An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir Dec 2018/Jan 2019 www.dfmagazine.ie 14 | REPORT & PHOTOS BY COMDT GAVIN EGERTON, OIC & CHIEF INSTRUCTOR, NCOTW, MIL COL R ecently, A Coy, 2 Rifles, (British Army) deployed to Jordan for five weeks of training. Following an invitation to the Defence Forces to send an officer to observe part of this training, I was selected to attend. Exercise 'Olive Grove' saw the troops exercised in a number of conventional scenarios. I observed live-fire ranges being conducted for section-level offensive operations (day and night); a comprehensive patrolling competition over a 6km route; and a very impressive demonstration of the 'sharpshooter' rifle, a semi-automatic 7.62mm weapon employed in support of each infantry section. Jordan's Al Quwayrah training area is a live-firing range cover- ing approximately 25km2 of undulating and often severe terrain. Coupled with the harsh Jordanian climate, this presents an excel- lent training environment for dismounted light infantry. On deployment to Jordan, A Coy began a period of instruction on low-level infantry tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), basic fieldcraft, and medical training. They then conducted a rotation which saw each platoon spend three days in defence (trenches), offence, or enemy roles. The platoon in defence was attacked by the enemy platoon, while the offence platoon sought to locate and attack the enemy who had occupied a stone-walled compound some distance away. Having discussed the overall training package with leaders of all ranks, from lance corporal to major, I noted their emphasis on basic, low-level infantry TTPs. The exercise began with theory les- sons on fieldcraft, fire and manoeuvre, fire-team and section-level movement and attacks. The practical lessons were all conducted at section level under the instruction of section commanders (part of their 'mission command' philosophy), with platoon ser- geants and platoon commanders supervising from an appropriate distance. Once these drills were mastered, the tactics progressed to platoon attacks. The night LFTT serials that I observed were all conducted using no white light whatsoever. Every infantry soldier in the British Army is issued with a personal, helmet-mounted, night-vision sight (HMNVS), and weapon-mounted laser light module (LLM). In addition to this, thermal weapon sights were available at section level for mounting on individual rifles or GPMG. Even though some members of A Coy had only completed recruit training within the previous few weeks, they were fully proficient with HMNVS and LLM. More striking was their com- plete comfort in operating at night in the absence of any white light. Following the night LFTT section attack I spoke with many soldiers and their overt confidence was clearly boosted even fur- ther thanks to their completion of the night serials. They repeat- edly referred to the use of HMNVS and LLM and operating with no white light as being of crucial importance to their professional development as soldiers. The LFTT ranges in use during my visit varied in distance from 400m to 6km from the camp. To get to and from each range, platoons had to patrol by foot, often covering long distances throughout the day and while returning to camp late at night. Their comfort in covering these distances was a testament to the overall physical robustness or 'battle fitness' of A Coy. The company commander explained that routine company and platoon PT was conducted prior to deployment but the exercise itself had conditioned the men to a very good level. What was even more obvious was the 'can-do' attitude displayed by all soldiers that I observed. Regardless of the physicality or duration of the task ahead of them, the riflemen approached each serial with a competitive and aggressive attitude, focused on mission success. (The Defence Forces' 'infantry ethos' similarly encourages and promotes this type of attitude and behaviours from our soldiers.) Every member of the Royal Regiment of Rifles is considered a 'rifleman', regardless of rank, and the most junior rank is rifleman, not private. Their pride 'Olive Grove'

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