Page 84 - Bugle Autumn 2014

Battalion Headquarters
CO: Lt Col CS Collins DSO MBE
RSM: WO1 (RSM) Dickson
Second in Command: Maj IRJ Moodie Adjutant: Capt TEC Jarvis
Ops Officer: Capt MC Endersby /
Capt EH Richardson
RAO: Capt SJ Barnard AGC(SPS) Administrative Detachment Commander: Lt JAJ Harrison AGC(SPS)
RAWO: WO2 (SQMS) Magness AGC(SPS) RSO: Capt IR Hardman / Capt CWP Haussauer R SIGNALS
RSWO: WO2 Kane
RCMO: Capt PJ Burney QGM
Assistant RCMO: WO2 Fletcher
IO: Capt K Graves
Assistant IO: Capt AD Jones Int Corps OC LAD: Capt DJ Harris REME
Artificer SM: WO1 (ASM) Nichol REME / WO1 (ASM) Chisholm REME
RMO: Maj JM Ingold RAMC
UWO: Capt NJ Hedges
Chaplain: Rev MP Thomason CF
Headquarter Company
OC HQ Coy: Maj AA Wood
QM (Maintenance): Maj DR Murch MBE
QM (Technical): Capt TLTBM McBurney MBE / Capt RW Harrison
MTO: Capt MJ Strutt
RQMS: WO2 (RQMS) Mills
RQMS Technical: WO2 (RQMS) Thomas
HQ Coy SM: WO2 (CSM) Risdale
A Company
OC A Coy: Maj DJ Flanagan
A Coy SM: WO2 (CSM) Lansdowne A Coy WSM: WO2 (WSM) Beresford
B Company
OC B Coy: Maj WJD Wells
B Coy SM: WO2 (CSM) Dowling / WO2 (CSM) Cooney
B Coy WSM: WO2 (WSM) Lindgren
D Company
OC D Coy: Maj JE Bates /
Maj JA Hadfield MBE
D Coy SM: WO2 (CSM) Burge / WO2 (CSM) Cox
D Coy WSM: WO2 (WSM) Harding
Fire Support Company
OC Fire Support Coy: Maj EJM Carson
Fire Support Coy SM: WO2 (CSM) Gash / WO2 (CSM) Ridley
Mortar Platoon Commander:
Capt GDH Pigot / Capt JD Pither Reconnaissance Platoon Commander: Gapped Anti-Tank Platoon Commander: Capt BJ Cottenden / Capt JGO Sutherland
BATTALION
FIFTH
Introduction
It is a privilege to be writing this article in the stifling heat of an inadequately air- conditioned tent in Helmand Province on the last Op HERRICK tour. It is the prize after an extremely busy year of Foundation Training, covered in last year’s article, where the Riflemen’s performance secured the role of the Manoeuvre Battlegroup on this historic tour of Helmand. Mission Specific Training (MST) and operations have been the focus since the last missive and it
protecting the perimeter of Camp Bastion, and A Coy immediately re-tasked to deploy to the Falkland Islands later on in the year.
MST proved to be challenging and demanding, just like every Battalion has found who has gone before us on previous Afghanistan tours. What made this period particularly difficult was the uncertainty of how the force would look for the last six months. This affected vehicle training in particular and, if driving licence acquisition
has not been easy,
where high levels
of separation have
dominated and reduced
force levels have left
many disappointed.
The resilience of the
Battalion has been
impressive by putting up with a relentless individual course and exercise programme in the UK with the knowledge they may not deploy or their role may change. The ability to accept and adjust to change has been vital to our success this year.
The force levels and structure for this tour have changed constantly both at Battalion and company level since last summer. Adjustments have had to be made, often after months of demanding training, leading to inevitable disappointment. However, the ability of the Riflemen to look quickly for the next objective and move forward has been inspiring. D Coy and A Coy have been hardest hit, both falling off the operations plot. There have been positives; most of D Coy have been able to deploy is some guise or other, B Coy changed from not deploying at all to taking over from the Bosnians
was not bad enough, the constantly changing vehicle conversion requirements was frustrating. That said, the exercises provided by the various training organisations were
outstanding and the Battalion benefitted from some excellent training opportunities; all well written, planned and resourced.
Operation HERRICK 20 is very different from previous tours in Helmand. After 7th Armoured Brigade completed an eight month tour, the Battalion took over from 4 SCOTS (The Highlanders), on 30 May 2014, at the start of the summer fighting season. Additionally, Task Force Helmand, the UK 1 Div HQ, was redeployed and the Battalion found itself working directly to HQ Regional Command (South West), 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), United States Marine Corps. Under the command of the Commanding General, Brigadier General Daniel Yoo and the Deputy Commander, Brigadier Rob Thomson DSO MBE (late RIFLES) we have enjoyed working to a 1 Div Coalition HQ. It has been an
The ability to accept and adjust to change has been vital to our success this year
82 FIFTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES