Page 18 - Bugle Autumn 2024

3 RIFLES
Ex HARAKA SPEAR
A PLATOON COMMANDER’S PERSPECTIVE
C Company deployed onto Ex HARAKA SPEAR with the rest of the battlegroup in February, following the Battalion’s transition to Security Force Assistance. This saw C Company transition into an ISTAR company. Most of the company had never deployed to Kenya before, making it an exciting time to test our new role and experience the diverse culture Kenya had to offer.
Initially it was a steep learning curve for everyone, whether that be the experienced corporals conducting the training, the riflemen eagerly trying to take it all in, and even myself, trying to learn, teach and organise, all under the baking African sun.
The entirety of the main exercise was split into two parts, Live Fire Tactical Training (LFTT) and the dry exercise field phase. Both were
seeing
a bull elephant move 30 meters
in front
of my patrol was incredible
three weeks in nature, enabling us to test and be validated on all soldering skills both with live and blank ammunition.
For most, the wildlife is what made it special. Having been staring at sheep in the hills of the Brecon Beacons 8 months earlier, seeing a bull elephant move 30 meters in front of my patrol was incredible. However, getting chased out of our observation post by lions was also an interesting experience.
Inevitably there were challenges and frustrations, however overall, I found the training to be a success. Everyone was tested, from BHQ down to individual riflemen, I truly believe everyone learnt something new about their trade and themselves as a result of Ex HARAKA SPEAR.
Lt Horton, 8 Platoon, C Company
3 RIFLES
PIVOTS TO THE
MIDDLE EAST
In the last edition of the Bugle, we briefed that the Battalion had begun the transition to the Security Force Assistance (SFA) role under the direction of Future Soldier. The focus of that article was on maintaining our people and we have been largely successful in that, with 101 Riflemen retained within the wider regiment and the Infantry and a decreasing NTT rate. With the internal re-ORBAT complete and the movement of Riflemen out of the Battalion ending, we are now establishing ourselves as the conventional partner of choice in the Middle East.
SFA is a relatively new term for the British Army, but the role has been performed for decades. The SAS partnered with the Omani Firqat on Op STORM in the 1970s and many regular Battalions formed Operational Liaison and Mentoring Teams (OMLTs) on Op HERRICK. The mission of these units has been to train, advise, assist, accompany, and enable partner forces at the tactical level, and this is now 3 RIFLES’ core mission, with a regional alignment to the Middle East and North Africa.
The Battalion is already preparing to deploy teams to Lebanon and Kuwait and the wider Middle East, and we will be leveraging joint opportunities with our sister unit 4 RANGER to create a regional network. SFA will provide the opportunity for interesting work with interesting people in interesting places for our Riflemen.
Capt Hunter, HQ Company
18 RIFLES The Bugle