Page 21 - Bugle Autumn 2014

A Company
A Company has had another exciting year with soldiers spread across 6 countries on operations, exercises and adventurous training. We have been widening the focus from Operation HERRICK to possible future operations and defence engagement roles. The Short Term Training Teams (STTTs) involved in Mali and Kazakhstan
B Company
The back end of 2013 saw B Company focus on low level training to get Rfn
and commanders into the conventional operating mindset. B Company Riflemen and Officers also helped with the Bristol Poppy Day raising £21,477.50, one of the largest amounts of money raised by any city in the UK - it clearly goes to show just how motivated and charming B Company Riflemen can be when the time requires!
One training highlight was a December deployment to Sennybridge Training Area for Ex LONG WALK. The weather was booked and the Riflemen were ready. In howling wind and driving rain the Company covered approximately 50 kilometres of the training area, circumnavigating the impact area. Five harbour areas and a lot of sore Riflemen later the exercise was complete and the Company knew that they were robust enough to take on the forthcoming Ex H JONES Patrols Competition.
Throughout March the Company continued to focus on build up training towards the Summer CT2 exercise, with
S Company
This year has seen the development of the integral skill sets within the Coy through internal cadres, S Coy deployment on
Op PITCHPOLE in February, providing assets to C Companies Ex COMMANDO RATTLESNAKE in the NW of the USA
and a number a different successes at the Platoon level that have resulted in an extremely fruitful year.
With a new batch of Riflemen in its ranks S Coy put some concerted effort and manpower forward to challenge for the Inter Coy Boxing competition in December. After a rigorous training programme,
some hard fought qualifying rounds and an exciting finals night it was S Coy that emerged victorious on the night just before Christmas leave.
Training was disrupted though due to the Coy being deployed at very short notice to Herefordshire on Op PITCHPOLE. Having conducted itself with aplomb during the
have provided a real focus for
minds wondering what awaits after Afghanistan. Despite the busy schedule there has also been time to enjoy life with every man being able to get away on Adventurous Training.
One A Coy highlight saw 1 and 3 Pl travelling to Cyprus for 2 weeks on Ex LION STAR in support of 6 RIFLES on
C Company
As ever the company has had an interesting and varied training year. The company
has been heavily involved with the PJNCO cadre in Scotland and Ex COMMANDO RATTLESNAKE in Fort Drum New York
(but more on those to follow) as well as deployments on AT; Ex FROSTED BLADE and Ex ALPINE BUGLE proved particularly popular with the company.
Looking forward, the company is eagerly awaiting the reciprocal exercise with BRAVO Coy 4-31 IN BN from the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division at the end of July and, longer term, preparing for success on the deployment to Kenya next year.
Lt Aaron Dishman, Platoon Commander, 9 Platoon
Bugles and Assault Pioneers
This year the Bugle Platoon have embarked on their new role as 1 RIFLES Assault Pioneers. The morale of the platoon was high as they deployed to Wyke Regis to start the 2 week Infantry Assault Soldiers Cadre, the first of many courses. During the first week they learnt new basic skills such as sand bag construction, building a wall and sanger. They then learnt how minefields are laid and how to breach and clear them.
Fulfilling their role as buglers as well
as pioneers, the platoon has been rather active of late. Four buglers accompanied the Salamanca band from 6 RIFLES
on a sunshine tour of Dubai and three buglers to Normandy to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Considering the importance of this location both to the Regiment and the success of the whole allied operation, it was with great pride that the Battalion represented the RIFLES on this momentous occasion. Bugle Major Simon Heaver, Platoon Commander, Bugles and Assault Pioneers
some low level Operating in Built Up
Areas (OBUA) and Fighting in Wooded
and Forests (FIWAF) training on Caerwent Training Area. Post Easter Leave there was the Battalion Skill At Arms Meet (SAAM) in mid May where Rfn Newman (B Coy) won the ‘Best Shot’ award much to the delight of the new OC and to the dismay of Sniper Platoon.
Early in the summer A Company deployed for two weeks to Sennybride (rural operations) and Salisbury Plain (urban operations). This was the perfect opportunity for the newly ORBAT’d Company to shake out and dust off the conventional warfare cobwebs. A huge amount was learnt in the first few days as the Riflemen and Commanders got used to living out of harbour areas once more, before enjoying 4 days of solid OBUA, during which the Riflemen showed how imaginative they could be with limited defence stores.
Maj Jamie Edwards, Officer Commanding, B Company
floods the Coy quickly swapped their wellington boots for their combat versions and deployed to Dartmoor in order to
take part in the competition with a joint Recce and Snipers team which won the competition outright. However both the Javelin and Mortar Platoons impressed as they were the only S Coy team to complete the entire exercise (see the reference to inclement weather above)!
It has been a rewarding but at times splintered year for the Coy who now look forward to moving forward collectively to work on forthcoming Confirmatory Training level 2 and 3 (CT2 and CT3) exercises. We have said farewell to OC Maj Jake White who has handed over to Maj Will Peltor who will take the Coy into the Vanguard role that the Battalion assumes in January 2015.
Capt Joe Murray, Platoon Commander, Reconnaissance Platoon
their annual battle camp. It gave us
the opportunity to integrate with the Army Reserves, dispelling a lot of the apprehension some of the Riflemen had and showing we were able to work together effectively.
Lt Peter Barton, Second-in- command, A Company
THE RIFLES
FIRST BATTALION 19