Reserve
160 Infantry Brigade
Light wheeled
Eastern Europe and Central Asia
7 RIFLES (paired 2 RIFLES)
See below
Reserve
38 Irish Brigade
Light wheeled
Southern Africa
D (RIFLES) Coy, 5 RRF (paired 3 RIFLES)
See below
Reserve
51 Infantry Brigade
Light wheeled
Middle East
Our Reserve battalions have also been adjusting towards their Army 2020 structure. 6 RIFLES has seen the transition of its Taunton Company to The Army Air Corps, but retaken command of the RIFLES Company in Shrewsbury and its newly subordinated platoon in Hereford. This leaves 6 RIFLES with its Headquarters
in Exeter and companies/platoons in Truro/Plymouth, Dorchester/ Poole, Gloucester/Bristol and Shrewsbury/Hereford. Meanwhile
7 RIFLES also resubordinated its Milton Keynes Company to
The Army Air Corps, leaving it with its Battalion Headquarters in Reading and companies in Davies Street, West Ham and Abington; supported by platoons in Swindon, Aylesbury and High Wycombe. Meanwhile D (RIFLES) Company, within 5 RRF, will be moving its headquarters and a platoon into Durham and retaining platoons in
training to fill, is that the Regiment welcomes high quality individuals who want to be Riflemen and take advantage of our unmatched Infantry offer. Meanwhile we will continue to cherish our historical city and county roots more than ever before and will remain
forever dependent on the five pillars of the Regiment supporting
our recruiting effort. Please continue to do all that you can in this respect, especially so by referring people to our web site, www.The- Rifles.co.uk and its associated social media sites.
Lieutenant Colonel PJA Balls OBE
RIFLES Lieutenant Colonel, Headquarters Infantry
16 REGIMENTAL UPDATE
THE RIFLES