Page 56 - Bugle Autumn 2014

APPOINTMENTS
CO Lt Col D Reeve MC Second-in-Command
Major NA Teale/Major AD Pearce
RSM WO1 (RSM) D Redgewell
Adjutant Capt RG Fellows
Operations Officer Capt MG MacFarlane RSO Capt WNC Melia
Intelligence Officer Capt T Francis
RMO Maj C Roberts
Padre Capt P van Sittert
QM Maj RS Thatcher
QM (Technical) Capt MM Darby
Motor Transport Officer Capt A White Unit Welfare Officer Capt G Rowan RCMO Capt SN Thompson MC Regimental Administrative Officer Major I Curtis AGC (SPS)
A Company
OC Major MDJ Foster Vander Elst CSM WO2 (CSM) J Rufus
B Company
OC Major MU Melhorn WO2 (CSM) J Moncho CGC
C Company
OC Major D Godfrey CSM WO2 (CSM) P Lucke
FSp Company
OC Major MJ Aveston
CSM WO2 (CSM) S Le Couilliard
HQ Company
OC Capt D Sharp
CSM WO2 (CSM) P Conville
As the British Army draws down from Op HERRICK, there has been talk that we will need to prepare for quieter careers, with less chance for deployments abroad. This comes to mind as I reflect on a very busy year that has seen the 3rd Battalion enjoy
a more varied and interesting array of deployments than it has for many years. The Battalion has seen a company deployed to the Falklands, personnel travelling to Libya in support of training delivered to the Libyan security forces, and deployments to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar as part of our defence engagement responsibilities. The Battalion has also completed staff training at CAST, deployed to Kenya for two months on Ex ASKARI STORM, completed a unit move, begun re-roling to Light Mechanized Infantry and conducted all the normal training of an infantry battalion.
The shift away from a focus on operations in Afghanistan has allowed the Battalion to develop some of the practices and skills we had forgotten over the last few years, from the simple aspects of low level soldiering, living from our bergans and becoming comfortable in the field, to organising inter- platoon competitions and battalion training. It has been my great pleasure to see the Battalion relearning or picking up new skills so quickly as we have worked together through a series of testing exercises.
The British Army is increasingly being asked to share these world renowned skills with our allies, building relationships and
the military capability of our friends to allow them to create stability and peace in their regions. The 3rdBattalion have been at the heart of this defence engagement strategy this year, hosting delegations from Qatar and Saudi Arabia at our new Dreghorn Barracks and continuing to be involved in training our allies in Libya and Gulf states. The future will hold many tasks of this nature and I have been very pleased that the 3rd Battalion have been able to take such a strong lead so early, which has set us up for more opportunities working abroad in these interesting countries and regions.
The excellent work of the companies on overseas operational deployments was reflected at battalion level, first at the Command and Staff Trainer (CAST) in
March, where the Battalion headquarters staff were tested on planning, and then in June on Ex ASKARI STORM where the whole battalion deployed to Kenya for two months and led a battle group including Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery and a host of other attached arms. The value of these amazing experiences was brought home to me speaking to one of our newer Riflemen after the first days live firing in Kenya: Rfn Foley in the few days before had seen a safari’s worth of wild animals, had his first flights ever in an aeroplane and a helicopter and taken part in a live fire platoon
attack. The Army still offers extraordinary adventures to our young Riflemen.
On the home front we are very pleased
to be staying in Edinburgh after our unit move; the families of this battalion enjoy close links with Colinton Village and the local schools; we’re pleased to continue these links for the foreseeable future from our new home at Dreghorn Barracks.
The battalion was asked to support the Edinburgh Tattoo again this year, a role
that lets us make a real contribution to the military’s reputation in Edinburgh and which we are privileged to be part of. Activities away from Edinburgh have seen Riflemen from playing sport and taking part in adventure training in Europe, America and Africa, from novice skiers being trained from zero to hero in six weeks in the Alps for the Army Downhill Championships, to some of our recently wounded soldiers running the marathon in Washington. We continue to provide players for Army Cricket and more members of the Army Boxing squad than any other unit, as well as sending a team of cyclists to support the Rifles two-wheeled battlefield tour, mountaineering expeditions into the Scottish Highlands and teams playing football, rugby and swimming up and down the UK.
We look forward in the coming year to being involved once again with defence engagement tasks, settling into our new home at Dreghorn Barracks and completing our conversion to a new vehicle fleet. After the success of last year and with these fantastic opportunities in front of us I am sure that you will agree that a career in The Rifles is anything but quiet.
THIRD
BATTALION
CO’s introduction
54 THIRD BATTALION
THE RIFLES