In 2002 the Royal Rifle Volunteers took part in a major NATO "Partnership for Peace" exercise in the Ukraine codenamed Exercise COSSACK EXPRESS. In 2003 the Royal Rifle Volunteers took part in a major NATO exercise in Lithuania codenamed Exercise AMBER HOPE. A formed platoon was also deployed to Afghanistan as part of Op FINGAL. Some soldiers from E Coy also deployed to Bize, Albania in support of the Royal Welsh Regiment's "Partnership for Peace" exercise codenamed ALBANIAN EXPRESS. In 2005 a formed company from the RRV, along with a platoon attachment from the 3rd Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment was dispatched to Iraq which was part of the Multi-National Division as part of Op TELIC.
The RRV consisted of sub-units that all had their own regimental affiliations. Soldiers of the RRV would work together in this multi-cap badge battalion. The unit would have to come up with innovative methods of mixing the light drill of RGJ companies and the heavy drill of the PWRR and RGBW companies.
Mobilisations
The regiment's four mobilisations were:
Platoon - Operation FINGAL
Platoon to Eden Company - Operation Telic 3
Company as Roebuck Company - Operation Telic 6
Platoon as Salamanca Platoon Force Protection - Operation Herrick 4 & 5
Afghanistan 2003
The 2003 Operation FINGAL deployment saw a platoon of RRV personnel join with a platoon from the East of England Regiment. These in turn then formed 4 and 5 platoons of A company the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment. The two platoons were noteworthy due to their performance in pre-deployment training and acceptance onto the A company ORBAT. The platoons worked well throughout their tour as part of the Kabul Patrols Company. Roles and responsibilities included:- Patrolling of police districts 8 and 9 in the NE and SE of Kabul. - Quick Reaction Force duties in Kabul. - Detached duties at Bagram Airbase. - Force Protection of Camp Souter. - Reserve and surge operations at behest of COMBRITFOR. 44 soldiers from the RRV were deployed, 2 Officers, 2 SNCOs and 40 JNCOs/ORs. The deployment received much acclaim as it highlighted the interoperability of the regular and reserve forces, with the TA soldiers assuming most of the duties of their regular counterparts.
Iraq 2003/04 - Operation Telic 3
The 2004 Operation TELIC 3 deployment again saw a Platoon of RRV personnel join a platoon of the East of England Regiment. These two platoons plus a number of individual reinforcements from 200 signals squadron and permanent staff formed a company group, later named Eden company. The company took responsibility for the security of Basra palace its immediate AOR, media operations escorts, river patrols on the Shatt Al-Arab waterway and formed a reserve for the brigade.
Reorganisation & later Amalgamation with other units
On 24 November 2005, the MOD announced a reorganisation of the army, and it was planned that the RRV would become 4th Battalion, Royal Green Jackets, and the PWRR company would be reassigned to 3 PWRR as D company and its Isle of Wight platoon rerolled to a Royal Logistics Corps unit. However, at a later date the Light Division decided to amalgamate the Light Infantry and Royal Green Jackets. The RRV became their 7th Battalion on formation of the new regiment, 1 February 2007. Currently, the RRV is now 7th Battalion the Rifles. D company 3 PWRR, has now rerolled into No. 679 Squadron Army Air Corps.
