Page 44 - Bugle Autumn 2014

C Company overview
The last year has absolutely flown by
for C Company 2 RIFLES. On returning from a very rewarding and successful Exercise Prairie Thunder in BATUS last August the Company was looking forward to a few months of relative routine in Ballykinler and a chance to do some company and platoon
level training before
MST really kicked
off. Each platoon
enjoyed a spot of
adventurous training,
including surfing,
rock climbing and
mountain biking and we were able to get at least a couple of spots on each of the numerous Battalion expeditions, including LCpl Rochester and Pte Weston who
went trekking in Nepal, LCpl Bean and
Rfn Eardley who took part in the Infantry Alpine Skiing Championships and Sjt Waldron who went to Cyprus with the Battalion Scuba Diving expedition. In November we launched each section off across the Mournes in a challenging race between check points, at which command tasks, tests and riddles were conducted and issued, with the aim of developing JNCOs in planning, leadership, navigation, and military knowledge in a challenging environment. Over the course of the
day each section covered an average
of 25 miles over the mountains at best effort. 11 Platoon’s LCpl Edwards and
his section were the victors and seemed to enjoy their prize at the smoker in
the evening. Between AT and winning
the Battalion Sports Competition (C ‘Champion’ Company!) a bit of time was spent in uniform at the end of last year
and the company conducted two weeks of company level conventional warfare training, both rural and urban, on the Ballykinler training area.
The start of mission specific training (MST) brought with it a change of structure and to a couple of key
personalities; Capt Tim Brown (long language course Shrivenham) handed over as Company 2ic to Capt Rhys Jones in October, and in January WO2 (CSM) Green (RQMS
Chicksands) was replaced by WO2 (CSM) Chaytor, just in time for the Company to assume its role for deployment.
a number of interesting and new challenges to the Company. One of the main challenges of the training for the force protection role has been getting to grips with the nuances of Op CARDEL, countering the insider threat. Riflemen, regardless of rank, will be required to identify and counter a possible insider attack, while remaining sensitive to Afghan customs and culture and
without threatening the long-developed relationships between mentor and mentee and the cadets of the ANAOA. This will become the bread and butter of the Company in Kabul.
Exercises KABUL HAWK, TEMPEST (both live firing) and LION (CATT) were conducted back to back in Lydd, Castlemartin and finally Sennelager where we were joined for the duration by four members of 1 RAR: the Ops Officer for QFPC Capt David Bowden, OC and Pl Sgt 2 Platoon, Lt Bill Howieson and Sgt Ling, and the cavalry section commander Sgt “Handbags” Hattingh. A great opportunity
11 Platoon’s LCpl Edwards and his section were the victors and seemed to enjoy their prize
On HERRICK 20, and latterly Op TORAL, C Company will be the Qargha Force Protection Company (QFPC), providing protection to the British mentors at the Afghan National Army Officers’ Academy (ANAOA). There has been significant turbulence as 11 Platoon was split into two multiples,
one of which, under
Sjt Waldron, will join
B Company in KABUL
and the other half,
under Lt Carrow will
become the Universal
Training Advisory
Group (UTAG) Force Protection Multiple, a fascinating job that will see them working across Kabul. 9 and 10 Platoons have largely remained untouched, and we look forward to taking 2 Platoon A Company 1st Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) under command for the tour.
MST for the QFPC role has posed
for us to get to know each other and train together before we get out to Kabul, one which we certainly made the most of.
The tour promises to be challenging
and fascinating in equal measure at this time of significant change in Afghanistan, and with pre deployment leave over and having said our goodbyes, the Company is ready for the challenge that lies ahead. See you in 2015.
The tour promises to be challenging and fascinating in equal measure
Maj J Osborne
A Rifleman having dismounted proving that size doesn’t matter
42 XXX
THE RIFLES