20131013-Bn Newsletter Edition3 4SCOTS OCLAD-U

7/27/2019 20131013-Bn Newsletter Edition3 4SCOTS OCLAD-U

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4 SCOTSThe Blue Hackle

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Disciplined and Ready

Commanding Officers Foreword

It is a month since I arrived and time has sped past. The Battalion are operating at full capacity intheir many varied tasks and doing really well. We are joined at the hip with the Danish andEstonian forces in the Manoeuvre Battlegroup and we are planning a multi-cultural Christmas bring on the smoked fish! The ROG is obviously working well and the number and variety ofactivities and events for the soldiers in Fallingbostel and the Families is great to see. Into thefuture, we are confirming RnR dates and the swapping of individuals at the half way mark now.There will be much more detail to come on this in the next 3-4 weeks. So, enjoy the Blue Hackleand I will write again next month.

The Colours are flying high in the Manoeuvre Battlegroup Headquarters.


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An acclimatisation march to the ranges always goes down well.

What?...The targets where?!

Manoeuvre Battlegroup

Following on from the Commanding Officers foreword, the best way in which I can set the scene interms of what the Jocks have been getting up to so far in this first month in Afghanistan is throughpictures. On the pages that follow are a selection of pictures to hopefully answer some of thequestions I know have been asked, and to shed some light on what it is we have been doing.

Once in Afghanistan thefirst item on the agendawas the Reception,Staging and Onward

Integration training;delivered by our veryown A Company. Thisis a weeklong trainingpackage which remindsand revises us on allthe key skills we havealready learnt this pastyear and ensure we arefully up to speed withwhat is currentlyhappening in

Afghanistan.


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Basic but comfortable.

It doesnt take long toget settled and findways to relax.

Improvise, adapt andovercome.

The accommodation here in CampBastion is basic, but fit for purpose.Each tent is designed to house up to10 soldiers, each of whom gets abed, hanging IKEA wardrobe andeasy access to laundry facilities andthe gym. Not to mention Wi-Fi andtelephones to make those all-important calls home! As is alwaysthe way, however, it does not take toolong for everyone to settle into theirsurroundings and make it into a home

from home.


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Members of the Force Protection Platoon moved to Lashkar Gar Durai in early October to join the4 SCOTS Mortars Platoon, Medics and QM(T) outside of Camp Bastion. As you can see from thepictures below, they deployed with all their creature comforts and maximised the use of theChinook Helicopters lift capacity.

Always be prepared; any idiot can be uncomfortable and badly administrated.

Are they just going to stand there and watch or do you think they will give us a hand?


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The LOKE Platoon of Danish Tanks formed part of the multi-national deployment.

Finally this month, the Manoeuvre Battlegroup has begun conducting operations with the EstonianCompany and Danish Tank Platoon, all to great effect. As you can see below, even Sgt Milneseems to be enjoying himself!


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Revising their drills on the Grenade Machine Gun.

A (Grenadier) Company

Delivery of training to the Forces Elements entering theatre continues to progress well and withalmost a month to go A Company have trained around 4500 personnel since arriving in Theatre inlate July. Sgt Whitehead has assumed the groundhog stag of coordinating the arrivals briefs onDay 1 from WOII Hendry, who has returned to Fallingbostel in time to prepare for an imminentmove to Inverness Although only with A Company for a short time since handing over theCompany Sergeant Major reigns of Support Company in June, prior to deploying, his impact andexample to those arriving bright eyed and bushy tailed with an RAF induced jet lag has beenexcellent and the whole of A Company wish him, Sheena and their family well in Inverness.

Under the energetic

guidance of WOIISmith the rangeteams continue toconvey interestingand realistic trainingon a daily basis,utilising their Infantryskills to impart criticalknowledge which isfine tuning theremainder of 7

Armoured Brigadeand other forcescoming through thetraining pipeline.The range have runranges on Days 2, 6and 7 of the trainingpackage, as well asconducting bespoke

range days outsideof the mandated

period of training and specific vehiclemounted shoots. Day 2 ranges consist of aGrouping and Zeroing range, conducted byLt Parsons and Sgt Whitehead. Besidesfrom zeroing their weapons, troops alsoconduct a Close Quarter Marksmanshipshoot, followed by briefs on DetaineeHandling, Rules of Engagement and TheatreRealities. The Day 6 ranges provide troopswith some of their most challenging, andenjoyable, in theatre training. Lt Gourd, PipeMajor MacGregor and elements of the Fire

Support Group (FSG) (Sgt Reed, CplFaulkner and Cpl Singleton) deliver afirepower demonstration, before allowing


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The CQM ranges are a superb new addition to the training.

troops to get hands on with; General Purpose Machine Guns, Heavy Machine Guns, 60mm Mortar,Anti Structural Munitions, Under Slung Grenade Launcher (UGL) and CLAMORE mines which fewwill have fired live before.

Once the Heavy Weapons training is complete troops under training then proceed to Lt Buchanand Sgt Genters Forward Operating Base (FOB) HECTOR range where they are put through anextremely testing exercise where troops utilise ISTAR assets, FSG and their integral firepower todefeat the enemy. There has been an enormous amount of work put into the construction of thisrange, building sangars, developing an Ops room and developing ensuring the training is a real asis possible as troops fight from the base. The final range is the Day 7 Op CARDEL and CQMrange. 2Lt Badger and Sgt Robertson train troops to conduct advanced CQM and compoundclearance drills, before conducting an Op CARDEL (training to mitigate the insider threat) serial in

a compound using simulated ammunition and Afghan role players so units can practice theirresponse to the possibility of escalating tensions and how to prevent or respond in the event of anattack.

Despite the hectic schedule,A Company has still foundthe time to mark andacknowledge HighlandersDay and Assaye Day.Assaye Day will beespecially fondlyremembered, with an

informative and funnypresentation from LtBuchans range team,involving a battle re-enactment complete withCpls Faulkner and Cummingacting as the 78thHighlanders in kilts madefrom towels and CplMacKenzie 82 fulfillinglineage rights akin to the

Officer Class of the day inthe role of bumbling officerrather too well. There wasalso with the traditionalfootball tournament: TheOfficers, SNCOs, JNCOsand Jocks faced off in a five-a-side league in which theJocks were triumphant andthe Officers, naturally camelast.

For Highlanders Day aparade was held in CampBastion. Captain Angus


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Steel was duly asked, as the senior Highlander present, to take the parade on behalf of OC ACompany and the Company was joined by members of B Company and their US Marinecolleagues who carry the honour of being known by the nickname Highlanders! There was aminute silence for all fallen Highlanders and Lt Gourds marked the occasion with a speechcovering the History of the formation of the Battalion.

The RSOI teams home while here in Afghanistan.

With a month left in theatre, the RiP is reaching its peak and A Company continue to meet the taskhead on. While preparations for our recovery back to Germany get under way, we continue to

deliver training to a high standard allowing our troops to move onwards confident in their ability toconduct their jobs to the highest standard. As we look forward to a future no longer involved inAfghanistan, A Company can look back on an extremely rewarding time spent in theatre, playing akey role in supporting the UKs operation here.

Officer Commanding A Company: Major Ross Brookfield


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Members of B Company work alongside the US Marine Corps at the RCBS.

B Company

First Impressions: The Regional Corps Battle School (RCBS).

B Coy 4 SCOTS and attachments deployed on the 01 Sep 2013 to Camp Leatherneck in Helmandprovince Afghanistan to work alongside a US Marine Corps team advising the Afghan NationalArmy in camp Shorabak. The International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) current main effort isthe institutional development of the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) to assist instabilizing the country once Allied forces have departed at the end of 2014. The Regional CorpsBattle School (RCBS) in Helmand is a project that will aid in this development. The current US

Marine Corps team lead by Wng Cmdr Penelhum RAF has established this training schoolcompletely from scratch and it is now at the point where the school can begin to deliver training onlogistic and Infantry courses. The advantage of the RCBS design is that it is responsive to theneeds of 215 Maywand Corps, and is designed to generate its own team of Afghan instructors thatcan go out and train others. The majority of training at the RCBS will be delivered by Afghaninstructors, mentored by their UK or USMC counterpart. The advisors in the RCBS HQ willcontinue to work with the Afghan training command to ensure that the administrative side doesntimpact on the ability of the instructors to produce training.

On arrival in Helmand province, the B Coy contingent of 29 soldiers and Officers were welcomedby members of the 1st LAR Battalion (The Highlanders) based in Camp Yorktown in Leatherneck. Itdid not take long to integrate the two teams and before long both Jocks and Americans were

conducting their respective handovers as though they were long lost brothers. It seemed that thelost Highlanders of California had found their kin once again. The next hurdle was to survive theweek in the blistering heat on the Camp Bastion training area taking part in the mandatory in


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country acclimatization training. This training was made easier by the tactful and helpful tips from ACoy 4 SCOTS who were running the course.

It is very early days and difficult to give an accurate assessment of the state of play at the RCBSright now. However the USMC have handed over to us the makings of a successful trainingestablishment on the back of six months of hard work. I am sure that the calm and unflappableHighland spirit is perfectly suited to the painstaking process of developing, mentoring and assistingthe Afghan instructors. The B Coy instructors are now meeting their Afghan counterparts andbeginning to put the final polish on their course preparation in anticipation of the arrival of theirstudents. As to be expected with any new organization it has had its fair share of teethingproblems which have ranged from lack of water to lack of bed spaces for students. Oneunexpected issue has been the Afghan interpreters; they have become very accustomed to the

American accent and find it difficult to understand the Scotch accent.

The United States Marine Corps have laid the foundations and it is now down to us to complete themission. It is now on our watch that we begin the process of persuading the Afghans to takeownership of their training facility and their future.

Officer Commanding B Company 4 SCOTS: Major Jono Kelmanson


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The Assaye Trophy being formally presented to this years winningteam.

Delta Company

With the training for Afghanistan completed, the company was very much looking forward to achange of pace, concentrating on career courses and adventurous training. The key, however, wasto maintain readiness should the Company be called upon to deploy.

One thing the Army has a great scope for is adventurous training. In September and Octoberalone, Jocks from Delta Company will be sailing, golfing, mountain biking, rock climbing, abseiling,diving and hill walking. This is a great opportunity for them to get out of barracks and try sports andactivities which they would not have otherwise done.

Assaye Day, whichcommemorates theBattle of Assaye inwhich one of ourantecedent Regimentsfought, is on the 23rd ofSeptember. This iscelebrated in battalionwith a variety of events.It starts with a Paradewhere the story of thebattle is told. Following

this, there is a footballmatch between theCorporals and theJocks. This year wasvery close with theJocks just edging theCorporals 5-4. Thesame cant be said forthe Sergeants andOfficers game.The

Officers completely outplayed the Sergeants and the game ended 5-1. It could have been a lotmore had it not been for some heroic goalkeeping by the Sergeants mess and some shocking

finishing by a certain young Officer.

Time in barracks also proves a great opportunity to get back to the basics and relearn some simplesoldiering skills. Lessons included navigation and CBRN, with recce patrols and ambushes due tobe covered in the coming weeks. This month also provided a great opportunity for the Jocks to docourses that will give them valuable qualifications for their military careers, and out on civvie street.Driving courses, radio user courses and a junior NCOs cadre all kept the Company busy.

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards hosted a music festival at the end of the month. With a bouncycastle, fairground games, a bar and some (relatively) famous musicians, it was a great day forfamilies and Jocks alike. The festivities lasted well into the night and Im sure there were somesore heads following morning.

So with an enjoyable and varied month under the belt, the Company looks ahead to whatever thecoming months have in store.


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This years winning Assaye Football team (and Rollo).

Rear Operations Group (ROG)

With the deployment to Afghanistan now complete, the 4 SCOTS ROG is now fully embracing thechallenge ahead, concentrating on supporting the forward elements, the soldiers who remain inFallingbostel, and the families that remain an integral part of everyday life.

The ROG and Force Elements at Readiness (FE@R) are working together closely, with a variety ofadventurous training, career courses and activities forecast to maintain the skill set and drive of oursoldiers.

In true tradition of Highlanders Day, the ROG and FE@R paraded on 17th September for anaddress by 2Lt Gregor Ross. Highlanders Day celebrates the formation of the first Battalion theHighlanders in 1994, whereby the Queens own Highlanders and the Gordon Highlandersamalgamated. This reminds the current 4 SCOTS soliders of the history and ancestry of theBattalion prior to the formation of 4 SCOTS.


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The valiant competitors and winners of the Assaye Plate.

The valiant competitors and winners of the Assaye Plate.

As a reward for their hard workover the past year, a number of 4SCOTS soldiers recentlypromoted. We congratulate thenow Sgt Walker, LCpl Harrisonand LCpl Veness. It must behighlighted that Sgt Walker

recently arrived from a sisterBattalion, 5 SCOTS, reinforcingthe quality of our new 4 SCOTSsoldiers. Maj MacGregor, OfficerCommanding of the ROG,presented these soldiers with theirnew rank slides on Thursday 3rdOctober. We offer these soldiersall the best in embracing the newchallenges that lie ahead in theirnew rank. It is that time of yearwhere the Cross Country season

is now upon us and the battalionconducted a trial run on Thursday3rd October. A strong run from


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Capt Law, D Company Second in Command, saw him finish first over the 4 mile course ahead ofHldr Reid, also from D Company. This event was an opportunity for the Battalion to select andenter 2 teams for the British Forces (Germany) Cross Country Relay Championships in Paderbornon 9th October. A week to recover, and the cross country team travel to Hameln on 16th October tocomplete in the league race.

The 4 SCOTS football team is now up and running, ready for the season ahead, with Capt Mclarenas Football Officer and WO2 Petrie as coach. Training is being held on Monday evenings withfocus being placed on ball control and simple passing skills. 4 SCOTS first friendly of the seasonwas against 3 MERCIAN on 25th September. Although we lost 1-0 the coach was more thanhappy with the effort and commitment shown from every member of the team, given that this wastheir first game together. The main focus for the football team is the Infantry Cup first round match

on 20th December against the winners of 5 Rifles vs. PWRR. The winners will move to thequarterfinal.


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HECTORS

It has been a busy few weeks at Hectors with us running a variety of successful and hugelyattended events. These included the International Food festival day, The Big Brew Bash for thelaunch of the Op Herrick 19 wrist bands, the SSAFA Big Brew and a table top sale.

Team FIJI provided the days entertainment with a combination of singing and dancing throughoutthe day. It was highly successful, with the crowd screaming for more.

With half term almost upon us, we are now alllooking forward to some time away from work

to enjoy the last bits of autumn sunshine.

As we now begin to enter into the winterperiod, there are plenty of events on thehorizon for everyone to enjoy in amongst analready busy battalion Forecast of Events(FoE). The new additions to the Welfare Teamare greatly received and look forward to beinginvolved in the next Hectors event.

Everyone is enjoying the cake stall.

Sgt Oscar Navuso leads the Fijian warriors In Dance.


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Looking forward to November, theprogramme is just as busy withgames nights planned, Halloweenand the imminent arrival of theChristmas silly season; completewith all the trimmings.

Please keep popping in to the Welfareoffice in Hectors to make sure youdont miss out!

The BigBrew BASH

The Fijian children prepare to sing to the masses.


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Celebrity Support for 4 SCOTS

Worldwide support for The Highlanders continues, with this months Celebrity Supportcoming allthe way from Hong Kong and Jasper, Canada.

Currently performing in Hong Kong as part of the on-going World Tour, the cast of Sir Andrew Lloyd

Webbers legendary musical Starlight Express showed their support this month. Donning theirHighlanders wristbands before a show, the trains and their carriages wished everyone at 4 SCOTSthe best of luck for HERRICK 19.

Members of the STARLIGHT EXPRESS cast proudly support 4 SCOTS.


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In addition to the cast of an award winning musical, a Canadian Mounted Policeman, or Mountieas they are more affectionately known became The Highlanders first Trans-Atlantic fan; taking thetime out of his journey Due Southto proudly salute the soldiers and their families of 4 SCOTS.

If you know a Celebrity or just see someone famous in thestreet, then tell them about our fundraising during H19 andget a photograph of them showing their support.

Send your Celebrity Supporter pictures [email protected] and lets see who appears onthe pages of next months Blue Hackle.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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4 SCOTS in the Media

A busy month in the media for 4 SCOTS, with plenty of good work being captured. With theTransfer of Authority of Task Force Helmand (TFH) to 7th Armoured Brigade earlier this month,Support Companys Lance Corporal MacKay proudly piped up the Brigades flag during theceremony, while Corporal MacPhee of the Regional Corps Battle School gave his insight of thework hell be doing over the next few months. All captured by the BBC!(click the link below).

Cpl MacPhee and LCpl MacKay on the BBC.

Not wishing to miss a trick, BFBS also covered the ceremony and provided LCpl MacKay with even

more airtime (click the link below).

Blue Hackles on BFBS.

The other main focus of the media this month was B Company and their instructor/mentor role atthe RCBS. A visit by the Press Association bolstered the 4 SCOTS story and this was release to857 different media outlets.

To see the press release, the pictures and a TV interview by our very own Lt Marcus Pemberton;click the following link:

B Company media released through Defence Imagery.

To keep fully up to date with all thats happening in theatre follow us on Hectors WelfareFacebook page, The Royal Regiment of Scotland Facebook page and the4 SCOTSJustGivingsite.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24479133http://www.bfbs.com/news/handover-milestone-afghan-mission-64701.htmlhttp://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5046&SF_LASTSEARCH=&SF_FIELD1_GROUP=1&SF_GROUP1_BOOLEAN=and&SF_FIELD1_MATCHTYPE=all&SF_FIELD1=11102013B&SF_SEARCHINRESULT=0&SF_GROUP2_BOOLEAN=and&SF_GROUP2_FIELD=FQYFT&SF_FIELD2_GROUP=2&SF_FIELD2_MATCHTYPE=exact&SF_FIELD2_BOOLEAN=and&SF_FIELD2=&SF_FIELD3_MATCHTYPE=exact&SF_FIELD3_BOOLEAN=and&SF_FIELD3_GROUP=1&SF_FIELD3=&doSearch=Gohttp://www.justgiving.com/4scotshttp://www.justgiving.com/4scotshttp://www.justgiving.com/4scotshttp://www.justgiving.com/4scotshttp://www.justgiving.com/4scotshttp://www.justgiving.com/4scotshttp://www.defenceimagery.mod.uk/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5046&SF_LASTSEARCH=&SF_FIELD1_GROUP=1&SF_GROUP1_BOOLEAN=and&SF_FIELD1_MATCHTYPE=all&SF_FIELD1=11102013B&SF_SEARCHINRESULT=0&SF_GROUP2_BOOLEAN=and&SF_GROUP2_FIELD=FQYFT&SF_FIELD2_GROUP=2&SF_FIELD2_MATCHTYPE=exact&SF_FIELD2_BOOLEAN=and&SF_FIELD2=&SF_FIELD3_MATCHTYPE=exact&SF_FIELD3_BOOLEAN=and&SF_FIELD3_GROUP=1&SF_FIELD3=&doSearch=Gohttp://www.bfbs.com/news/handover-milestone-afghan-mission-64701.htmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24479133


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Other Photographs This Month


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20131013-Bn Newsletter Edition3 4SCOTS OCLAD-U

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