News
Never a dull moment for the men of 2 RIFLES
The pace of life has continued unabated for the 2nd Battalion The Rifles since its return from a well-deserved post-operational tour leave period following deployment on Op HERRICK 20 to Afghanistan.
The Battalion has now turned its focus to preparing for a deployment to Kenya on the training exercise, Ex ASKARI STORM in January-February 2016, as well as satisfying the ever-growing demand for riflemen of all ranks on a variety of short-notice tasks in the UK and abroad.
As an example, the Battalion has deployed over 100 soldiers from A Company to the Falkland Islands as part of the UK’s commitment to maintaining the defence of that Crown dependency. Riflemen are conducting a broad range of live firing and tactical training in arduous terrain and weather conditions, as well as undertaking patrols to support the local population and provide a deterrent to aggression. The Mortar Platoon is also busy selecting and training a new generation of soldiers to fill its ranks.
B and C Companies have been focussed on establishing Machine Gun platoons as part of the wider British Army’s restricting of light role infantry battalions. Riflemen have undertaken a challenging machine gun cadre, testing their skills with the General Purpose Machine Gun, as well as their physical and mental toughness in operating, employing and carrying much heavier loads of equipment and ammunition associated with that weapon system.
I Company, the Battalion’s Support Company, has been busy regenerating itself and conducting selection courses in the wilds of Northern Ireland and Scotland to ensure that it selects the very best riflemen from the broad group of willing volunteers eager to make their mark in the Battalion’s senior platoons. The Riflemen have been busy mastering the various sniper weapon system, anti-tank weapons, mortars and pioneer demolitions needed to support the Battalion.
The forthcoming deployment to Kenya has required a lot of nimble planning and flexibility on the part of the various supporting elements of the Battalion to ensure that the various administrative and health checks are completed in time.
Additionally, a number of officers and all ranks are mentoring, training and supporting a company of infantry soldiers from the Indian Army undertaking a training exercise on Salisbury Plain.