A Company on Simba Rock - Kenya, Ex Askari Thunder

Based in Bulford, Wiltshire, 4 RIFLES are a Light Role Infantry Battalion with the fortunate position of being one of the first units to be equipped with FIST (Future Integrated Soldier Technology). This has given us a unique capability during training opportunities in the Falklands and Kenya earlier this year and has increased our combat effectiveness for the Spearhead Lead Element (SLE) high readiness role.

Soldiers observing enemy positions with new FIST night vision sights during training in Kenya

In the past year, over 250 soldiers from have deployed to the Falkland Islands in 2 waves of the Roulement Infantry Company, in order to protect the Islands from potential foreign aggression. During the course of their separate 10 week deployments, they continuously patrolled the coastline of both East and West Falkland, visited many of the outlying islands, assisted local landowners with consent-maintaining projects, and completed a great deal of field firing and advanced infantry training. Their deployments culminated in highly successful and arduous week long exercises incorporating mortar firing, Royal Navy vessels, RAF Typhoon jets and helicopters

 
R Company during a live firing attack – Falkland Islands  

In between the overseas exercises and preparedness for SLE the Rifleman have enjoyed significant opportunities of sport and adventurous training such as sailing, scuba diving and free fall parachuting.

4 RIFLES look forward to company level deployments to Kenya and Canada in 2012, which will enable us to maintain the highest levels of capability before beginning pre-deployment training for Afghanistan. The Battalion will deploy to Afghanistan in 2013.