Bravo Company

I welcome to the “B” company pages. The RMR’s “B” company has a reputation for excellence, a reputation for being demanding and for delivering results, for being proud infantrymen. But a reputation does not win battles. Every day of our lives, and even in death if it is required of us, we must strive to fulfill that expectation that the men and women that wore our cap badge before us have built. We must be the best, not talk the best. We must be silent professionals, striving to be the best, yes, but open-minded enough to respect the best in other people, so that we may learn from them, whether they are from another unit, another trade or another country. Being the best is easier than it seems.

 

It means playing the part given to us, whatever it is, to its fullest; not trying to play other peoples part. Being the best, doesn’t mean changing everything. It means focusing on every little detail, and improving it. Yes, it means getting down in the mud if it offers you a better firing position than standing in it. Yes, it means going to the FATS until you are an expert with your rifle. Yes, it means showing up for training nights and weekends, even when the exercise doesn’t interest us or when we would rather stay in bed with our loved one. It means always doing the right thing, not the easy thing or the cool thing.

In my opinion, there is only one way to be a soldier. It is to give it everything you have to give, to give it everything you are. To hold back anything is to endanger those that fight under you, beside you and yourself. Your only choice is to be the best you can be, anything less is unacceptable.

Duty before self. Be the most fit. Be the fastest. Be the most intelligent. Be the most dependable. Be the most skilled. Be the most knowledgeable. The golden rule for being a good soldier is to be the soldier you would want as your fire team partner. If you are a leader, the golden rule is to be both the leader you would want to be lead by and the soldier you would want to lead.

For the truly professional Soldier, nothing is too simple or too unglamorous that it can be neglected. Actually, in my view, modern warfare is so complex that you can never train for the exact situation you will face.

 

A battalion airmobile urban winter raid is definitely interesting and an excellent test for anyone’s skill. But the really useful skills, the ones that really save lives are in each component, taken individually and perfected. Because each of those you will use in every operation, in every battle and in every war. It is the weapon handling skills, the fieldcraft, the navigation, the trench digging, the alert mind, the arc covering in a patrol, the ability to make instant decision and the physical endurance to march and fight that make the difference between a good and a dead soldier. I would much rather be in a battle with soldiers who can do each of these simple things to perfection, than with soldiers with a whole series of war stories from cool exercises.

We all know what we should be doing and who we should be. We have all been in the company of soldiers, non-commissioned officers or officer that we would be proud to follow into battle, or anywhere. We all have read enough war books, listened to enough war stories from our Veterans and seen enough war movies to know what is expected of each of us. Now is the time to make ourselves live up to those high standards and set the standards for those who will come behind us. You will find in the “B” coy pages hints and tools that will help you to continues striving for excellence.

 

Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense.

Officer Commanding ‘’B’’ Company