Page 119 - The Bugle 2018

they get to grips with the administration required of the company, as well as supporting the company headquarters in producing weekly detail reliably and effectively week-in, week-out.
While we’re on key personalities, we have to mention the SNCOs’ mess and in particular those of the mess who work full-time to support us; our Ops CSjts Heaver and Cox, the former of whom has been stretched far in covering PSAO and QPSI roles too, and Sjt Bissatt, who has worked excep- tionally hard on a limited number of Reserve Service Days although somehow managing to work nearly full-time. Sjt Bissatt has brought knowledge, drive and passion to the RMTT (recruit mentoring and training) and RSUSO (recruiting) roles, which has been critical to the company’s respectable growth in the last year. As he reaches retirement, I should also mention CSjt Neate, our CQMS, who has had a sterling career within the battalion and its prede- cessors and to whom we’re grateful for all that an effective CQMS brings to a company (namely, food). Rfn Jenks is also retiring after many years of service.
We’re nearly through the nominal roll. So, to complete it I should mention the Company Aid Post collectively, well-manned by enthusiastic medics: Rfn Northcott, who has sacrificed many evenings driving recruits to Pirbright and Catterick; LCpls Sefton and Brandon, who step beyond their rank to section command, and Cpl Stiff, our new RSDC who is vastly experienced in the field.
In recent exercises, we have been very encouraged to note that, despite recruiting catching a cold nationally, the attendance of the company has in no way dropped off. We have been consist- ently putting out over a section of fighting troops with their platoon commander, representing perhaps 80% of our trained section-level strength, and more from Coy HQ.
As we look ahead to next year, we look forward THE RIFLES
GIVEN THE ENEMY’S “SHOOT AND SCOOT” TACTICS, WE WERE THE ENVY OF THE REST OF THE BATTALION
to recruiting many more from both regular to reserve transfers, and new applicants. We will of course still look to recruit and train the right type of people. Soon, we will be putting a section(+) onto Ex JAGER WARRIOR in Germany to conduct platoon mounted and company dismounted live firing – typically a stretch for any reserve unit. We will work to develop our robustness in terms of qualified people to train and administer ourselves, as self-sufficiency should be a primary objective of any company.
In November, B Coy is taking the lead role on a Battalion-run PJNCO cadre with 2Lt Kelman, WO2 Williams and Sjt Fry, and we also hope to promote one or two other members of the company at that time. We also have more home-based excitement to look forward to – our new QPSI starts on 1st August, and the PSAO not long after. I’m sure that they’ll both bring fresh ideas and new capability to the company.
Capt J Peckham 2IC B Coy
LCPL, SPILLER IS FULLY DESERVING OF HIS RECENT PROMOTION AND EXEMPLIFIES WHAT WE WANT THIS COMPANY TO BE: PROFESSIONAL, CAPABLE AND PERSONAL
SEVENTH BATTALION 125
A growing Company: 2
Lt Kelman welcomes Rfn Mahood, Sycamore, Hill, and Jagne into the fold