Page 56 - The Bugle 2018

3 RIFLES NCO CADRE
At the end of October 2017, with temperatures dropping sharply across the country, 109 chosen men, selected from across the regiment as potential NCOs, arrived at a particularly bleak Otterburn Training Area. Nervous and apprehensive, but excited, they knew they were about to face six of their most challenging weeks as Riflemen. An Infantry Potential NCO cadre is designed to equip our best and brightest Riflemen with the skills they need to become junior NCOs, whilst proving their ability to lead by example under demanding circum- stances. With a jam-packed programme and snow on the horizon, the 2017 3 RIFLES cadre looked set to deliver on those aims in spades.
The cadre fell at a busy time for 3 RIFLES, set against both our readiness as the Op TEMPERER Standby Battalion (North), and the ongoing conversion to our new Mechanised Infantry role. Under these pressing circumstances, it is a testament to the hard work of Cadre Officer Lt Brash and Cadre Serjeant Major (and CQMS) CSjt Stark that the potential NCOs arrived to find a well-planned, thoroughly prepared and fully detailed course waiting for them.
Delivered by instructors drawn from across the regular battalions, the NCO cadre course had to cover a great breadth of subject matter. For those potential NCOs expecting a purely physical thrashing, it came as a surprise to find themselves putting in long hours in the classroom receiving their first exposure to the Command, Leadership and Management (CLM) programme. There was admirable engagement from the Riflemen with this vital subject – discussions over leadership styles, ethics, and the Army’s record on diversity and inclusion raged long and hard. Fortunately, these arguments still left just enough time in the day for some high-quality PT to be delivered.
With CLM complete, the focus shifted towards the field skills expected of Rifles JNCOs. An intensive navigation package culminated in tough individual day and night navigation exercises, testing the Riflemen’s ability to lead their sections to the right place at the right time, under any conditions. In perhaps the most conceptually demanding phase of the course – but one of the most critical for future infantry commanders – students were introduced to the combat estimate and orders process, which they would later be required to master and put into action in the field.
One of the most valued aspects of the course was the opportunity to learn from fellow Riflemen of all ranks, who were able to share their leadership experiences with the potential NCOs. They were addressed by CO 3 RIFLES, Lt Col Smith, and by the RSM, WO1 Camlin, both of whom emphasised the importance of this first step up the ladder of command. RSM Camlin reminisced about his own
NERVOUS AND APPREHENSIVE, BUT EXCITED, THEY KNEW THEY WERE ABOUT TO FACE SIX OF THEIR MOST CHALLENGING WEEKS
ULTIMATELY
THOUGH, AN
NCO CADRE
IS A FIELD
COURSE. A
FOUR DAY
SHAKE-OUT
LED VERY
QUICKLY
INTO A TEN
DAY FINAL
EXERCISE
NCO cadre and the many great leadership lessons he had encountered then and since. Maj Rich Jeffrey, OC RIFLES Coy at ITC, but formerly of 3 RIFLES – a man who quite probably undertook his NCO cadre before any of our students were born – drew on a long career as a Rifleman and a leader to impart some valuable pearls of wisdom and advice. For those with an eye on an even more adventurous future, meeting a Rifleman now serving with UKSF was also a highlight.
Ultimately though, an NCO cadre is a field course. A four day shake-out led very quickly into a ten day final exercise. Fighting (of course) the NDF, and their local insurgent henchmen of the Otterburn Front for Liberty and Justice, the final exercise saw the Riflemen complete almost a full lap of the training area with attacks, advances to contact and long distance patrols. Of particular note was the high-quality enemy, under the command of Sjt McAvoy, whose imagination and genuine engagement with the scenario produced tough, realistic objectives to challenge those in command appointment. As conditions deteriorated, the exercise ramped up. 1 Platoon’s 400m move through chest deep water to an FUP will live long in the memory – particularly for those, including the platoon commander, who found themselves at various points floating back towards
62 THIRD BATTALION
THE RIFLES