Page 50 - Bugle Autumn 2024

The first half of 2024 has been busy for the Permanent Staff (PS) of The Rifles at the ITC with training recruits still being the main effort but intertwined with a large number of added activities.
Now spread across all the training companies, RIFLES PS are training recruits at every rank ensuring maximum exposure of the regiment. As ever, they have shown their professionalism and dedication, which can be seen in the recruits passing off, with the ethos of the thinking-fighting Rifleman being developed. Almost 50 new Riflemen have passed out of ITC this year already, with at least another 50 passing out across the summer. From receiving their new berets,
they are part of the regiment. Recruits learn what ‘Swift and Bold’ means in today’s Army, but also in the modern world, as well as regimental history and ethos. The pride
of saying ‘I am a Rifleman’ can be seen on the recruits when they pass out of training, knowing that joining their battalion everyone is a Rifleman first – from the newest soldier to the commanding officer.
Cpl Jackson captained the ITC British Army Warrior Fitness team (currently third in the Army), undertaking several gruelling physical workouts in the finals. Working BAWF training around training recruits, Cpl Jackson’s display highlights the fortitude of the JNCOs with the regiment.
W02 Clark, Sjt Gale, Sjt Cave, Cpl Norton and Cpl Sampson were the ITC team for the Cateran Yomp (54-mile tab in 24hrs over Scottish Highlands), where they won the team event (beating 1 RIFLES time from last year...) as well as raising £500 for charity. Being well versed in 140 paces-a-minute helped the team win. The challenge has been set for another RIFLES team to beat their time next year!
Lt Jones has balanced his job as Platoon Commander with playing rugby for UKAF U23s – in both 15s and 7s, and he has been selected as part of the 7s tour later this year. The experience of tri-service rugby has been bought back to ITC, where Lt Jones has set up the rugby team. A number of matches were played across Catterick Garrison, with no less than 10 Riflemen playing across the fixtures,
from Cpl to Capt getting involved. Lt Jones has led by example, a trait that we as a regiment
pride ourselves on.
Capt Jack Parker
ITC
INFANTRY TRAINING CENTRE, CATTERICK
Recruits learn what ‘Swift and Bold’ means in today’s Army, but also in the modern world. The pride of saying
‘I am a Rifleman’ can be seen on the recruits when they pass out of training
Cpl Jackson during BAWF finals
Away from the training, the PS have been demonstrating The Rifles’ ability to perform at a high standard in all aspects, with a number of outstanding performances. Sport has been a consistent theme, with both
individual and team displays.
L-R, Sjt Cave, Cpl Norton, Cpl Samson, W02 Clark, Sjt Gale
50 RIFLES The Bugle