Page 22 - Bugle Autumn 2014

HQ Company
The hallmark dynamism and flexibility of Headquarters Company has been tested this year with enduring support to operations and training, HQ Coy has undergone significant organisational changes in light of the implementation of the Army 2020 Establishment.
The particular focus for organisational change has been the Quartermaster’s department, which under the Army 2020 concept has seen the attachment of four Royal Logistics Corps Supply Specialists, led by SSgt Gloyn. Their expertise in the Management of the Joint Deployed Inventory (MJDI) management system has proven to be a force multiplier and allowed for the re-investment
of infantry manpower elsewhere across the Battalion. SSgt Gloyn, Cpl Shaw, LCpl Hendry and Pte Cass are welcome additions to the
Light Aid Detachment (LAD)
increasingly large band of HQ Coy attached arms.
As always, the MT Platoon has played a key role supporting Battalion operations and training this year, and has undergone
a significant ‘shape change’ that cannot be entirely attributed to Army 2020. Capt Rich Hunt’s regime of Monday morning spinning, alongside a robust and varied HQ Coy PT programme, has greatly improved the robustness and deployability of the MT Platoon.
HQ Coy has been particularly active on the sporting and Adventurous Training front. Sjt King of the Signals Platoon delivered an exceptional 2 week AT package in Capel Curig that combined kayaking, mountaineering, mountain-biking and rock-climbing.
Maj Iwan Williams, Officer Commanding, HQ Company
Fresh from Christmas leave the Light
Aid Detachment (LAD) deployed on a 2
day exercise in Caerwent to qualify for Confirmatory Training Level 1 (CT1). This consisted of Infantry Battle skills lessons and the siting of an LAD in the field. It was to be WO1(AQMS) Lovell’s last exercise within 1 RIFLES – he departs to 5th Battalion REME on commissioning. Moving into the chair was WO2(AQM)S Stogdon,
taking his new LAD into a very busy period. Cfn Price represented the LAD during
Ex ZULU BUGLE. This involved a 280 km march, navigating along the way, integrating with the locals and learning the history of the Boer and the Zulu wars. In contrast, Cfn Warren and Cfn Phillips deployed to Mali on Op NEWCOMBE providing support to the Battalion’s training mission.
Members of the LAD have also
represented the Battalion in Rugby, Cross fit and shooting competitions – full integration into the RIFLES ethos is a key focus. We aim to be Swift(er) and Bold(er) than the other HQ Coy departments! Our high level of physical and mental robustness allows us to provide effective frontline equipment support in testing conditions.
WO2 Mark Stogdon (REME), Commander, Light Aid Detachment
Op ISMAY - The Nato Summit 2014
Op ISMAY was the name given to the operation to support the NATO Summit held at the Celtic Manor Resort in September 2014. 146 Riflemen took part along with 110 attachments from the other Services. After the inevitable ‘last minute’ warning order before summer stand down, the Battalion scrambled together its serviceable orders
‘looking pretty’ role was difficult for some of the Riflemen, but came more naturally to some of the attached personnel. With the Summit being run by volunteers from the FCO with mixed levels of management experience, mission creep and ‘fire fighting’ soon became the flavour of the day as we bailed out many a stressed
executive. No great shakes for Riflemen; always a safe pair of hands, even at the last minute and on a world stage!
There was also the task of herding official Welcoming
order of appearance on stage without causing too much offence was extremely challenging, particularly when organised by a young lady who was a stereotype
of “a rabbit in the headlights”, and under the close scrutiny of the Prime Minister’s key staff. Those who know me and my manner may think I am not the perfect man for this sort of job! But the Prime Minister thought otherwise, and even offered me a new career, suggesting that an angry Serjeant Major with a loud voice was the answer to all problems with the European Commission. Overall it was in interesting operation, certainly not run of the mill, giving many of the Riflemen the opportunity to meet the most powerful people in the western world.
WO2 Lee French, CSM B Company
of dress in preparation
for a role which No
10 described as
providing a military
‘look and feel’ to the
Summit. The tasks
involved everything
from running the internal security of the resort, liaison with the police protection branch, keeping buses secure, event managing with the FCO’s Protocol office and controlling the world’s media. The
...a role which No 10 described as providing a military ‘look and feel’ to the Summit
Members of 1 RIFLES and
the Military Access Control Force with David Cameron at the NATO Summit in Wales
the big cats for the
Ceremony and the “Family “photo. The logistics of getting 60 world leaders and heads of delegation together in the same space, at the same time and in the correct
20 FIRST BATTALION
THE RIFLES