SOLDIERS from across 1 Mechanized Brigade have been testing their marksmanship skills during an Operational Shooting Competition at Bulford ranges.

The competition took place over a week and was designed to test a range of essential marksmanship skills in different scenarios, all under strict conditions.

With added casualty extraction scenarios and obstacles, the shooting competition gains difficulty on day 4. Soldiers were put under more intense physical exertion before having to calm their aim and fire.

The team, from 22 Engineer Regiment, claimed victory in the competition, with sniper pairs from 4 Rifles taking first, second and third places in their section. The final stages were witnessed and the presentation was made by the General Officer Commanding 3 (UK) Division, Major General James Cowan.

Meanwhile, soldiers from First Fusiliers have been taking part in Exercise Southern Warrior in the Falklands.

This is a Rifle Company dismounted exercise facilitated by HQ British Forces South Atlantic Islands.

The exercise incorporated a blank and live firing phase. During the deployment window there was a short period allocated to battlefield study and low level adventure training.

Personnel from 4 Rifles recently conducted a battlefield study to Spain to trace the actions of the Light Division and the 95th Rifles in Wellington’s Peninsula campaign, in addition to the major battle of Salamanca (July 1812) which featured all of the antecedent regiments of the Rifles.

The group also visited the sites of Almeida, Ciudad Rodrigo, Fuentes de Onoro and the infamous bridge at Barba del Peurco.

They were joined by members of Chestnut Troop 1 RHA, who have a longstanding affiliation with the battalion dating back to this campaign.

The visit concluded with a memorial service conducted by the padre on top of the Greater Arapille overlooking the Salamanca battlefield, which remains largely unchanged since Wellington’s victory more than 200 years ago.

Headquarters 1 Mechanized Brigade has been deployed on Exercise NIE 14.2. A UK /US interoperability exercise in Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas.

Operating as part of 1 United States Armoured Division, the two-week long exercise saw the Headquarters conducting detailed planning exercises and fighting a simulated Armoured Infantry Brigade as part of a United States Division in order to test procedural and technical interoperability with the United States Army.

Following the exercise, the brigade staff took the opportunity to conduct some adventure training in the mountains around El Paso.