Page 118 - The Bugle 2018

From Regular Red to Reservist Green
Last October, I decided to head down to my local reserve barracks. I missed Army life a little too much: the adrenaline, the pride, the shouting, and buzz of it. I remembered the downsides, but I still missed it. I took the leap and thought, “why not? if it’s no good, if they are no good, I’ll sack it and nothing’s lost”.
I had to re-badge. I’m not a Guardsman anymore, I’m a Rifleman. But that’s no bad thing. The regiment has a long and colourful history, equal to that of the Guards. It’s a local regiment so there’s much more of a family vibe to it, and at the end of the day soldiers through history went from regiment to regiment (CSM Edward Brooks VC – after whom our barracks is named – was initially a Grenadier).
The lads are motivated and keen: highly motivated and keen. Every single one of them wants to be there so they throw themselves into everything. I’ve not once had to tell someone to shut up or wind their neck in whilst teaching. They listen and they appre- ciate what you are passing onto them. Skills and drills may not always be as sharp as in the regulars, but I’ve led some section attacks where the lads easily performed as well as, if not better, than some section attacks I’ve seen in my regular days.
As an ex-regular and corporal, I’m regularly asked to teach: from room clearing to weapons lessons. I’m always thanked for my time and I’ve not once felt unappreciated for my work like I sometimes felt in the regulars.
What I’d say to all ex-regulars is this: if you find yourself missing it, give the Reserves a shot. You can always leave (again), but I haven’t.
Cpl M Fogg
1 Platoon
I’VE NOT ONCE HAD TO TELL SOMEONE TO SHUT UP OR WIND THEIR NECK IN
I MISSED
ARMY LIFE A
LITTLE TOO
MUCH: THE
ADRENALINE,
THE PRIDE,
THE
SHOUTING,
AND BUZZ
OF IT
Cpl Fogg (centre front) leads A Coy’s winning team on the falling plate competition (top, left to right: Rfn Devine; Sjt McDonald; Rfn Eames; bottom, Rfn Taylor; Cpl Fogg, and Rfn Findlow)
124 SEVENTH BATTALION
B Company
B Company, 7 RIFLES are delighted to present their first ever Bugle article! It’s easy to say it’s been a momentous year for us, as this time last year we weren’t even officially formed. It’s been a formative year, with lots to consider in terms of how we want our company to work. B Coy is still small, although growing in strength and confidence, but we are sure that we want to get the right atmosphere and attitude from the outset.
Early on, even before B Coy officially existed, we knew that we were at the forefront of the battal- ion’s mind. The men of the company particularly enjoyed being deployed to Estonia on Ex BALTIC STAR, AKA Op CABRIT 1, as a company recon- naissance section. The section performed well after adjusting to the unusual role, putting in long OPs to FIX and to SCREEN. The CO’s enthusiasm to teach us the techniques of covert vehicle drop-offs, including exiting a moving vehicle, supported this. Then, in later phases, the section pressed forward to SCREEN the advance to contact. Given the enemy’s “shoot and scoot” tactics, we were the envy of the rest of the battalion due to the high number of contacts we found ourselves in!
Frankly, every time I see the soldiers exercising, training or socialising it’s a highlight but some key ones stick in the mind. On Remembrance Weekend, B Coy put on a good show with 20 soldiers on parade in Swindon. The earlier parts of the weekend had included some low-level MATTs training at ATR Winchester, followed by a trip to the regimental museum for the soldiers under training. It’s important to educate them early! The company had an excellent night out in Swindon to generate the kind of cohesion that will see us through the first few years of existence.
March saw our first large batch of soldiers come through Phase 2 training. Several months in the making, five passed out together: Rfn Mahood, Hill, Jagne, Sycamore and Davies. Adding on to Rfn Brooker the previous month, there was a reason to celebrate! The April weekend was therefore dedicated to section commander-driven SOP work and low-level offensive operations, followed by the inaugural company social.
At that social, we said goodbye to our first Officer Commanding, Major Alex Roberts. His personality shaped B Coy and he will be fondly remembered as he transitions to the dark side as Battalion 2IC. However, in his stead, Maj Nathan Horsman has gamely stepped in to take the company forwards with the kind of rigour and enthusiasm that charac- terises his personal style.
We also awarded prizes that weekend to several individuals. Among the recipients were Rfn Grant, who goes over and above his role as a Rifleman to manage motor transport and social; Rfn Brooker, who was the Soldiers’ Soldier; Rfn Hill, the Best Shot; and Rfn Spiller, who won the Best Rifleman and Best Attendance prizes this year. Rfn, now LCpl, Spiller is fully deserving of his recent promotion and exemplifies what we want this company to be: professional, capable and personal. These are properties also exemplified by our other recent promotion to LCpl: our company clerk, LCpl Hudson. She has supported the permanent staff as
THE RIFLES