Page 131 - The Bugle 2018

E Coy
E Company has been through a significant period of change over the last few years. We have previ- ously been a formed company as part of The West Midlands Regiment, 4 MERCIAN, 6 RIFLES and now 8 RIFLES. Throughout this period of change we have maintained our bugle cap badges, be it as Light Infantry or Rifles.
Maj Tony Freeman oversaw the smooth transition from 6 RIFLES to 8 RIFLES until June 2018, losing the Hereford detachment to 6 RIFLES, but adding 5 Platoon based at Sparkbrook, Birmingham. Under Maj Freeman’s tenure E Coy has grown significantly in strength and we now relish the opportunity to develop a fully functioning machine gun platoon.
The company’s focus this year has been to better last year’s excellent achievement in the Cambrian Patrol, where the then 6 RIFLES team won a silver medal. Considering the weather conditions that the team had to endure during the competition they did enormously well and everyone in the company is proud of their achievement. Unfortunately Storm Brian and injuries to two soldiers scuppered E Coy’s plans. However the team learnt a lot from that experience and this year under the leadership of 2Lt Charlie Boffey-Rawlings a medal is very much in our sights. The Cambrian Patrol team has been training since March and is well motivated - they will be spending a lot of time training on the Otterburn hills during the battalion’s Annual Deployment Exercise in September.
Over this training year, E Coy has been developing the platoon at Sparkbrook, which is flourishing. The enthusiasm developed there by CSjt Orlando Fearon during his tenure as the SPSI has been infectious, with the size of the unit growing well. Currently 5 Platoon are lodgers in an Army Reserve Centre used by 37 Signal Regiment and it’s refreshing to see that Riflemen are sharing both training and facilities with the Signallers. It is also clear to see that the new SPSI Sjt Baleilomaloma is as dedicated as his predecessor - the future looks very positive. As part of this growth the ongoing process of training and soldier development has carried on at a brisk pace. E Coy has a continual stream of soldiers passing out on Phase Bravo from either Grantham or Pirbright. It is very pleasing to see lots of happy faces smiling at the career that waits ahead for them when they pass out!
The recruiters (Cpl Halls, Cpl Coley and Rfn Empson) under the guidance of WO1 Shepherd have been very busy attending recruiting events and taking part in employer engagement events hosted by 11 Signals Brigade. E Coy has supported the ABF Big Curry Event and raised just over £700 for charity. All this positive action has led to a lot of interest in 8 RIFLES which we are converting into new recruits.
Looking to the future, E Coy will carry on the upskilling process to ensure that every soldier is trained in the light role GPMG before beginning SF training in 2018. We will continue to develop and train our soldiers in order to be able to provide support our regular colleagues when called to do so. As I write, three members of the company are due to deploy on Exercise OLIVE GROVE in Jordan with 2 RIFLES. They will learn a lot from this professional
development opportunity and will bring new skills to the company.
I am pleased to report that only having been the OC for three months the Company is in good shape, with soldiers investing in all types of military activity; everyone is enjoying being professional Riflemen. Maj Gordon Kaye
OC E Coy
HQ COY’S BUGLERS, SJT COXON, LCPL FOSTER, AND RFN ELLIOT HAVE SHOWN AN OUTSTANDING LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT
THE RIFLES
EIGHTH BATTALION 137
Maj Tony Freeman shares his top pistol tips from his police career
2Lt Charlie Boffrey-Rawlings fires his way to best officer shot at the OSC