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14TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
WO2 (QMSI) S Turner MSc RAPTC
14th Regiment Royal Artillery (14 Regt RA) sits within the heart of Larkhill Garrison as the focal unit that delivers Initial Trade Training (ITT) to
future ‘Gunners’ before assigning them to the Field Army. Sitting as one of six major units within Larkhill Garrison, it is safe to say our experiences around infrastructure capacity and equipment capability are not too dissimilar to many others positioned within large scale Garrison locations.
What currently makes 14 Regt RA unique, is the coalition of ideas between the P&RTC team of WO2 (QMSI) Steve Turner, SSgt (SSI) Andy Plumridge, Sgt (SI) Luke Smith, and the EDGE (Enhancing Deployability, Generating Excellence) innovation team. This aims to improve human performance, deployability, readiness and recovery of Field Army soldiers through the delivery of best practices in human performance science; implementable strategies to develop human performance; and an improved evidence-base to underpin wider implementation. Current projects have seen data comparisons between multiple units within LWC in a bid to re-assess elements of the Role Fitness Test (Soldier) (RFT(S)) and Soldier Conditioning Review (SCR) within the ITT community before reaching back into Basic Training to improve processes around Individual Training Requirement (ITR) testing.
The Regiment and wider Garrison has hosted multiple events that include the HQSW Festival of Sport and the RA Boxing Championships to name but a few, so there is always something
to keep us occupied. Contrary to constraints often experienced within a majority of Garrison P&RTC establishments, our support units have been extremely supportive in pursuing projects
that have included a large uplift to Physical Training Equipment (PTE) procurement, the implementation of indoor climbing wall auto- belays and the creation of a Garrison boxing centre enabling
all 6 units the opportunity to create a Garrison Boxing Club. These projects have aided in improving the lived experience for ITTs and permanent staff alike, in areas that support PT, AT, and Sport in the last six months.
The P&RTC Staff have received
valued recognition for their dedicated
work and effort within the previous
year, witnessing Sgt (SI) Luke Smith being
awarded the RAPTC Corps SM’s coin for his outstanding work in gapping the Garrison QMSI role
for a 6-month duration. In addition, 14 Regt RA also witnessed the promotion of their allocated ERI, A/ SSgt (SSI) Plumridge to substantive Staff Sergeant for his unbelievably positive outcomes towards improving ITT injury recovery and forward leaning approach to delivering ITT PT given the workforce constraints experienced within the P&RTC.
Sgt (SI) Luke Smith receiving his RAPTC Corps SM Coin