Page 40 - Bugle Autumn 2024

7 RIFLES
EX SPEARPOINT 3
BUILD UP TRAINING
As anticipation builds for Exercise SPEARPOINT 3, set to take place in Northern Ireland in September, the composite company, “R Company”, is deep into its lead-up training.
Under the leadership of the OC, Major
Rob Whittle, and CSM, WO2 Danny Hyland, the company has embraced a philosophy of continuity, emphasising the importance of sections training with the same personnel that they will deploy with to Northern Ireland. Structured into a series of monthly field weekends, R Company has been hard at work honing both their marksmanship and foundation warfighting skills.
Exercise PENINSULA RESOLVE 1, held at Salisbury Plain Training Area in April, marked the beginning of the training cycle. Troops
40 RIFLES The Bugle
were immersed in individual field skills, theory, and introductory section level offensive operations with their new teams. This exercise was also attended by Headquarters Company, who practiced their battle tracking, catering, and command post functions. Additionally, soldiers training for the battalion’s Cambrian Patrol team were present, adding further depth to the training environment.
In May, Exercise APRILLA PRECISION 1 took place at Pirbright Training Area, focusing on live fire marksmanship. Riflemen completed the Annual Combat Marksmanship Test (ACMT) with the SA80 Rifle and conducted familiarisation shoots with the General Purpose Machine Gun.
June saw Exercise PENINSULA RESOLVE 2 take place, and R Company return to Salisbury
Weapon training
is really important – it’s great to see the troops shooting well
Plain, where they continued the progression from section-level to platoon-level offensive operations. The weekend offered the first opportunity for Lieutenants Adam Pinnell, Ed Beddows, Andy Begg and Ben Bradshaw their first ‘hit out’ as Platoon Commanders.
Each weekend concluded with physical training, led by CSjt Paul Holmes. These sessions involved stores carries, log runs and loaded marches, designed to build physical endurance and have the Riflemen work in the same sections in which they will deploy. Rifleman Dan Molland particularly impressed with his ‘stellar’ performance on the stretcher carry. In between telling the company that he had just run the Edinburgh Half Marathon, Lance Corporal Max Devine also set a blistering time on the log run.