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Time for a change of scenery, after 2 back-to-back tours at a Regional Rehabilitation Unit (RRU) as an Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor (ERI) I am putting down the theraband and stepping into a mainstream role at 15 Signal Regiment. As expected, in the first few weeks my main effort was to transition away from the ERI role and into the job of a mainstream RAPTCI.
15 Signal Regiment is an Armoured Signal Regiment, providing Tactical Communications through TAC-CIS systems mounted on Armoured Platforms and Light Role Vehicles. The Regiment’s mission is to command, train and deliver assigned forces at readiness to enable Command Support to deployed forces and headquarters within the Land Environment in order to deliver Command Support to the Army’s warfighting Division and Brigades on Contingent Ops, Standing Tasks, training, and UK Ops.
15 SIGNAL REGIMENT
SSgt (SSI) R Edwards RAPTC
15 Signal Regiment Gym staff have been focused on preparing Service Personnel (SP) to deploy on Ex IR24 in Poland. The Regiment has had an extremely busy period, being that it is held at readiness to provide an operational output to 12 Brigade. This can be proven with the previous deployments to Germany earlier this year and throughout 2023 for Ex IRON STORM, Ex ACES HIGH, Ex FALCON CYCLONE and Ex CERBERUS. Regardless of this busy forecast of events, reinvigorating the unit in PT, Sport and AT was of the upmost importance as this Job had been gapped for 6 months prior to my arrival.
Fortunately, the S&C Gymnasium at Swinton Barracks is a state-of-the-art facility and contains all of the necessary equipment to be able to effectively deliver Physical Training to the personnel of 15 Signal Regiment. With the facilities we have and the surrounding area this enables
15 Sig Regt’s Strength & Conditioning Gymnasium
us to deliver the highest possible standards of Physical Training whilst maintaining versatility in the training we provide.
Overall, within the 5 months that I have been assigned to 15 Signal Regiment, it has certainly been challenging yet rewarding. I can safely state that my knowledge and experience has grown significantly, and I am looking forward to tackling whatever challenges my staff and I will face in the coming years.
19TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY (THE SCOTTISH GUNNERS)
Like many units currently, 19th Regiment Royal Artillery (19RA) have experienced a hugely busy period.
Batteries (Btys) within the Regiment continue to deploy both internal and external of UK mainland and when the gifting of AS90 guns saw finalisation to Ukraine, the Regiment now work tirelessly on converting to the new gun ‘Archer.’
PT, Sport, and AT of course continue as part of our soldiers’ daily routine that have resulted in multiple incentives and achievements throughout the year. Our Bty AAPTI staffing continues to grow with 4 newly qualified instructors which performed extremely well at ASPT and have since been getting stuck into delivering Bty lessons that form part of the unit’s Army Physical Training System (APTS) Physical Training Programme.
One of our key Regimental focusses within PT this year has been mental resilience which we focussed on typically during Commanding Officer’s PT. This concluded with a 7-mile best effort Inter Bty Speed March and Copehill Down confidence course.
I had the privilege of being invited to Gibraltar as part of 5 Bty’s Freedom of Gibraltar Battle Honour. This involved our AAPTIs conducting a thorough 2-week acclimatisation package. The tour then concluded with a formal parade which
SSgt (SSI) R Ingles RAPTC
involved 4 of our AAPTIs and myself marching through the town centre. Whilst overseas, 5 Bty also took part in multiple beach PT serials and battle PT scenarios which were carefully monitored during the consistently high temperatures.
A bespoke 19RA team including two of our Gym staff and myself completed this year’s gruelling 100 mile Nijmegen March in Holland. All soldiers were successful and were awarded the ‘Kruis Voor Betoonde Marsvaardigheid’ the medallic recognition awarded by the Dutch Armed Forces for physical excellence.
19RA have had another hugely successful year in all things sport. LBdr Sweetland qualified for National Championships in Equestrian, our Tug of War team became Army Champions and won the Braemar Trophy for the first time since its creation in 1955. Tug of War male and female soldiers also qualified for the England
team. Captain Machon from 28/143 Bty finished runner up in open singles UKAF Badminton Championships. One of our AAPTIs, Bdr Birtwhistle, became captain of the Women’s Army Football team. 19RA boxers competed in our own Inter Bty Boxing event after 9 weeks of hard training. The event was hugely successful and consisted of clan VIP members. Many other sporting teams across 19RA also saw huge success throughout the year, which included Rugby, Basketball and Volleyball.
The relevance to both physical and mental robustness of our unit maintains a priority which the gym staff takes very seriously now and into the future. I would like to take a moment to thank my centrally employed AAPTIs, Bdr’s Marshall and Birtwhistle, all Bty AAPTIs and our UFTO Capt Bentley for their hard work and dedication to all things PD within 19RA this year.
SSgt (SSI) R Ingles at the Freedom of Gibraltar Parade
19 RA Mental Resilience, Copehill Down