Page 67 - The Bugle 2018

Ex Rattlesnake
(October to November 2017 – Louisiana, USA)
After conducting a reconnaissance to the US in
September Team 1 conducted group planning
and undertook the minimal and mission specific
training required after completing the Spec
Inf. Team 1 then deployed on US Army’s Joint
Rotational Training Exercise (JRTC) where it
worked as part of a Green Berets sub-unit training
and operating alongside the fictional Atropian
Special Operations Forces. JRTC, a superbly command and control.
well resourced brigade exercise (with a training audience of over 4000, a battalion of enemy, and more than 400 observers) enabled the team to immerse itself in a training scenario that included developing and operating alongside the partner force and learn from the more experienced US peers whilst developing practical experience of operating at reach from UK logistical support and
Ex DESERT WARRIOR
(January 2018 - Kuwait)
The task given to Team 1 was to conduct a three-week training package for the Kuwaiti Army. The deployment had some ambitious objectives; marksmanship, patrolling, C-IED, attacks and even operations in woods and forest (challenging consid- ering only ornamental gardens in Kuwait encompass trees!). After proposing our plan with the Defence Attaché and the partner force chain of command it was agreed that the focus for the deployment should be two concurrent courses; infantry tactics and sharpshooting. Some of the best snipers in the Gulf attended the marksmanship and both courses achieved good and measurable benefits despite the challenge of persuading the partners to work for more three hours a day due to the harsh environment. The Kuwaitis showed the team great hospitality and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable and Kuwait city was thoroughly explored, exploiting the privileged access granted to an upmarket health club and exotic restaurants (although McDonalds and Starbucks provided the preferred refuge).
Delivering a section attack theory lesson to ensure that the basics are taught correctly
Ex ASKARI SPEAR
(February to March 2018 – Kenya)
The deployment to Kenya, to train and accompany a Kenyan Defence Force (KDF) company through their attachment to 1 Royal Ghurkha Rifles (1 RGR) training exercise was an excellent opportunity to develop the Spec Inf capability to operate with a partner force alongside the British Army. The team flew to Kenya directly from Kuwait and immediately began building relationships with the Kenyan company, assessing their standard and preparing them for the tactical exercise. This was the team’s most challenging task, with only two weeks to develop a partner that does not operate at night to work for the first time with a British battlegroup predominantly during periods of darkness. The Kenyan company was attached to the 1 RGR battlegroup with the team interspersed throughout the command structure providing them with planning support, communications and access to joint fires. The Kenyan’s shortfalls (such as being unused to long marches) were compensated for by their aggressiveness and speed in the attack.
Team 1’s ability to enable the battlegroup to effec- tively command and control the company meant that these positive traits were extensively utilised by the battlegroup. In the defense the KDF provided an invaluable interface with the local population. For the team this meant that not only were they dealing with real life ration protests and other challenges from the KDF; but also exercise scenarios such as riots from the village; all of this on top of frequent enemy attacks. Team 1’s inclusion in the exercise was very successful and taught the team the importance of patience and realistically assessing partner capacity and 1 RGR the value of dedicated advisors for the partner force.
THE KDF PROVIDED AN INVALUABLE INTERFACE WITH THE LOCAL POPULATION
THE RIFLES
FOURTH BATTALION 73