Page 27 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

4RIFLES
Team 10 refine their skills
with the GPMG
THE ENDURING 4 RIFLES COMMITMENT IN AFGHANISTAN
This year has seen the Battalion continue with its enduring task in Afghanistan, providing specialist training support to
the Special Police Advanced Training
Wing (SPATW) in small team tactics, support weapons and mission planning. The COVID-19 pandemic, US-Taliban peace agreement and the growing spectre of draw-down planning have all made for a starkly different environment to previous rotations. Consequently, the demands on those deployed have been very different too. Many of our Riflemen currently deployed have been on ‘busier’ tours of duty, but
the levels of complexity on this tour and its evolving mission particularly stand out. Rather than simply recount this year’s events, this seems a good opportunity to reflect on how our Riflemen have dealt with this unusual deployment in a manner entirely consistent with the ethos of our regiment;
AN ABILITY TO ADAPT
On the ground, we have seen our Riflemen adapt with the flexibility and open-minded thinking synonymous with the Regiment’s culture and ethos. Junior Force Protection Commanders, familiar with more conven- tional threats in the region, have addressed
a new problem set. They have approached protecting the force from COVID-19 with impressive ingenuity, and without hesitation.
add value arise, they need to be recognised and seized. Understanding how and when to act is a skill, and remaining sharp takes disci- pline: these traits, familiar to our Riflemen, are now paying dividends.
CHARACTER
This deployment has certainly been a test of character, though not in the ‘Brecon’ sense. Whether it has been JNCOs supporting Afghan Captains, negotiating with NATO partners, or de-conflicting with force protection elements from the Caucasus; every individual has had to show their integrity, confidence, resourcefulness and humour. The value of the type of individual we invest in and develop has been ever apparent.
Faced with steady uncertainty both in-the- atre and at home, our Riflemen have stood their ground with agility and open minded- ness, maintaining output during a period when our partners have very much required it. We shall monitor the mission closely as it further evolves: next year promises to be as challenging as ever.
Maj Tom Foulkes-Arnold OC R Company
UNDERSTANDING THE BIGGER PICTURE AND RESPONDING
APPROPRIATELY
Beyond Force Protection, the teams have had to re-consider their way of doing business for fulfilling every task; from reassessing how to ensure connectivity with our foreign partners, to careful management of both Coalition and Afghan perceptions and how to conduct force protection. At every level within R Company, there has been a need to understand the wider intent and the need to compensate in order to maximise effect. Each team member has had to adjust their approach and under- stand the new challenges regardless of rank, experience or role.
TACTICAL PATIENCE
Touch points with our Afghan partners have been infrequent, opportunities to rehearse drills with Coalition partners have been difficult to engineer, and previously straight- forward tasks take increasing time and effort. This has meant that when opportunities to
Each team member has had
to adjust their approach and under- stand
the new challenges regardless of rank, experience or role
RIFLES The Bugle 27