Page 75 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Representative Company were subsequently involved in two more significant operations: the defence of the village and an
that further casualties could have resulted from attempting to extract the entire force. These points, together with
However these points should not detract from the performance of the Riflemen of Representative Company during Ex MAPLE RESOLVE. It was extremely gratifying to observe the professionalism of the Riflemen and humbling to witness the sincere admiration shown towards them by our Canadian and American counterparts.
In the final O Group, the Officer Commanding November Company paid tribute to the attitude and audaciousness of Representative Company’s Riflemen
when he concluded by saying to his troops, ‘The Brits don’t stop,
so we won’t stop’.
2Lt Josh Miers, Representative
Company
airmobile support tasking for a Canadian Special Forces strike. During both missions
It was extremely gratifying to observe the professionalism of the Riflemen
movement in the urban environment and the willingness to enforce and maintain the highest levels of battlefield discipline whatever the situation, are
the Riflemen
of R Company
performed to the
highest standard, to the extent that the Riflemen’s dug in positions became the talk of the battle group and were praised by the Canadian Divisional Commander.
As ever, there are always areas for improvement and it would be naïve
to suggest otherwise. In particular, R Company now has firm sights on re- establishing itself as a force to be feared at night. Indeed as a Company we have perhaps become a little complacent
on our ability to operate at night and more work is required to make best use of the Future Integrated Sight Technology equipment issued. Better familiarity with night
vision technology, coupled with
more night training will enable
us to adopt a more aggressive and protective posture in the hours of darkness. It is also important to allow the company mindset to become more mission-specific. Entrenched in the Afghanistan mentality of never leaving a man behind, we often failed to consider
all areas which we must approach collectively with
enthusiasm and humility.
Lt Toby Foster gives clear direction.
THE RIFLES XXX 73