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for more arduous training have been established, this year focussing on the Recce and Mortar courses at the Combined Arms Manoeuvre School (CAMS), Warminster.
In summary, another busy year in Army HQ; a tenure, believe it or not, which I have enjoyed and learnt much from despite its busy and challenging nature. Being my last MBS notes I close by thanking all those who I have worked with, been mentored by and peers with. All, will have influenced and shaped me in some way, added interest to my journey and supported my development, which I really appreciate. All the best for now.
SO2 Adventurous Training & Sport Policy
Maj (MAA) M Galley RAPTC
They say that time flies when you’re having fun. Truth be told it flies whether you are having fun or not, so given the chance have fun. This reference has been my motivation here at Army Headquarters, as working behind a desk is not the most thrilling of jobs and you must enjoy your environment regardless of your situation.
This demanding post can tie you up in knots, however I have learnt to embrace and welcome the workload. Policy is a complex process and the diverse portfolio associated with this desk is challenging. The level of analysis and governance considerations that desk leads apply in developing policy are critical to the policy owner, the CoC as the risk owners and our people who are the end users. Deviation from policy can be problematic, therefore if I can give you the reader any advice, then always be policy compliant.
People are our bedrock and I have been fortunate to work with some knowledgeable people across Defence who have supported and challenged me at the same time. Nothing in policy
is straightforward and there is
always a second and third order effect to consider.
The Personnel Policy (Army) mission is to develop, direct and assure coherent Personnel Policy in order to sustain and enhance the operational effectiveness of the British Army.
This policy desk has been involved in multiple work strands and responsible for three main policies AGAI 5 – Sport, AGAI 11 – AT and ACSO 1209 – Comparable Activities. To give you a flavour, I will try and expand.
Adventurous Training (AT). This desk attends a multitude of generic AT meetings across Defence. The aim being to deliver a strategic influence across the organisation, convening to discuss and improve policy for our people. Key headlines have been my attendance at the Defence Safety Authority assurance of AT workshop; Review into re-adjustment to the Joint Service AT Type 4 course allocations; Volunteer ex Regular Reserves contract attending AT; In year saving measures impact on AT; Support to the Weston on the Green Service Inquiry; Malvern College letter to Defence Secretary regarding AT and cadets. In our own area of Army AT policy, an updated version of AGAI 11 has been published and was released in Mar 24.
Sport. The sporting arena has seen a lot of activity with the rebranding of HQ Army Sport Control Board (ASCB) to Army Sport and its new Chief Executive Major General (Retd) Darrell Amison CBE at the helm. Achievements this year are; support in developing a Defence Civil Service Sport policy; which is now live, leading a single Service review into Diversity and Inclusion within sport and gender management in sporting competitions. Also delivered was an Officer Cadets participation in sport and
a UKAF Sport Board Governance paper. Wider I was fortunate
to be the Army’s representative at the Women in Sport Defence Symposium hosted on behalf of The Right Honourable Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence. The symposium’s aim was to understand issues in elite and grassroots female sport participation and how sport can contribute to the attract and retention of the female workforce. To reflect the outcomes of the above, Sport policy has been updated several times this year.
Comparable Activities. ACSO 1209 which is a unique document and offers the Chain of Command (CoC) policy direction to authorise activities which are not categorised as AT or sport. The variety of activities conducted under this policy is diverse, examples are rowing across the Atlantic and cycling across America. The other single Services are envious of this policy, which supports the Army CoC with a governance framework for a variety of on duty activities. A revised version of ACSO 1209 was published in March 2024.
Finally, an opportunity came about to visit the Army Adventurous Training Grou (AATG) facilities and training in Bavaria. With Head Personnel Policy, Brigadier Jim Taylor MBE we visited the various JSAT Mountain Training wings, the training being delivered, and viewed the quality and effectiveness of the leadership training being provided through the Adventurous Leadership and Resilience Training (ALeRT) system; an opportunity to further understand AT delivery and its’ effect.
In closing, I would like to say a big thank you to Lt Col (MAA) Nick O’Shea for his part in mentoring, developing, and supporting me during my time here within Army HQ. He leaves the Army shortly and I wish Michelle and him the very best in the next chapter of his journey into civilian street.
Striking a pose at the top of the Fellhorn Oberstdorf Ski Resort. From L-R: OC JSMTW (Bavaria) – Maj Carl Vickers, Comd AATG – Col Neil Wilson, Hd Pers Pol – Brig Jim Taylor, SO2 AT & Sport Pol – Maj Mark Galley