Page 48 - Bugle Issue 16 Autumn 2020

‘OH ****’ AT on
Ex TRIGLAV STAR
...once the tactical phase of the exercise had finished there was opportunities for AT and socialising with the other nations!
Integrated training with members of
the Slovenian Mountain Regiment
The Calm before the storm. Members of 8 RIFLES
looking on a slightly rougher waters to come
E COMPANY, 8 RIFLES
Following a successful end to 2019 with the deployment to Slovenia, 2020 started well with E Coy fielding young teams for the Battalion Patrol Competition and the Shooting team.
Planning for 2020 started healthily.
The training programme up until ADE in September 2020 was drafted and then COVID struck. In order to maintain interest in the Reserves, allow Rfn to get paid and continue with some form of training I am pleased to say that all Rfn in the Company fully embraced the new world of ‘virtual training.’ Weekend training was carried out using Google Meet. Although not ideal we managed to carry out lectures and interest periods for up to 30 Rfn at a time. The instructors deserve a lot of credit for the hard work they put in to making this type of training work.
During this time, the permanent staff have been busy making sure everything still functions. Administration doesn’t stop, we have still been sending Rfn to CIC, and
Phases Alpha and Bravo. The RRTT have carried out lectures and briefings on
drill nights to keep the interest going. It’s pleasing to see that we have had a good number of trained soldiers come through the system, which is down to the forward leaning and problem-solving attitude of the E Coy Rfn.
ADE this year will take place in Brecon and no doubt will be a very strange affair. Field Firing is the theme, new to some and familiar to others, but all the same we will adapt to the new ways of working and rise to the challenges.
Major Gordon Kaye
OC E Coy, 8 Rifles
ADE this year will take place in Brecon and no doubt will be a very strange affair
Members of E Coy on
Ex TRIGLAV STAR
TRIGLAV STAR 19
Exercise TRIGLAV STAR 19 was to be the main event for the 8th Battalion in 2019. Historically this exercise has seen a number of nations participate and we delighted when we were told that we had been selected for the 2019 edition of the exercise. Keen to deliver on the One Army approach, we deployed with two Platoons of Army Reservists and one Platoon of Regular Riflemen from the 2nd Battalion. This not only provided additional mentors for our newly promoted commanders, but also proved that Regular and Reserve troops can integrate seamlessly in unfamiliar terrain, with great effect.
The exercise was broken down into three phases. Phase one developed the technical skills required to operate in the mountainous terrain, with gap crossings, specialist tactics and abseiling all delivered by the Slovenia Armed Force’s Mountain Regiment. Phase two bought these tactics and skills together, with the Platoons from both the Slovenian Armed Forces and the 8th Battalion working together under the command of Major John Elms, Officer Commanding Y Company. Having gelled as a single unit, the Slovenian and British Forces entered into Phase three, the final exercise scenario. Enemy forces had taken control of four dominant features,
skills learnt in Phase one of the Exercise to overcome the well defended enemy positions.
The time spent in Slovenia was not only hard work though, and once the tactical phase of the exercise had finished there was opportunities for AT and socialising with the other nations!
Maj S Lennon XO 8 RIFLES
which overlooked a former ski-resort and the Riflemen, with their Slovenian allies, were to seize and hold those positions to facilitate further attacks onto the enemy’s main headquarters. The climb was excruciating, with the Slovenia Mountain Reconnaissance Platoon forced to use routes the enemy would discount to provide the element of surprise
for the first attack. Supported by the Pilatus PC-9 Light Aircraft and mortar fire, the troops advanced on the enemy positions and fought across the mountain range. Over a period over four hours the Riflemen and Slovenia Mountain Troops cleared the enemy from their positions, ridge by ridge, each requiring the technical
48 RIFLES The Bugle