Page 115 - The Bugle 2018

within 100m. Instead of thinking about integral fire support from within the section, they now also had that covered by the chain gun of the WARRIOR. This training culminated in a live fire weekend in March when 7 RIFLES became the first Army Reserve battalion to conduct live fire section attacks from a WARRIOR.
Over the course of the next few months, 7 RIFLES concentrated on building up their knowledge on armoured standard operating procedures and devel- oping their skills further. This was very important as the WARRIOR series was drawing to an end but not before 7 RIFLES were subjected to their biggest challenge yet: to conduct operations in a full Armoured Battle Group which included WARRIORs from 5 RIFLES and CHALLENGER 2 tanks from the Queen’s Royal Hussars (QRH) on Ex WARRIOR STRIKE.
Ex WARRIOR STRIKE was the culmination of the WARRIOR Series and it was vitally important that 7 RIFLES could demonstrate their knowledge of armoured warfare as well as integrating fully in an armoured battle group. Ex WARRIOR STRIKE allowed them to fully immerse in an armoured environment with 5 RIFLES providing a company’s worth of WARRIORs and the QRH providing an entire squadron of tanks which in today’s financial climate was a fantastic opportunity that not even regulars would be able to experience that often.
The exercise tested everyone: from Riflemen launching into attacks from the WARRIOR in various complex environments to the chain of command and those who would be working in a tactical brigade headquarters on their ability to assess the situation and make on the spot decisions in a fast-paced, highly demanding battle group.
By the end of the WARRIOR series 7 RIFLES had conducted one of the quickest transitions from exclusively light role to an armoured infantry trained battalion, capable of conducting armoured opera- tions in an armoured battle group and integrating members of the battalion in a multitude of jobs within the battle group.
In true RIFLES fashion the battalion are pioneers by becoming the first Army Reserve battalion to be trained to conduct high intensity warfare within 20X: the IRON FIST which provides the armoured punch within the IRON DIVISION.
WO2 Jones
TrgWO 7 RIFLES
The British Army’s newest Armoured Infantry Battalion enters the 20 Brigade ORBAT
THE RIFLES
Pairing
Army 2020 Refine has invested in the Army Reserve and continues to sustain the successful pairing strategy between Regular and Reserve units. It is important to understand what this means, and how it works.
As a regiment, the RIFLES has always had a binding principle, namely that we are all Riflemen together, and the pillars of the regiment are there to take us all from cradle to grave. It is, therefore, a natural devel- opment to pair a Reserve and Regular Battalion together, in order to make a complete fighting force, sharing best practice, resources, and experience, making a more cohesive RIFLES force overall. This was demonstrated in the field, during Ex NORTHERN FROG, where manpower, and resources, from 5 RIFLES were used to create effective training for the 7 RIFLES reservists. The pairing also crosses over into adventure training where Riflemen from 5 RIFLES joined the 7 RIFLES mountain biking expedition to Snowdonia, and are invited to join the skiing expedition in early 2019.
The reality of the pairing is that it is a relationship of two very different groups of soldiers. Both groups ultimately have the same goals, and therefore gaining an understanding of each other’s needs, aspirations, and limitations is necessary and vital for cohesion. However, this is often marred by preconceptions, of what both RIFLES battalions bring to the fight. Previous experiences, both positive and negative, can have a lasting effect, and changing this mindset is important to ensure there is positive collaboration.
The “Riflemen” always being the “centre of gravity” is an important factor to ensure the pairing is successful, with command relationships being fostered and nurtured, enabling our core output as a thinking, and fighting, force. Dismounted Close Combat is just one element of the pairing relationship, and as a regiment the importance of understanding the diverse places we live and work and knowing the people who work and volunteer for part time reserve service is crucial if we are to train as we mean to fight.
We often see each other through the prism of what we know, either as Regular soldiers or Reservists. However, history tells us that when the bugle calls, the nation sees only its Riflemen, and the battlefields and war memorials of Europe and Asia are testament to our fallen who have fought side by side and back to back.
Maj R T Jones XO 7RIFLES
Riflemen from 5 RIFLES introduce their new Reserve partners to WARRIOR
SEVENTH BATTALION 121