Page 84 - The Bugle 2018

Foreword
I wrote last year’s foreword halfway through our eight-month deployment on the Army’s first Op CABRIT tour of Estonia. 5 RIFLES were leading the multinational Enhanced Forward Presence Battle- group (c.1200 men and women from a variety of cap badges, including French and Danish soldiers) designed to provide a proportionate, defensive and combat capable force to deter hostile activity on NATO’s eastern flank. This year has seen the Battalion complete a highly successful tour before returning home in time for Christmas and then embarking on our ‘Other Tasks Year’ in 2018 – principally providing training support for the rest of the Third Division. It has also included taking on the UK Standby Battalion contingency task - being held at a reduced notice to move to support the Police and other emergency services in the event of a significant security incident or environ- mental disaster on UK soil. At the time of writing, the only occasion we have been crashed out was to support the visit of President Trump. Someone clearly has a sense of humour.
The second half of the tour in Estonia proved to be no less of a rollercoaster than the first. The frequency of high level visits continued with the British Prime Minister, President Macron of France, NATO’s Secretary General and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson providing some of the highlights. There was also an increased focus on developing military plans for the defence of Estonian sovereign territory, as well as an expansion of cross border activity to link up with the other Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroups and NATO forces in the region. D Company and Fire Support Company particularly benefitted from some great opportu- nities operating down in Latvia. We also managed to rekindle our bonds of friendship with our affiliated Canadian unit, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, (PPCLIwho led the NATO Battle- group in Riga, which included conducting a Platoon exchange for three weeks.
The end of the deployment and return home to Bulford was suitably marked with a thoroughly enjoyable Homecoming Parade and Families Day attended by Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex. She had the chance to meet a good cross section of the families and gave a superb speech thanking everyone, especially the families, for their dedicated support over the course of the last year.
Our Other Tasks Year in 2018 has been split into three phases: Recuperation; Regeneration and Contingency; and Readiness. During Phase One between January and April, the principal focus was on recuperation: allowing the riflemen to refresh their physical and moral reserves, as well as allowing the Battalion and their families the chance
THE ONLY OCCASION WE HAVE BEEN CRASHED OUT WAS TO SUPPORT THE VISIT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. SOMEONE CLEARLY HAS A
SENSE OF HUMOUR
to settle properly into Bulford (which they hadn’t had the opportunity to do before). At the time of going to print, we are currently coming to end of Phase Two, where between April and September, the focus has been on replenishing our core individual and collective warfighting qualifications. Amongst others, activities to help deliver this have included: support weapon cadres; armoured infantry cadres; career courses; company exercises; and a Battalion Gunnery Camp in Castlemartin. From September onwards, in Phase Three, the focus will be on broadening our operational readiness. Although more UK-based than many previous years in recent history, 2018 has still provided plenty of opportunity for travel and excitement abroad. Variously members of the Battalion have deployed to Kenya, Belize, Canada, France, Germany and
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