Page 21 - The Bugle 2018

Cambrian Patrol
This year saw 1 RIFLES take the decision to enter two teams for Exercise CAMBRIAN PATROL, one from S Coy and a team from across the Rifle Coys. The annual competition held in the Welsh mountains is notorious for demanding physical robustness, endurance and mental resilience. It was decided early on that the Bn would really lean into the prepa- ration for the competition and as a result we were given the rare opportunity to train as a formed patrol for nearly 6 weeks.
During those 6 weeks of training facilitated by the training wing, we managed to spend time in Salisbury Plain training area (SPTA) and Sennybridge training area (SENTA) covering basic patrol skills and drills, we also managed to practise a river crossing and were put through a rigorous confirmatory exercise on Salisbury Plain to test our readiness.
Setting off at the same time as our partner team from Kazakhstan, spirits were high as we started the 48hr march. With CBRN, CPERS and Med stands to contend with, as well as AFV and arty target stands, tiredness started to creep in by the 30hr mark and
we were perfecting the art of tabbing with our eyes closed towards the end. The final stand, which was a section attack with OHF and FFG was excellent and certainly woke everybody up.
Both teams performed to an exceptional standard, completing the full march and not losing a single Rfn in the process. Due to the dedication and commitment of all Rfn involved, 1 RIFLES managed to come away with the first Gold of the competition for the S Coy team and a Silver for the C Coy team who were only 1 mark shy of getting the coveted Gold.
Captain Joshua Leccia OC Machine Guns Platoon
Gold winning CAMBRIAN PATROL team
Capt Leccia lets his emotions get the better of him at the Cambrian Patrol awards ceremony
Shooting Team
This year has seen 1 RIFLES shooting return as a core activity in our military training following our return from Op SHADER in late 2016. Over the course of this year we have increased our number of marksmen in the Battalion, conducted two Battalion Skill at Arms Meetings (SAAMs) and competed through the 1 Division Operational Shooting Compe- tition (OSC) to the Defence OSC at Bisley.
The year’s shooting started excellently with Capt Foster and WO2 Webb as Training Officer and Warrant Officer, organising a week-long Battalion SAAM in Bulford. With prizes for individuals and Companies, competition was fierce, and shoots such as the Common Weapon Sight night vision added new dimensions to the typical firing that further challenged shooters. The week culminated in a falling plate shoot with the chosen few top shots. Winning the ‘Champion Company’ Baker Rifle, was B Company, with WO2 Morgan as the highest- ranking individual to complete all the shoots. LCpl White of B Company came out as top shot of the SAAM.
Throughout the Autumn and into the Winter, the Battalion focus shifted to operational shooting in preparation for Ex ASKARI STORM in the new year. This time saw the Battalion conducting weapon training on the newly arrived Sharp Shooter rifles and rebuilding the capabilities of Machine Gun and Sniper Platoon with a series of Live Fire Tactical Training (LFTT) exercises. We deployed to Kenya in Jan 2018, and executed LFTT up to company level, with sniper, machine gun, 81mm mortar, 105mm artillery, and explosive entry support. This combined arms LFTT experience was an incredible training opportunity for the Battalion, allowing us to physi- cally see all the assets in action.
On return from that deployment, we started looking forward to the spring season of competition
shooting. In the last week of Mar 2018, Companies entered their best 8 firers into our second Battalion SAAM on Rogiet Moor Range in Wales. Despite having convincingly won ‘Champion Company’ in Sep 17, B Company struggled to hold their position over the pistol shoot and two rifle shoots, with C Company emerging at the end of the two days as the new ‘Champion Company’. LCpl Proe of A Company emerged as the best shot, a clear 10 shots ahead of second place. With these results the 1 RIFLES shooting team was formed as a composite team of the Battalion’s best shots, led by Lt Welch.
In mid May 18, the shooting team attended the 1 Division OSC in Catterick. The week build up training conducted on Sennybridge Ranges, with exceptionally good pistol coaching from CSjt Howley from 6 RIFLES, set the team up for success. After the 4 days of learning the difference between competition shooting and operational shooting, the team came away 4th of 15. Incredibly, all the Rifles teams in attendance finished in the top third, with 4 RIFLES coming 1st and 2 RIFLES coming 5th. Unfortunately, with competing commitments, the shooting team suffered a number of changes in the weeks following. Our further week training in mid Jun with WO2 Jones of 6 RIFLES, refocused the team ready for the Defence OSC at Bisley. Through this experience the team learnt a great deal about marksmanship, but unfortunately our disrupted preparation resulting from other competing commit- ments cost us a top position.
Over the next year we will continue to pursue our core skill of marksmanship, with a General Purpose Machine Gun competition in Jul 18, sniper cadre in Sep 18 and better preparation alongside the other Battalions for the OSCs in 2019.
Lt Cullum Welch OC Shooting
LCPL
PROE OF A COMPANY EMERGED AS THE BEST SHOT, A CLEAR 10 SHOTS AHEAD OF SECOND PLACE
THE RIFLES
FIRST BATTALION 27