Based in Bulford, Wiltshire, 4 RIFLES are a Mechanised Infantry regiment equipped with the new tracked Armoured Vehicle - Bulldog. Bulldog with its protection and mobility provides a unique capability to reinforce peace support operations around the globe.  4 RIFLES will be a force to be reckoned with in today's expeditionary and peace support military environment and will be well situated for the traditional Rifles areas in London and the South.

 

 Over 350 of the Battalion have just returned from operations in Southern Afghanistan where they deployed as part of the Election Support Force to provide stability throughout the period of the Presidential elections. A further 150 soldiers are still serving in the Sangin district until April 2010. 

  

R Company returned in early October.  It spent the summer increasing security to the area of the Nad e Ali District Centre, pushing the insurgents from around the bazaar to allow normal life to continue as best as possible for the local Afghans and encourage development to take hold.   B Company returned in early November.  B Company was deployed to the dangerous southern flank of the Nad-e-Ali district and had to endure daily attacks from insurgent gunmen as well as an extremely high threat from road-side bombs.  They managed both challenges admirably.   Since returning to the UK, the emphasis has changed to recuperation with all returning troops enjoying a few weeks of well-earned Post Operational Tour Leave. 

  

On returning to work there has been a programme of Adventure Training with multiple trips being run to Wales, Devon and Cornwall to conduct a variety of activities including Rock Climbing, Kayaking and Mountain Biking. During 2010, Riflemen from 4 Rifles will be taking part in a number of overseas Adventure Training Expeditions, including scuba diving in Egypt, mountaineering in Nepal, sky diving in the USA and skiing in Austria. There will also be overseas training exercises taking place in India and Kenya.