Page 25 - Bugle Autumn 2024

4 RANGER
TRAINING CYCLE OVERVIEW
Straight back from Christmas leave with full bellies and high spirits, A Coy set off for the winter wonderland of Salisbury Plain for the ten-day MRTC delivered validation “Ex APOLLOS SABRE”. Any initial hopes that we might find potential allies in our OPFOR, 2 RIFLES, were quickly shattered. From car chases, to attempted snatch and grabs
at portaloo’s the RIFLES bond was soon pushed to its limits.
The exercise is constructed to access the company’s ability to operate in the deep.
It offers an austere environment within an arduous scenario to test their ability to solve complex tactical and operational problem sets, while geographically dislocated from their headquarters. Being pushed to the
limit, the company completed mission after mission each one more complex than the last. I’m also happy to report that amongst these mission sets, Sjt Suliman and Cpl Borthwick’s successfully evaded the attempted snatch and grab at the portaloo! Competing against Chosen Men wasn’t the only challenge
we faced. We deployed with some of the most experienced soldiers from across the battalion. One of the most experienced of them all is Cpl Tuibure. Who unfortunately, despite his repertoire of driving instructional qualifications still manged to prove he has the same talent for driving, as Cpl Hislop does for stairs. Despite all the crashing, falling,
car chases, burnt out clutches and vignettes the company were successfully validated by MRTC.
After our run around Salisbury plain there was no time to rest, Capt Rice, CSjt Wills and their team had prepared two weeks
Close quarters pistol training
of Hostile Environment training for the company. Designed to test a soldier’s aptitude for surviving in complex environments, it
took us from the classroom to the ranges with some driving in between. Using real world scenarios from both the UK and US,
the course covers a range of topics. From scenario-based training, to concealed pistol shoots it looks at every aspect of a soldier’s mental resolve. To boost the realism role players from Exeter UOTC were also drafted in. Using the UOTC as a free-thinking partner and enemy offered the training team the opportunity to add some extra complexity to the scenarios. Not every scenario required
a weapon, but when it did, 10,000 rounds of sim-ammunition ensured we could respond.
After our run around Salisbury plain there was no time to rest
The package culminated in a week of live firing on SPTA where, the company put everything they had learnt in to practice. I think that the entire company would agree that hostile environment was the pinnacle point in the training cycle, and the one which showcases the very best of what it means to be a Ranger.
These are just two parts of a jam packed six months of high-quality training, which took us from Warcop to USA. With the company now deployed across the Middle East, we look forward to what the next 6 month will bring.
Capt Danny Long, A Coy 2IC
High threat environment training
A Coy hone sharp shooter skills
RIFLES The Bugle 25