Page 28 - The Bugle 2018

Foreword
Just four months into my command tour back home in 2 RIFLES, and having been locked in my office by the Battalion 2IC to write this Foreword, I thought I’d seek some inspiration and guidance from the pile of Bugle journals sitting on the coffee table. Above all else one thing stands with remarkable clarity – that a Commanding Officer must start with a comment on how busy life has been over the preceding year! However, having considered trying something different this time, I have decided against it; my considered view is that acknowledgement of the relentless tempo is fundamental to recognising the remarkable levels of the selfless commitment our people, and their families, continue to demonstrate in support of our Regiment and the British Army.
The following pages will include stories and descriptions of the highlights of the last twelve months which include the deployment, on Operation SHADER, of Battalion Headquarters, A, B, I and elements of Headquarter Company as UK Training Team (West) in Al Asad airbase where, once again, the battalion added to its remarkable operational pedigree. Meanwhile C Company, on a different line of operation, continued to enjoy the freedom of that arrangement having returned from Operation TRENTON. They subsequently deployed to Fort Polk, deep in the swamps of Louisiana, on Exercise RATTLESNAKE in support of a United States Light Infantry Battle-Group before assuming, for the first time, responsibilities for delivering Public Duties in
London and Windsor. They were superb and the final Queen’s Guard dismount included a double off the Buckingham Palace Forecourt in front of tens of thousands of tourists. The articles ahead draw on a number of highlights focused principally on activity and collective achievements, but it is important to also recognise the wonderful efforts of all my people in contributing to the Army’s outputs – particu- larly those who have been trawled or deployed, sometimes at short notice, to support operations or the training of other units.
The future promises no let up, indeed we get busier still. As I write B Company are deployed in the Falklands, A Company are in Jordan and tomorrow C Company assume the responsibility of delivering the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps Force Protection Company before deploying, later in the autumn, to Sierra Leone to conduct jungle training. We will therefore be well set for a Battlegroup deployment to Kenya in Spring 2019. Suitably trained the Battalion then supports the Joint Expeditionary Force as its Light Role Infantry Battalion at readiness while concurrently starting Mission Specific Training for Operation TORAL in early 2020. The programme is set, will be challenging and rewarding in equal measure, and allows us to reinforce and build on the excellent reputation we have inherited from our forebears. Swift and Bold!
Lieutenant Colonel Sam Cates Commanding Officer
The Battalion’s Christmas carol service
I THOUGHT I’D SEEK SOME INSPIRATION AND GUIDANCE FROM THE PILE OF BUGLE JOURNALS SITTING ON THE COFFEE TABLE
34 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES
SECONDBATTALION