1 RIFLES at Sennybridge Training Area (Crown Copyright, 2018)
1 RIFLES soldiers pictured during an exercise on the Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA). The First Battalion, The Rifles (1 RIFLES), exercised on Sennybridge Training Area, November 2018, as Storm Diana hit the British Isles. 1 RIFLES are due to deploy on Operation TORAL in 2019, providing mentoring and security in Kabul, Afghanistan. To prepare for this task, the Riflemen are training hard and practicing working with the Foxhound Vehicles they will be using in Kabul. 1 RIFLES is a Regular Infantry Battalion of around 550 Riflemen. It is based in Chepstow, Gloucestershire; from where it deploys worldwide on training missions and operations. Originally within 3 Commando Brigade, 1 RIFLES is now part of 1st (UK) Division – which heads up the British Army’s Light Role Adaptable Force, optimised for the challenges of today, both within the UK and abroad. 1 RIFLES are currently ready to deploy as the Vanguard Light Infantry Battalion as a part of a NATO Battlegroup. This means that if a significant international incident requires a NATO response, 1 RIFLES will be amongst the first units within NATO to deploy. 1 RIFLES have recently taken part in exercises in Kenya and Belize, and conducted the longest operational tour of Iraq in recent years (18 months). This gave all members of 1 RIFLES the opportunity to deploy, helping to train the Iraqi Security Forces in their fight against the Islamic State.
Military Units FeatureD
1st Battalion, The Rifles (1 RIFLES)
The Rifles is an infantry regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five Regular and three Reserve battalions, plus a number of companies in other Army Reserve battalions. The 1st Battalion is an amalgamation of the 1st Battalion, Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, and the 1st Battalion, Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. Initially configured in the light role as part of 3 Commando Brigade, 1 RIFLES moved to 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales under Army 2020. Personnel were based at Beachley Barracks, Chepstow.
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