Page 135 - The Bugle 2018

preparing for the confirmatory exercise during the last week.
The section commanders received their orders and headed out in the early afternoon towards our harbour area. After very nearly bumping into a cow and bull elephant who were in our harbour area, it became apparent that we needed to find somewhere else. It was now almost pitch black in the jungle and I was putting up a hammock for the first time. Thankfully I got that right as there was another storm that lashed down that night. The next day, the platoon was swarming with British media and we had to deliver a quick CTR strike and detain Op. This all went very well and was watched by many, including the Head of Gabon’s National Parks Agency, Professor Lee White.
An OP was built and occupied gathering detailed information for the culminating part of the exercise. The new CO of 2 RIFLES was watching over the ambush on the airfield. Once again the eco-guards did themselves proud with the swift takedown of 3 US Marines who thought they could outrun them. All details of the detainees and relevant information was radioed through to the chain of command and the police were sent out to arrest the “poachers”. End Ex was called shortly thereafter.
Having been working against poachers in previous employment and working with rhino anti-poaching in Southern Africa, I know what the eco-guards are up against. I know with their passion to learn and their professional attitudes to their key role within the Gabonese National Parks, it will stand them all in good stead.
Rfn Andrew Whicker
HQ Coy
IT WAS NOW ALMOST PITCH BLACK IN THE JUNGLE AND I WAS PUTTING UP A HAMMOCK FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE RIFLES
EIGHTH BATTALION 141
Trainees out on patrol in the bush
Epic model making enabling easy briefing