Page 31 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

4RIFLES
R Company Ski Exped to Tignes
Ex REPRESENTATIVE RENDEZVOUS saw 21 members of R Company, 4 RIFLES deploy to Tignes, France to gain their Ski Foundation Level 1 (SF1) in December 2019. Travel-
ling before peak season, the expedition members were spoilt with excellent snow conditions and a relatively empty resort, making falls on the slopes much safer for all.
Following the standard long overnight minibus journey through France, the Company arrived in a snowy Tignes. The group settled into the accommodation, picked up their skis, boots and poles and it wasn’t long until they were trying their hand at alpine skiing. Some made slow progress and others seemed to be naturals, including one individual who impressively landed a back-flip...albeit, unintentionally!
After each exhilarating but tiring day on the slopes, R Company would convene back at the apartments which were somewhat luxurious compared to usual military trips. A quick stint in the saunas and a visit to the complimentary spa was the perfect way to relax before a homecooked meal of pasta and cheese accompanied by a glass of red.
The trip fulfilled the goals of military
expedition members were spoilt
adventurous training by providing exposure to risk, excitement and a new sport in a challenging environment. It added to the cohesion of an already tight-knit collection of Representative Company Riflemen and generated a few more stories to reflect on in the future.
Capt Alex Raymond R Company
Team 2, A Coy, deployed to the United States to conduct joint training with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) in October 2019
in Fort Polk, Louisiana. After a brief period of integration training in Seattle with their US counterparts, the team took a short eight-hour internal flight that ended in the swamps of Louisiana and the home of US Army Training, Fort Polk.
The team would be working to an US
Army Green Beret Company Commander
in a near-peer warfare scenario which saw regular US Army Styker Brigades fighting ‘little green men,’ whilst the ODAs and Team 2 fought alongside their respective indigenous Partner Force. In character from the start, our Partner Force was led by genuine ex Green Berets, who mentored, coached and trained Team 2 in how to wage unconventional warfare in a distinctly unconventional setting. Utilising cattle wagons to insert into the AO, employing local ‘snitches’ to give grids of enemy tanks and using state of the art US electronic warfare capabilities Team 2 experi- mented and, in turn, dominated the enemy.
Operating alongside US Special Forces, our Riflemen were not flustered or exposed but showed the Green Berets the full extent of our skills and most importantly how we can
work to an intent and with a high degree of mission command independence. What stood out most of all was how humble the team was and their willingness to learn. At every level, the Riflemen made the most of what was a fantastic opportunity to learn from an extremely professional force with decades of experience in the role.
On completion of the exercise, Team 2 returned to Seattle to partake in ‘Menton Week,’ a patrols competition which started with six lucky members inserting into a freezing lake from the sides of a Blackhawk helicopter, before completing a 35-mile tab
that culminated in a 2-mile stretcher race to the finish line. A solid showing, links forged, and vital lessons learnt for 4 RIFLES has set R and B Company up well for their exercises in the USA in 2020.
Capt George Gillard A Company
R Company deploy on a
partnered HAF in the USA
Operating alongside US Special Forces, our Riflemen were not flustered or exposed
RIFLES The Bugle 31
TEAM 2:
TRAINING WITH
THE GREEN BERETS