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HEADQUARTERS 51ST INFANTRY BRIGADE & HEADQUARTERS SCOTLAND
Once a fighting Brigade, 51st Infantry Bde & HQ Scotland has now fully established itself as a Regional
Point of Command (RPOC), responsible for the Firm Base and Lived Experience of all British Army personnel and their families within Scotland. 51 Inf Bde & HQ Scotland is also the British Army’s connection to the Devolved Administration, the people of Scotland and the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland. This includes the effective delivery of planned UK Operations, establishing as the Joint Military Command Scotland when required, State Ceremonial & Public Duties and the British Army’s engagement in Scotland.
From a Physical Development (PD) perspective, not a lot has changed, the G7 PD Office still delivers PD and health related policy and provides support and assurance to all Regular and Reserve units within Scotland. Although additional focus on Engage to Recruit (EtR) through various sports and fitness initiatives has been a prominent focus. Some of the EtR highlights this year include: a Sports Influencer Dinner at Edinburgh Castle, a fantastic evening which was supported by key Scottish influencers including Dame Katherine Grainger (Rowing), Mr Rob Wainwright OBE (Rugby) and Mr Nick Campbell (Boxing), as well as some Army elite sports people, including Capt Amy MacDonald RE (Curling), our very own SSgt (SSI) Evans RAPTC (Football), Sgt Danielle Hodgkinson RAMC (Athletics), LCpl Megan Reid RLC (Boxing) and Pte Bulumakau INF/SCOTS (Rugby) and Ex NORTHERN LIGHTS, a UOTC Sports Competition delivered by the Region’s RAPTCIs and AAPTIs for circa 200 OCdts within Redford Cavalry Barracks, Edinburgh.
A primary focus this year has been to reinvigorate the British Army in Scotland sports programme and increase the sporting opportunities for individuals at grass roots level. Whilst sports participation is challenging in the current climate of in-year savings measures, coupled with the operational tempo for
Capt (MAA) K Noteyoung RAPTC
51X G7 PD Team - Capt (MAA) Kel Noteyoung and WO2 (QMSI) Tony Moretti RAPTC
Scotland units and the wide geographic spread across the region, I’m pleased to say unit engagement with sport is on the rise. Additional sports have been added and planning has commenced for a British Army Scotland Festival of Sport (Battle for Scotland) in the Summer should see that momentum continue.
During my 12 months in tenure, what I’ve been most impressed with is the talent of our RAPTCIs. They are extremely capable, consummate professionals who, not only do the basics exceptionally well, but continuously go above and beyond what is expected of them, adapting to the needs of their units, and delivering in spades. The feedback I receive from across the CofC is testament to how valuable and highly regarded our RAPTCIs are. Their support to me and the G7 PD office and the wider region has been fantastic, and I couldn’t ask for a greater team. It’s a comforting reminder that the Corps’ lifeblood continues to go from strength to strength. I’ll refrain from stealing their sandwiches by documenting their many individual outputs and let them articulate their achievements over the next few pages.
However, I will say a huge thanks to WO2 (QMSI) Moretti (the G7 PD QMSI)
who remains a Scotland region stalwart. As I’m sure is the case with all RPOC QMSIs, the value he adds is priceless. He has a firm grip of PD at the tactical level and is a fantastic mentor to the RAPTCIs. Q Moretti is widely known in the Corps for his skills as a magician, I can safely say that he has not lost the magic; regardless of budget cuts or in year savings measures, if a unit asks for a piece of equipment, it appears in no time.
Being assigned to 51 Inf Bde & HQ Scotland is a genuine privilege. Edinburgh has so much to offer (not least the Tattoo) and being part of the Brigade and the HQ Scotland Officers’ Mess, (which is inside Edinburgh Castle) affords many unique opportunities for service personnel and their families. My family and I had the pleasure of watching the King’s Coronation and Royal Gun Salute from inside the Edinburgh Castle Mess and were also invited to Balmoral (which happened to be on the same day as my daughter’s birthday) to watch the Changing of the Ballater Colours, followed by refreshments inside the Palace where we had the honour of meeting HRH King Charles lll, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne. A truly rare and memorable occasion. The only problem being, how do I top that birthday for next year...
HQ 51X and HQ Scotland Staff - Ex TEAMWALK
HQ 51X Staff - Winter Mountaineering
British Army Scotland RAPTCIs