Page 41 - Bugle Autumn 2014

As ever we have been busy on the sporting field and adventure training. The year has included: becoming the Army Novice Judo Champions, Army Premier League Rugby, Major Unit Boxing, shooting in the Northern Ireland Skill
at Arms Meet (NISAAM) and releasing
an expedition to Everest Base Camp. Teams have taken part in Tough Mudder Challenge, marathons around the world and mountain marathons here in Northern Ireland, bringing home all kinds of success and trophies.
The decision to move the Battalion from Ballykinler to Lisburn was made in Dec 13, with the move programmed for the following summer during Mission Specific Training. The efforts of the HQ Coy team, particularly in the QM’s Dept and the UWO have been outstanding. The Battalion is
now in our new
home in Lisburn
and whilst there
remains much
work to be done
to turn it into our home, initial indications are entirely positive. The local community has been hugely supportive and we look forward to establishing strong links on our return from Kabul.
privilege and promises to be a fruitful and rewarding association. There are already plans for a Furniture Makers prize to the Best Rifleman as well as regular reciprocal
Buglers take post for HOTO of the Headquarters of the MRX
The Commanding Officer pushing out to protect, with the padre leading the service
Our pairing with
7 RIFLES continues
to flourish. The Op
FORTIFY endeavours
are high on both
Battalions’ agendas
and Regular Riflemen are working alongside Reserves in 7 RIFLES areas, with numbers doing so set to increase. We entered a joint team into the NISAAM and are exploiting joint training events. Significantly, a 7 RIFLES platoon will deploy to Kabul and operate as formed Reserve multiples. They are already fully integrated.
We are now formally affiliated with the Worshipful
Company of Furniture
Makers, which is a great
visits.
Amongst the chaos
it is always important to recognise the hard work of those facilitating the wide range of activity and
as ever some key enablers move on
from their time with the Battalion. It is with great sadness that we see Major Mark Owen move on to support the School of Infantry having served as a Rifleman to RSM through to OC HQ Coy with the Battalion. He has made a huge contribution to the Battalion and will be sorely missed. We also say a sad farewell to Maj Tim Jackson as Battalion Second in Command and Maj Chris Hellier and WO1(RSM) Simpson, now Capt Steve Simpson. We wish them all success in their future posts.
Lt Col M Gidlow-Jackson MBE
The local community has been hugely supportive
THE RIFLES
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