Page 46 - Bugle Autumn 2024

8 RIFLES
8 RIFLES 1XX OSC
On the Sunday prior to the competition
50% of the 8 RIFLES and 4 LANCS shooting teams joined forces at Warcop Camp. On the Monday we commenced our preparation on an ETR zeroing our weapons with the SARTS systems and completing several shoots to get the eye in.
On conclusion we drove down to Beckingham Camp in Lincolnshire. On the CGR we zeroed the old-fashioned way using witness screens and identified our point of aim using different positions. To boost confidence, we progressed down the range finishing at 500m knocking down Fig 12s. The Wednesday and Thursday were dedicated to movement and adoption of firer position to build muscle memory. Our stay in Beckingham Camp
aided by very friendly helpful staff, ended on
the Friday morning with a drive to Warcop to complete a Pistol ACMT and then onto Altcar where the Div OSC was being held. At Altcar the team:
CSjt Durkin
Cpl Thompson
LCpl Gilbertson
Rfn Fairless
The competition commenced on a wonderful sunny Saturday, running through a series of shoots: Section advance to contact completed in good order, Urban Contact, Defence, Fleeting Encounter and Pistol CQB all completed with a smile and plenty of enthusiasm.
Sunday had a surprize shoot, revealed on the evening of Saturday; an assault course followed by a march cumulating in a timed falling plate shoot. This demonstrated the
Ex WETLAND WARRIOR
Sjt West
LCpl Birrell LCpl Robinson Rfn Stannard
fun had been had
teamwork and fitness of the Riflemen, working to the maximum effort whilst maintaining that all essential positive spirit.
All participants agreed that skills had been enhanced, fun had been had and the weather had been kind. The battalion now looks forward to competing in next year’s competition.
Riflemen from across the battalion met up in Spadeadam training area for Ex WETLAND WARRIOR, focusing on platoon attacks and patrolling. The culminating effort was a Company attack on an airfield, which our skirmisher group had recced the night before.
On the Saturday the troops focused on the mechanics of
a platoon attack before a 3km attack lane. The focus of this lane was to ensure that every Rifleman had the chance to complete each part of an attack. There were a vast number of enemy positions within the area, including a village. Despite the challenges and obstacles, the platoons all rolled through
the lane with high standards and the ability to practice as a junior commander in the field was very valuable for those soon to go on promotion courses; ensuring their fire control and section mechanics were working. It also offered a brilliant experience for the newer Riflemen out
of CIC, to see what it was like working with the rest of the battalion, and the high standards they hold.
On Sunday morning the Company was given final attack orders. The objective was an airfield, lined with Cold War era aircraft and
it allowed the platoons to implement the practice of the previous day, as well as working
alongside another platoon. The
runways and abandoned planes
provided a backdrop that very few had experienced previously and allowed CQB drills, as the sections had to clear between planes, trucks, and fuel containers. The weekend was a great success and brilliant preparation for the Battalion’s ADE with the creation army in September.
The objective was an airfield
46 RIFLES The Bugle