Page 123 - The Bugle 2018

The Mortar Platoon
The Mortar Platoon has had a challenging 12 O’Loughlin has been essential in setting up the new
TOO OFTEN IN THE ARMY, SUCCESS IS REWARDED BY PULLING PLATOONS APART TO TRY AND “SPREAD THE SUCCESS”
months, which they have overcome with aplomb. The Riflemen of the Mortar Platoon were originally the core of F Company’s Rifle Platoon. In this role they were the best-performing platoon on Exercise Baltic Star, the multinational training exercise in
Estonia.
On their return to London, they moved from F
Company to G Company and from Davies Street to Mile End, where they were re-tasked as a Mortar Platoon. Such an assault of changes would have broken lesser men. But not these men.
They attacked this triple challenge with profes- sionalism and enthusiasm, completing a mortar cadre alongside 4 and 5 RIFLES at the earliest opportunity. The platoon loved it. Even those who had resisted the change, revelled in the task and notoriety of mortaring.
Central to this has been the leadership of our NCOs. The experience of CSjt Polden and WO2
location. Cpls Roberts and Filgate have mentored the Riflemen into their new role, while LCpls White and Paddock will be missed when they promote to Rifle Section Commanders.
The Mortar Platoon’s attendance and loyalty to each other is beyond anything I’ve seen in the Reserves. Too often in the Army, success is rewarded by pulling Platoons apart to try and “spread the success”. In the Mortar Platoon, we have trusted in the NCOs and senior Riflemen, and given them direction and support, allowing the Esprit De Corps to build.
Mile End is a fantastic location with excellent transport links, and we look forward to building on the strong start that we have made.
Bombs away.
Lt Ash Bhardwaj Mortar Platoon Comd
19 (Machine Gun) Platoon
The past training year has been an interesting, and challenging period for the Machine Gun Platoon (MG Platoon) with the transition to Armoured Infantry with 5 RIFLES. While adapting to the challenge of working with armour, the platoon has also faced a requirement to maintain the necessary skillset to operate the GPMG in the sustained fire role during a new period in 7 RIFLES history, as well growing the platoon to effective strength.
In order to achieve effectiveness, we set about arranging a GPMG (SF) cadre in order to qualify new members of the platoon, as well as to requalify older existing members; the last cadre was run in 2016 so it had been some time since the guns had been used for any great length.
With plenty of new, keen faces, the platoon deployed to Salisbury Plain in February 2018 to conduct a cadre designed to bring Riflemen
up from no experience with the GPMG through to being competent gunners and gun controllers who are able to work effectively in a sustained fire environment. The G Company gunners were also joined by three attached Riflemen from F (RIFLES) Company, LONDONS.
Through heavy snow, heavy rain, and heavy wind, the Riflemen were tested whilst being slightly inconvenienced by Mother Nature much to the amusement of others from 7 RIFLES who were in the area at the time. Needless to say, this did sharpen the skills of the Riflemen on the cadre and turned them into competent gunners by the end of the course. This resulted in good passes for all those that completed the cadre, as well as a strong sense of brotherhood being instilled among the platoon. 2Lt Kishn Thandi
Machine Gun Platoon Comd
THROUGH HEAVY SNOW, HEAVY RAIN, AND HEAVY WIND, THE RIFLEMEN WERE TESTED WHILST BEING SLIGHTLY INCONVENIENCED BY MOTHER NATURE
THE RIFLES
SEVENTH BATTALION 129
Ready in all weathers: G Company Riflemen on the Machine Gun cadre practice live firing through iron sights in the snow