Page 21 - Bugle Autumn 2024

At the beginning of May, B Company, supported by an attachment from A Company, deployed to the sunny Aegean coast on Exercise EFES near Izmir, Türkiye. EFES is a joint military exercise run by
the Turks every year with international forces. This year, it was carried out by 49 participating countries across land, air, and sea.
Our role in the exercise was as an air-assault force working with CH-47 Chinooks. This provided B Company with a good opportunity to train with the Turkish army
and get more familiar working with an air capability. When we were on the Chinooks we would fly over the Turkish navy and several land fire assets which was really impressive
to see and a unique experience; it is not very often that you get to take part in a training exercise of such scale with so many assets working in conjunction.
Outside of exercising in the Chinooks we managed to
do some training with other partner nations that were on the exercise. We built good relationships with the US Marine Corps, Pakistani and Kosovan Armies to name a
few. We were able to run a variety of stands including medical training and discuss each nation’s weapons and capabilities. This culminated in a military sports day event between 3 RIFLES and the US Marine Corps. The competition consisted of a weighted 2km best effort, pull up challenge, gun-run, and a running/swimming endurance race: a great event with fierce but friendly competition and a good way to end Ex EFES.
We are excited to work with the partner countries we met on Ex EFES again in the future and to build on this experience in our new SFA role.
LCpl Lambert and Rfn Spencer, B Company
MORTAR CADRE
3 RIFLES
Ex EFES
Air Assault on the Aegean Coast
RIFLES The Bugle 21
In early May, both Fires and Mortar platoons deployed to Otterburn camp for the 3 RIFLES mortar cadre. The initial phase saw the aspiring mortarmen drilled on all technical aspects of mortar preparation and firing, with most time spent on the mortar line, repeating set-up and adjustment drills until they were second nature. From the beginning, there was also a significant focus on developing the physical robustness required to carry mortar kit, developed over a progressive fitness programme, and culminating with the weighted test march: Ex HEAVY CARRY.
Now with a good foundation of mortar line skills, the cadre deployed to Otterburn training area for Ex HIDDEN BARREL, a demanding field exercise testing all elements of the ‘kill-chain,’ from mortar fire
controllers back to the mortar line. The exercise culminated in a move down to Salisbury Plain, for the highlight of the cadre, a full week of live firing which was greatly enjoyed by all. Capt Relton, Mortar Platoon, F Company