Page 43 - The Bugle 2018

Infantry Potential Non-Commissioned
Officers Cadre
2 RIFLES led this summer’s Infantry Potential complex Company Level Fighting in Woods and
Non-Commissioned Officers (IPNCO) cadre to challenge the next generation of Riflemen from across the regiment to reach the first rung on their career ladder. Riflemen from all five regular Battalions travelled to Northern Ireland to undertake the arduous six-week course. This consisted of two weeks physical and leadership training at Ballykinler training centre, followed by a two-week exercise phase on Otterburn training area. Once this was completed, the Riflemen undertook qualifications in range safety and lesson planning, before passing off the square in Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn.
Week 1 of the course entailed the Riflemen being tested both physically and mentally across a wide variety of tests. Daily physical challenges such as the 2 miler, section 5 miler competition and the equipment race pushed the Riflemen to their limits, whilst enabling them to showcase their burgeoning leadership potential under duress. The physical tests culminated in a challenging sword range, in which the Rifleman performed admirably. Exposed to their first Command, Leadership and Management lessons, they learnt how to project themselves as leaders, develop the Riflemen they would command in the future and how best to manage both their subordinates’ and their own careers. A challenging individual presentation allowed the Riflemen to demonstrate their public speaking skills and build their confidence moving forward in the course.
Week 2 of the course shifted focus towards the tactical side of command. Lessons on the orders and estimate process, as well as administrating a section in the field exposed the Riflemen to new concepts and challenges. This was to prepare them for the training exercise phase which would take place on Otterburn training area. Two days of confirmatory training moved swiftly into a 10-day exercise, where the Riflemen operated from section level all the way up to a Company Level final attack. The initial challenges of a return to a conventional style exercise, alongside the heatwave that spread across the country meant that the Riflemen were pushed to their limits on a daily basis. However, as the exercise went on, the PNCOs grew into their roles as section 2ICs, learning each day how to better administrate their sections and lead from the front as the fatigue began to set in. The exercise culminated in a
Forests (FIWAF) operation, in which the Riflemen demonstrated the new skills and leadership ability they had nurtured over the course in an extremely complex and ever changing environment. The exercise phase was a good lesson for all those involved, taking things back to the basics of operating in a conventional environment and enabling the regiment’s new junior leaders to discover their own limits and potential in order that they can inspire the next generation.
Week 5 brought the Riflemen back to Bally- kinler to introduce them to range safety and battle exercise planning. The intellectual challenge of planning and executing lessons and ranges was a far-cry from the heat and sleep deprivation of Otterburn, but one which the Riflemen met with the same vigour and determination with which they approached the rest of the course. The final week entailed a lot of time on the drill square, preparing for the final pass off parade. Brigadier Swift, Commander 38 (Irish) Brigade, was the guest of honour and the Riflemen performed a flawless “double off” to complete what was a challenging, but ultimately successful 6 weeks for those that made it. The leadership and fieldcraft skills the Riflemen learned during the course will enable them to go back to their Battalion’s to lead and inspire the Riflemen now placed under their command on any operation or exercise they deploy onto – after some well-earned summer leave! Second Lieutenant Charlie Rex
Officer Commanding 2 Platoon
THE FINAL WEEK ENTAILED A LOT OF TIME ON THE DRILL SQUARE, PREPARING FOR THE FINAL PASS OFF PARADE
THE RIFLES
SECOND BATTALION 49
Battle physical training on Ballykinler beach
Sword range on the IPNCO cadre