News from the Commanding Officer 2 Rifles

Lt. Col. Bill Wright

12th February 2012

The first weeks of 2012 have seen a continuation of the fast pre Christmas tempo with two Brigade operations and a Kandak level one too.  The cold weather has continued (though not as cold as the UK is experiencing this week!) and there have been occasional very heavy down pours of rain.  The days have by and large been bright and sunny and by 1100hrs the biting night cold has gone, but it only takes the sun to go behind a cloud and you can feel the temperature immediately drop by a few degrees.  January to March are when Helmand gets the vast majority of its rain and so we can expect warmer days but lots more mud over the coming weeks!

Adv 60 (B coy) written 8th February 2012

12th February 2012

 So here we are 75% of the way through the tour, only 52 days left and time for the next Company installment. We have had a busy month with most of the Advisors from B Company rotating back for their R&R. Running alongside this we have also gone through a change in ANA, the 6th Kandak (Battalion) swapped with the 2nd Kandak who where previously responsible for guarding Highway One.

News update- Adv 20 (Qrh) written 28th January 2012

Capt. Grubb

12th February 2012

 After a fun and sociable end to December, B Sqn has had to deal with the inevitable post Christmas blues combined with some particularly unpleasant weather conditions. Despite the sub-zero temperatures and gusty winds, all concerned have remained in good spirits. The ANA continue to focus on securing the Highway and its environs...

Lucy Aldridge presents 2 Rifles with a cheque for £15,000!

 12th February 2012

On the 10^th July 2009, Rfn. William Aldridge was KIA in Afghanistan. Aged 18 years 47 days, he still remains the youngest serving soldier to lose his life in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001.

In 2009, his mother Lucy Aldridge, assisted with the launch of Afghan Heroes, raising funds for injured service personnel and bereaved military families through the Kilimanjaro 2010 Appeal. This project culminated in William’s girlfriend and one of his comrades climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

2 Rifles Parents' fundraise! 

 12th February 2012

The 2 Rifles Swift and Bold appeal recently had a large donation from Mark and Sharon Curtis, whose son Alex is currently serving with 2 Rifles. Here’s the letter they included with their donation explaining how and why they chose to fundraise for the appeal.

QRH Blog

January 2012

2 Kandak Advisory Training Team, led by B squadron The Queen’s Royal Hussars, has had a busy month mentoring the Highway Kandak.

The new 2nd kandak commander continues to implement change and stamp his energetic personality upon the unit. A heavily pro-ISAF officer who received the benefit of BAG advisor mentoring while he was a Tolay, or company commander, Lt Colonel Nizamudin has had a significant impact upon the kandak during his short time in post. Under his watch, the posture and professionalism of the troops on...

A Coy Blog (3 Platoon, CP PERKHA)

 Lt. John Warburton

 January 2012 

 CP Perkha : A Platoon Commander`s perspective.

I cannot believe it has been more than a month that we have been living in CP Perkha. We have crammed our whole platoon plus some extras in to a very small and dusty little abode. We have spent a great deal of time, effort and a few hundred sandbags civilising and preparing it for the unwelcome and notoriously wet winter months; as yet though the skies remain clear. This does make it very cold after dark and those coming in from a late patrol risk exposure using our alfresco shower. Hygiene has been one of prime concerns within the CP and though very basic; compared to what we were expecting the facilities are almost regal.

I Coy Blog 

 January 2012

The festive season has flown by and the New Year finds ADV 30 busier than we’ve been all tour. December and January have been the prime R&R slots for the unit and as such Camp Gereshk itself has at times felt empty and on other occasions been filled with new faces providing temporary cover for those in the UK with their families.

A Coy Blog (32a Lt Kendall)

  January 2012

Over the last couple of weeks, 32A multiple has had a diverse and exciting time, both on the ground and back in PB2. We have taken part in company level operations as well as conducting independent patrols in order to further our understanding of the area. All the boys have fought bravely and worked well interacting with the locals, the Afghan National security forces and the other A Company call signs.

 Back in camp we were privy to an entertainment show that included comedians and dancing girls. The highlight, punctuated by the laughter and interaction with the audience, was one of the comedians who happily targeted individuals with no mercy.

2 Rifles Appeal Total Passes £25,000!

7th February 2012

Fantastic news!... The 2 Rifles Swift and Bold Wristband Appeal total has now passed a landmark point and raised a brilliant £25,607. A huge thank you to all those who have contributed so far, please continue to spread the word so we can support those soldiers and families that need it most.

MAKE A DONATION HERE TO GET YOUR 2 RIFLES WRISTBAND AND WEAR IT WITH PRIDE!

A Coy Blog from 1 Platoon, Lt Jones, CP SHAPARAK

December 2011

Lt Jones: The past two weeks have been weeks of constant progress for 1 Platoon and attachments in CP SHAPARAK, both inside and outside the wire. Our knowledge of the ground and population in 1 Platoon’s area of responsibility has become thorough enough now that we now brief the Company intelligence cell on changes in dynamics, rather than the other way round; thus giving them the chance to analyse the changes thoroughly and brief the whole Company on them.....

A & C Coy Blog from CP JEKER

December 2011

R & R is fast approaching, Rfn Ramsay and Rfn Johnson will be heading home for a well deserved break in the next few days followed by the rest of us in the next few months, judging by the volume of parcels some people have been receiving Christmas has come early, some people (Rfn Bird, Johnson and Mitchell) need their R& R sooner rather than later so that they can get a rest from eating too much chocolate!

A Coy Head Quarters- PB2

December 2011

Due to popular demand (mainly from my parents!), Company HQ are starting a blog entry.  I am afraid it will not be nearly as ‘gucci’ or sexy as the Platoons’ as our lives are somewhat less glamorous, but equally as important.  Company HQ is made up an array of people from across the Battalion and the wider army, we have a core of A Company guys aided by attachments from 2 RIFLES, 5 RIFLES, MERCIANS, The Royal Signals, The Royal Yeomanry, The Intelligence Corps, the Royal Artillery and the AGC. I am afraid this entry will mostly focus on introductions and the subsequent Blogs can centre on the banter and general abuse that we soldiers seem to thrive on!

2 Rifles Charity Event, Kent

12th January 2012

A 2 Rifles fundraising event is taking place on the 28^th January. It will be held at Crofton Halls, York Rise, Orpington, Kent BR6 8PR

There will be a DJ, face painting for children, drinks, cake sale, also a raffle with all proceeds going direct to the 2 Rifles Swift and Bold Appeal.

Battalion Belles Calendar 2012- On Sale Now!

Daynor Harris and Shellie Bell

16th December 2011

As Wives and Girlfriends of Serving Soldiers, counting down days and checking calendars until they come home from their tour of duty has become a part of our normal daily life. So we thought, what a good way to show our support, raise some money for our injured troops and have a bit of fun and get together to make a calendar.

The Rifles, Care for Casualties Charity evening @ The Towers, Mansfield

CSjt. Jaime Moncho

16th December 2011

The Rifles, Care for Casualties Charity evening @ MANSFIELD (Sat 7 Jan 2012)

WHAT IS IT?
It's a charity evening to help support our brave service men and women who are risking life and limb so that we can have a safer future.

Ballykinler Welfare Office Blog

Sjt. Buchanan

9th December 2011

We are now into week 14 of our tour events programme and still going strong.  The ladies were treated to a night in the Officers Mess at the beginning of the tour where they were fed the best Chinese in NI and the cheapest wine.  A good night was had by all; we even ended with a dance off in the Community Centre.  Late September the Chosen Wives entered the Annual Viking Boat race at Killyeagh, with lots of shouting, puffing and panting they came away with a certificate which now hangs in the bar.  We ended the month of September by taking the Families to Delemont Park, armed with our white haver boxes of food we took over the place in style and had a great time.

Some voices from QRH KATT

 1st December 2011

Major Jefford

Another quick update from B Sqn as we enter the third month of our tour. Working with the ANA is still a highly enjoyable and interesting job, with no two days the same. Time continues to fly by as a result. Recent highlights have included the visit of the Secretary of State for Defence who met a number of the team and discussed our work with the ANA. We are being kept busy day-to-day with routine patrols alongside the ANA, as well as helping them to develop the Kandak’s processes, focusing on everything from personnel management to logistics and maintenance. Gratifyingly we are seeing the Kandak make progress.

B Company Blog

1st December 2011

Welcome to the next instalment on B Company’s progress here in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

I honestly cannot believe another two weeks have flown by, B Company have been typically busy and now have a good understanding of what sort of things to expect on a day to day basis from the ANA. We have also seen further progress from those we are Advising, what may be regarded as small steps forward are hugely important and are adding up nicely.

Details for the funeral of the Late Lcpl. Peter Eustace

5th December 2011

LCpl Eustace was killed in action whilst serving on Op Herrick 15 on Wednesday 16 Nov 11.  This article outlines the details for his Funeral Service, Act of Committal and Reception in Toxteth, Liverpool, on 12 Dec 2011.

A Company Blog

21st November 2011

A Coy blog has been written by the Cpl’s in the three CPs and PB2. All the very best from us all.

CP SHAPARAK – Cpl Marc Jones, 1 Platoon.

1 Platoon has for the past month been based at CP Shaparak, the entrance of which is dominated by two features: the south facing sanger and an intimidating 10ft sand bag wall which was the first major improvement made by the Platoon and our attachments; a hard three days graft, with half the man power filling the sand bags and the remainder constructing the wall with expert precision, under the watchful (and yes, sometimes excitable!) eye of Sjt. Jakeman.

B Company Blog

17th November 2011

B Coy continue to be busy in Helmand. The weather has taken a turn and the nights are getting particularly chilly. Thankfully B Coy has been supplied with a number of woolly hats from the charity 'Hats for Heroes'. There are some odd designs and colours, but most of the Riflemen in PB2 now have a woolly hat of some sort!

The Repatriation of Lance Corporal Peter Eustace

21st November 2011

The following statement has been provided by Oxfordshire County Council:

"We have been advised by RAF Brize Norton that the repatriations of Lance Corporal Peter Eustace from 2^nd Battalion The Rifles, Lieutenant David Boyce and Lance Corporal Richard Scanlon, both from 1^st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards and that of an as yet unnamed soldier from 1^st Battalion The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment, will take place on Thursday 24^th November 2011.

ANA and ISAF Remembrance Service

  12th November 2011

Afghan National Army (ANA) and British Army come together in the first ever joint Remembrance Parade to honour fallen comrades at Camp Shorabak in Afghanistan on 12th November 2011.

Voices from B SQN QRH- Advisor 20

11th November 2011

Tpr Ford

I am part of the Queens Royal Hussars KATT team (Kandak Advisory Training Team) based out of PB Harriet, near Gereshk. We have been here now for about seven weeks, and it has been a great experience being a part of the KATT team because we have learned a lot about the Afghan culture and their very different way of life.

DANCON March (6th November 2011)

10th November 2011

On Nov 6 2011 at 07:00 fifteen personnel from 2 Rifles BAG joined a number of Danish and American soldiers on a 16.62 loaded march in aid of ‘Support our Soldiers’. The event raised $3, 500.

Operation Malika-K (Princess Kate)

9th November 2011

Operation Malika-K (or Princess Kate when translated from Dari into English) was reported in the Sun Newspaper (p14) on 9^th November 2011. Here is a more detailed insight to Op Malika-K.

BAG S1/8 Advisor / Big Eid Sheep Procurement Officer

Capt. Gary Bagley

8th November 2011

2 Rifles Brigade Advisory Group give sheep for EID

Gain and Maintain Popular Support is a key principle of COIN operations. Therefore the decision to buy sheep and donate them to each of the ANA Kandaks for EID is one of many ways we are able to gain popular support and strengthen our strong relationships with the ANA.

Advisor 40

Maj. Steve White

4th November 2011

Firstly, allow me to introduce myself, I am Major Steve White and most of you will never have heard of me before now.  However, on HERRICK 15 I have been brought in as an additional OC and have command of the Kandak Advisory Training Team (KATT) for the 4th Kandak. 

B Company Blog

 4th November 2011

Welcome to the third B Company blog from Afghanistan!

As ever we have been extremely busy working to improve and develop the Afghan National Army. We are well established in our routine now and are a quarter of the way through our tour (everyone now has a ‘chuff chart’ to count down the days)!