Page 48 - Bugle Autumn 2024

RTT
RIFLES TRAINING TEAM
As we embarked on another New Year, the RIFLES Training Team continues to do what it does best – focus on developing and mentoring service personnel from across The Rifles and wider Army. A new year with lots to look forward to with plenty of challenges ahead for the team.
In the first half of the year, we have delivered five Rifleman’s cadres, a course
that is shaped and designed to fill the gap between field Army and Riflemen joining their respective Battalions. A huge amount of focus is now given to educating the next generation on The Rifles, our leadership, ethos, how
the regiment operates and how Riflemen should conduct and carry themselves. The course also delivers the Basic Radio Users qualification, a must competency for all Riflemen who want to promote to Lance Corporal.
February saw the first Infantry Skills Course of the year, which is an old money
Pre Brecon course. It is aimed at young commanders preparing to attend their next career course at the Infantry Battle or Support Weapons Schools. It is held early in the year with typically absolutely howling weather, although luckily for the students not this year. However, they were blessed with the cold, snow flurries and a tiny drop of rain and not surprisingly, this change to the weather made a huge impact on course morale.
The Tactical Navigation course was delivered in January and May, taking
48 RIFLES The Bugle
Riflemen’s navigation from zero to hero in a couple weeks. For the staff at the RTT, the TacNav course is the one that really allows them to witness the troops’ development. It’s the only course we run where we focus on one specific topic, and the benefits from it are significant for all participants. Watching new, fresh-faced Riflemen with ZERO navigational experience, finish the two-week package competently navigating around training areas solo at night, is hugely satisfying.
The team has worked exceptionally hard over this period to ensure the training they deliver is not only current and competent,
but also delivered to an exceptionally high standard. Plenty of investment into all lessons has come from CSjt Nicholas, Sjt Poole, Cpl Allwright and LCpl Hawkes to ensure all the Riflemen who come through the RTT leave feeling imbued with The Rifles ethos and invested in.
We received fantastic news in April when we heard that four of the five candidates who attended the RTT Sandhurst CSjt Instructor Pre-Course were successful, a massive chuck up to the team for delivering a good course to help prepare these students.
The highlight of the year so far is returning from Easter leave and seeing the look of disgust on the OC’s face at seeing the RTT instructors, who now partly resemble an 80’s boy band, sporting MASSIVE beards, in line with the new Army policy.
The first six months as always at the RTT
look of disgust on the OC’s face at seeing the RTT instructors, who now partly resemble
an 80’s boy band, sporting MASSIVE beards
have been busy, but sustainable. The small team works efficiently and smoothly, each element trusted to complete their share of the workload, ensuring the team’s output is of real quality. This is of course with the exception of the OC, who is away cycling all the time!! Captain LA Jones