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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
29 Cdo Regt RA are a tri-service Commando unit, built around a core of a Commando-trained Royal
Artillery Close Support unit, tasked with providing Joint Fires, Joint Effects, and Targeting to the UK Commando Force. The Regiment is wholly based in The Royal Citadel, Plymouth, although with the exceptionally high churn of deployments in the UK Commando Force (UK CF), very rarely is the full Regiment at home in Plymouth. The nature of 29’s deployments range from individual augmentees, Fire Support Teams, Dismounted Close Combat Troops, Gun Batteries or, in extremis, the Regiment Complete (in case of a Littoral Strike Group (LSG) deployment).
The Regt are an extremely busy and operationally active unit, delivering effect through its specialist trade supporting all other Commando units on both standing overseas operations and rapid activations as a Very High Readiness (VHR) unit sitting at R2, with a primary response group held at R1. In the past 12 months, members of the unit deployed on Op POLAR BEAR to Sudan, extracting UK personnel from a highly hostile situation, and again to the Middle East on Op CHAMBRAY, conducting various tasks across a range of countries. Furthermore, 29 is aligned to support another enduring Middle East task and several other classified operations across the world. In addition to these operations, most members of the Regiment will deploy overseas on exercise multiple times in a year. In the last 12 months, we also sent personnel to: Australia, Brunei, Malaysia, Jordan, the
SSgt (SSI) J Bremner RAPTC
29 COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
UAE, Oman, Cyprus, Albania, the USA, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Slovenia, Singapore, Latvia, Hawaii, Estonia, and Gibraltar. The Army Physical Training System (APTS) is key to enabling all Service Personnel (SP) within the Regt to be physically prepared for whatever is thrown at them. To say specificity of training is at the forefront of this preparation would be an understatement.
Attending the Commando Suitability Test (CST) is a 3-day, 3-night screening with the purpose to observe your potential for serving within UK CF. Upon completion of the CST, SP will be informed on whether they are a suitable candidate. If successful, the SP will be expected to attend the Potential Commando Training
Package (PCPT). This is a 6-week pre- course designed to prepare you with the finest chance of success. The Unit RAPTCI has an active role within the training pipeline. Once the PCPT is complete the SP will attend the Pre- Commando Physical Assessment. On completion of the PCPA this will lead to the SP attending the All-Arms Commando Course at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTC RM) for 11 weeks. The end-state will be receiving the coveted green beret and working within the Regt for the Gunners and to serve within the UK Commando Force.
The gymnasium has just had a well overdue refurbish, it is now a state-of-the- art facility and is up there with the best gymnasiums in the SW.
The Army Sergeant Major visit to a Regt PT Session on the Hoe
7 Bty In Norway