Navy Reservists are 'top of the shots'

[Batgirl]

25 May 07

Two ladies' teams from the Portsmouth Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) unit HMS King Alfred enjoyed shooting success in a NATO Reserve Forces Skill at Arms competition held in Scotland recently.


The HMS King Alfred ladies team shooting during their pistol competition
[Picture: Royal Navy]

In total four teams from HMS King Alfred competed in the competition against entrants from Canada, Holland, Switzerland, France, Latvia, Norway, Germany, Belgium and other UK Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reservist units and Territorial Army regiments.

The competition, which has been held annually in Edinburgh for the last 27 years, comprised a number of shooting scenarios using the standard SA80 service rifle and 9mm pistol as well as additional scenarios covering Directed Command Tasks and a First Aid and Casualty Recovery.

Due to 'unseasonable' Scottish rain and mist at the outdoor ranges that prevented live firings, the scope of the competition was reduced with the rifle competition being moved indoors onto the Small Arms Trainer. However all the other serials, including the 9mm pistol, went ahead as planned.

Having already established a reputation for success in this competition in past years, the two ladies teams achieved first and second place in the female competition and Able Seaman Marie Mayor winning the overall ladies title.

Unfortunately, the men did not fare so well against tough competition from several branches of the Canadian armed forces and some very experienced shooters from Norway, Holland and Germany. However, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to put service weapon handling standards into competition use and to mix with a wide selection of reserve colleagues from the NATO alliance.

Commander Geoff Bewley, HMS King Alfred's Commanding Officer, said:

"Once again I'm extremely proud of our teams who held their own against very stiff competition. It just goes to show that the standard of weapon training within the RNR is as high as anywhere else in NATO."

In recognition of the fact that the RNR were the co-hosts of the competition this year, the entrants were delighted to host Rear Admiral Tony Johnstone-Burt, Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland (FOSNNI) and Flag Officer Reserves.

With a compliment of over 300 reservists, HMS King Alfred is one of the largest Reserve Training Centres in the country. It is situated on Whale Island, at Portsmouth. Reservists of nearly all of the RNR specialisation's (excepting the Air Branch) start their training here and go on to operational role training either on exercises with the Fleet at sea or in major headquarters or on specialist courses at the relevant Naval training establishments.

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