Page 88 - Bugle Autumn 2014

On patrol voice communications are often replaced with hand gestures
clearly been invested. The mock Afghan National Security Forces compounds were realistic and manned with genuine Afghans who worked hard even though they had been going through the same serials for months. Only if the Directing Staff were out of ear shot would they give the commanders a quick hint if
Afghan Nationals bring colour and realism to training
30mm canons of an Apache firing overhead and calling in actual fire missions over the net.
B Company’s Ex PASHTUN PANTHER concluded with an extraordinary Mexican Stand-off with some role-play Afghan Local
things were about to go wrong.
The Amputees in Action charity provided
many volunteers and gallons of stage blood to help us improve our casualty drills. Almost every simulated enemy mortar was followed up by an amputee being rolled out of the back of a Land Rover. Our Team Medics developed a good rapport with them and it was good to see them again on later exercises to continue the banter.
The Amputees in Action charity provided many volunteers and gallons of stage blood to help us improve our casualty drills
Police. The final mission was a cordon and search operation in Westmere Village, STANTA. Amputees-in-Action were hiding in a compound waiting for a mistake to be made. But under
Lt Lister’s supervision Cpl Galdes conducted a painstakingly methodical clearance of the route up to the compound to be searched, during which a number of IEDs were located. In spite of this the Afghan Police were adamant that they needed to commence their search of the
The week culminated in a light role conventional company attack across the sand dunes clearing compounds as we went. There were Support and Attack Helicopters and mortars all adding to
the realism. It would have been the first time for many to have the
compound immediately, this included moving through the area in which the IEDs had been located. The fact the ground contained IEDs appeared of no consequence to them; such was the desire of the DS to inflict a mass-casualty situation on us! After a ridiculous
An afternoon on stag – lasers are used during Mission Specific Training to provide an accurate picture of the standard of Rfn
86 FIFTH BATTALION THE RIFLES