Page 79 - The Bugle 2018

HQ Coy
OC’s Foreword
Among the myriad of deployments across the UK and overseas, HQ Company remains the steadfast supporter of all. Now that we have settled into our new structure, innovation is at the heart of all that we do as we work to enable, assure and sustain the battalion’s activity with a much smaller enabling component.
Supporting our persistent presence in Afghan- istan while delivering a major overseas exercise in Belize and training at home has not been easy but the pragmatic minded and strong willed members of HQ Company have seen it through.
As you will see from the articles below, we also do our fair share to ensure that 4 RIFLES delivers more than just operational output. We were so very close to putting the regiment at the top of the Army Operational Shooting Competition this year. It was a real pleasure to host our Royal Colonel, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, for our Sounding Retreat while our people still find time to further our reputation in the sporting world.
2019 will, I’m sure, see more of the same with Major Dave Sharp ending his time as Quartermaster to succeed me as Company Commander. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we will have got due, in no small part, to the hardworking members of HQ Coy.
Major A Pemberton MBE Officer Commanding
INNOVATION IS AT THE HEART OF ALL THAT WE DO AS WE WORK TO ENABLE, ASSURE AND SUSTAIN THE BATTALION’S ACTIVITY
The Training Wing and the Spec Inf Assessment Cadre
The creation of the Specialised Infantry role Infantry Group relocating to Aldershot in the
Towards the end of week one the
has created a number of exciting opportu- coming years, it made sense to base the
TOWARDS THE END
OF WEEK ONE THE STUDENTS THEN COMPLETE
A SERIES OF NAVIGATION EXERCISES BOTH AT DAY AND NIGHT
to train partner forces across the Middle East
Barracks, which has seen the 4th Battalion’s Training Wing help to set the standard for the exercises construct and delivery. The first week focuses on the completion of MATTs, as well as cultural and language aptitude testing. Towards the end of week one the students then complete a series of navigation exercises both at day and night. This is followed by a 30km patrol phase that incorporates all of the challenges that a Specialised Infantry Team may face during a deployment. Throughout the Assessment Cadre, Teams are accompanied by an observer mentor. Discrete individual tests, group assessments and one to one interviews with senior elements of the chain of command, including Comd Spec Inf himself, all form part of assessing whether a volunteer is suitable for Spec Inf work. The cadre, along with the wider capability continues to develop and mature as we work to find those best suited to overseas capacity building.
and North Africa requires our Riflemen to hone their core infantry skills to ensure they deliver a quality product. This has seen a number of innovative training exercises being delivered ranging from driving packages to exercises focused on close quarter battle and operating in the urban environment. However, it is the assessment of those volunteering to take up the Specialised Infantry role that has been the primary focus of the Training Wing. This is based on a two-week Assessment Cadre, which ensures that those who volunteer are able to operate on their initiative and possess the maturity required to work alongside our partners.
The Training Wing, which is formed of those who have completed the Assessment Cadre and typically have undertaken a number of deployments already, helps to facilitate the training and provides the majority of the observer mentors. With the Specialised
students then complete a series of
nities for the Training Wing. The requirement Assessment Cadre out of New Normandy
navigation exercises both at day and
night.
THE RIFLES
FOURTH BATTALION 85
Major Andy Pemberton MBE receiving the Silver Bugle following over 30 years at regimental duty