Page 61 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Potential Junior Non-Commissioned Officers Cadre
It was a cold crisp day in January and frost lay on the ground in Edinburgh as the 58 potential junior non-commissioned officers (PJNCOs) shuffled nervously waiting for the fitness test that would begin the seven week road to becoming a Lance Corporal in the finest regiment in the British Army. Assembled together were representatives of the First, Third and Fifth Battalions, as well as Riflemen serving outside regimental duty, representing a real cross section of our Regiment. Two hours and eight miles of marching later we were on our way to Barry Buddon training camp, which would be home for the coming weeks.
it was with a sense of grim determination that we all sallied forth for a wet and snowy Garelochead for the final exercise.
We piled off the buses in the pitch dark and moved
into harbour areas that resembled the worst of Ypres and Passchendale; morale was not high, the weather was atrocious and much of Garelochead was under water. The final exercise had begun. For nine days the students battled the elements as the staff tested them in all of the skills taught on the course. Over mountains and through rivers the students toiled, conducting attacks, executing patrols and
From the outset of the course the
emphasis was on the basic skills:
navigation, shooting, fitness and crucially
leadership the Rifles way. The first two
weeks would see us test all of these
skills, putting the riflemen under pressure
as fatigue and a grating routine took their toll. For some the greatest challenge came in the classroom as, under the watchful eye of their directing staff, they were expected
to conceive, plan and deliver a series of lessons on our regiment’s history and basic fieldcraft. This built their ability to speak with authority along with their confidence and we began to see some leaders emerge.
As the course progressed we started to shift focus
towards command and control, leadership in the field and
the duty that JNCOs have toward their riflemen. Rigorous field training in Barry Buddon was followed by an enjoyable and demanding life fire week in Warcop where the students progressed toward section attacks by day and night. Under their section directing staff and the guidance of the platoon commanders, the quality of the PJNCOs steadily improved and their command and control really began to show through.
This was a testing time for many of the students as fatigue, injury and dwindling numbers all took their toll but the development was clear; despite the many chastening comments that came from the course instructors, it was evident by the end of Warcop that we had some very good young commanders in our midst.
We returned briefly to Barry Buddon to complete two key qualifications, the ‘K’ and the ‘M’ range qualifications which would allow the new commanders to supervise ranges and plan battle exercises to train their fire teams. The final test always loomed dark on the horizon during these days and
establishing harbours all the time proving they had what it took to lead their peers. The exercise culminated in an attack through waterlogged tunnels onto an abandoned torpedo factory and confirmed what we already knew; these riflemen had come a long way over the last few weeks
and they had what it took to become Lance Corporals. Many relieved faces got onto the coaches as we moved
back to Redford for a week of drill in preparation for the final parade. A glorious Saturday in the bright Edinburgh sun was a well deserved reward for the 36 students who successfully completed the course. As the students marched past the dais, under the control of top student LCpl Feddee, and into the Corporals mess cheered by an admiring crowd it was a moment to remember for all those present and one of which our new Lance Corporals should be rightly proud.
Capt Ben Yates, 2IC A Company
A post-exercise debrief from the directing staff for the budding junior commanders
...they had what it took to become Lance Corporals
The potential junior non- commissioned officers taking part in live fire attacks on Warcop Ranges
THE RIFLES
THIRD BATTALION 59