Page 58 - The Bugle 2018

THE BATTALION ROAD MOVE WAS TAKING PLACE ON THE FRIDAY OF A BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THIS DID NOT INGRATIATE 3 RIFLES WITH HOLIDAY MAKERS
Exercise SOUTHERN SKIRMISH was the first in a series of exercises designed to prepare the Battalion for Exercise WESSEX STORM. The aim of this exercise was to conduct a live firing battlecamp in Brecon whilst also building Mastiff experience amongst the companies.
The exercise began with a Company move in Mastiff from Catterick garrison to Brecon over two days and including a battalion leaguer just off the M5 near Wolverhampton. This march was particu- larly testing for newly qualified drivers but provided a good opportunity to test some of the new Strike concepts. As a result of the Operations Officer’s lack of any sort of social life he had not realised that the battalion road move was taking place on the Friday of a Bank Holiday weekend. This did not ingratiate 3 RIFLES with holiday makers whose roof-racks loaded with buckets and spades could not compete with the bar armour of the Mastiffs they were stuck behind. This caused much amusement amongst the Riflemen as AA live route mapping showed a tail back behind OC C Company’s packet but everyone made it to Sennybridge in good order whether eager civilian or equally eager Rifleman.
Once the Battalion was in place the Companies began a three-way rotation. Stand one was a two-day mounted range package which saw the companies firing their vehicle mounted weapons whilst static and moving. In an uncharacteristically sunny Brecon this proved to be an enjoyable phase for everyone involved and for many was the first time they had fired from their new vehicles.
Stand two began with a live fire platoon attack incorporating the sniper pl in overwatch engaging targets as well as Machine Gun Platoon firing HMG and GMG from their Jackal vehicles. The attack culminated in a tank-stalk and one lucky Riflemen in each platoon got to fire their NLAW although some sneakily decided to utilise them in the indirect role. The second day of
stand two was a live company
attack with support from the Sniper, Machine Gun and Mortar Platoons making it a particularly enjoyable range. This package delivered some exceptional training for the companies with special mention to Capt Will Gage and WO2 Calvy who, delivered a particularly professional set of ranges.
Stand three involved a Section best effort following the Juniors’ Fan Dance over Pen-Y-Fan and an individual 5 miler competition. Both of these tested the Riflemen to the limit but everyone was impressed by the abilities of the Riflemen and very few failed to complete the challenges. Worried that this phase was a bit easy the Ops Officer also organised a half day of CBRN training and two navigation exercises for the grateful Riflemen. We were lucky to be joined for these by a number of SNCOs from the RIFLES Training Team in Chepstow who delivered some excellent navigation training.
Overall, Exercise SOUTHERN SKIRMISH was an exceptionally professional exercise made particu- larly impressive by the fact that it was all internally generated without any outside assistance. Helped by some excellent weather, the battalion got a lot of training value from the demanding serials. Junior Riflemen and senior commanders alike were tested and challenged but all returned to Edinburgh better soldiers and ready for the next challenge.
Capt Paddy Keating Adjutant
Exercise SOUTHERN SKIRMISH
64 THIRD BATTALION
THE RIFLES
Riflemen from the Machine Gun Platoon engage targets
“Rapid Fire” -Riflemen suppress the enemy during a live fire range on Ex SOUTHERN SKIRMISH