B and C Company, The Second Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (2 RGR) have conducted Exercise JUNGLE GURUJI in Hutan Simpan Andulau, Training Area B from 8th September to 10th September 2020.
The exercise saw the members from the Battalion Headquarters (Commanding Officer, Ops Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major), undergoing the training in the Close Country Tropical Environment (CCTE).
The main aim of the exercise was to conduct refresher training with modern equipment, remind and revise the skills at the basic level and demonstrate the capability of the soldiers in the jungle. Having recently arrived from the UK and having not been in the jungle for a while, this exercise gave the opportunity for the command group to tune in into CCTE and build up team cohesion amongst the students.
On the first day, students were introduced to the jungle and basic lessons were delivered to them by Jungle Warfare Instructors. The lesson included, rules of the Jungle, water patrolling, hammock setup, wet/dry drills and evening routine.
The following day started off with tactical morning routine, this ensured the progression of training was maintained in the exercise. In the morning, students went through navigation theory and progressed onto navigation training on ridgelines and cross grain. They were given opportunity to lead the section on a pre recced navigation route. The route was comprised of various terrain that one may come across with while manoeuvring from one place to another. Section jungle contact drill demonstration and practice were conducted in the afternoon where they were put on series of section contact drill lanes.
Survival demonstration was conducted on the last day. Students had an opportunity to walk around multiple stands explaining Food, traps, fire, shelter and water lane. The purpose of the survival lane was to demonstrate how soldiers can survive in the jungle should a survival situation arise. This also displayed how can we overcome our fears of the unknown, discomfort and personal thoughts of weakness and use the jungle to our advantages as it can provide us with food, water, shelter and concealment.
Despite having busy schedules, battalion headquarters have managed to spare a few days to carry out this important refresher training in the jungle.
Due to the world-wide pandemic counter-measures put in place by the Bruneian Ministry of Health, Brunei remains COVID free. This has meant that British Forces Brunei, enjoy many freedoms those around the forces world cannot. With Social Distancing reduced to one metre, team contact sports permitted, no masks required, pools and playgrounds open, and mass gatherings currently permitted up to 350 people, military training can continue at pace, unrestricted.
These freedoms are a direct result of the British Forces Brunei Community adhering to the very strict Ministry of Health guidelines since March. Though, very restrictive from the outset, these measures have meant we currently are and continue to be COVID free. The Community is now benefiting from this hard work and community spirit, with freedoms unmatched in much of the forces world.
