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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
HEADQUARTERS
ROYAL ARMY PHYSICAL TRAINING CORPS
POLICY & PLANS
Maj (MAA) P Saunders RAPTC and Capt (MAA) M Arthur RAPTC
Well blink and you’ll miss it – another year within the Headquarters, I mean - where did that 12 months go! As always, this year has seen another extremely busy period for the HQ and particularly the mighty Policy & Plans (P&P) branch within the HQ. The Army continues to transform to its Future Soldier end state which means a seemingly endless flow of Employment Change Requests (ECRs), Fragmentary Orders (FRAGOs), Strategic Change Working Groups (SCWGs) and Career Policy Requests For Information (RFIs) continue to darken inboxes and subsequently our Microsoft TEAMS platform. The rate of change in the Army continues to bewilder, where the mantra is most definitely ‘change’ or ‘become irrelevant’ – as much as I don’t like it, never a truer word has been spoken!
Since last putting pen to paper the HQ has seen swathing change with the departure of many key personalities - The SO3 P&P (Now Maj Steve Green – congratulations Steve!) was trawled to support a 12-month Service Inquiry, the retirement of both the SO2 Infra (Maj Kier Ayling – Good luck in retirement Kier) and the business Support Clerk (Mrs Jules Fairclough – Good luck in retirement Jules – you totally deserve it!) and by no means least the well-deserved retirement of the RAPTC SMAA – Lt Col Jase Hughes – Good luck to you and Geri touring in the camper van Colonel!) – best wishes to all and thanks for the laughs and friendship along the way. As is always the case, they have all been succeeded by another crop of top-quality individuals, Capt Matt Arthur has made his way down the corridor from Research & Development (R&D) into the P&P office, Capt Scotty Prior has come across from the ASPT into R&D and the new SMAA (Lt Col Sean Semple) is now fully embedded into his new role. As always, we have been kept in check by the HQ RAPTC resident members of the HQ, The Regimental Secretary, Lt Col (Retd) Steve
Capt (MAA) Scott Pollock delivering at the newly revised RAPTC Seminar format
HQ RAPTC personnel deep in Op TEAMWORK conversation
annual Op all stop
TEAMWORK day – this
Commander Home Command and Head Arms and Services Visit to Fox Lines
Collinson and the HQ Business Support Manager, Mrs Jade Davis without whose support and guidance we would all run a mock!
Due to In-Year Savings Measures (IYSMs) this year saw a Face-to-Face attendance at Regional Study Periods (RSPs) and a move to a biennial Commandant’s Conference; the theme of which was People, Assurance, and Governance. The 2-day package was excellently executed by Capt Matt Arthur with some outstanding speakers (including Director Personnel) and ended with an Officers’ Mess Regimental Dinner bidding farewell to 5 outstanding Corps Officers.
IYSMs did not stop the delivery of the
year observed some deep thought on inclusiveness and behaviours and some top notch (or maybe cheating) orienteering skills!
As I pen this article, the RAPTC move into the Annual Workforce Planning Process which will set the tone and frame this year’s Workforce quotas for promotions and conversions. Despite transitioning to a smaller Army of 73,000 with most Cap Badge Workforce arrows pointing down, the RAPTC have been able to slightly grow their capability which is testament to the value we add to the entire Army organisation.
The HQ have seen the usual Senior Officer cohort visit Fox Lines to remind and revise on what the RAPTC and ASPT do in support of CGS’s Main Effort of Future Soldier. Recent visits have seen CGS, Comd HC and Director Reserves visit – all have left with a reassurance that the RAPTC are at the forefront of Physical Development (PD) for the Army.
In sum, this has been another fast and frenetic year within the HQ. The work undertaken by the entire HQ Staff on behalf of every member of the Corps, be that from a Work Force Planning, Career Policy, Training Development or Association perspective is astounding and I‘m sure will endure for many years to come!
Commander Home Command signing the Fox Lines Visitors’ Book