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Wattisham Flying Station (WFS) is comprised of three units which share the Gym space. There are 4 & 3 AAC (SSIs Kemp and Dalton) with 7 Bn (myself) all overseen by the WFS QMSI, currently WO2 (QMSI) Dave Read. Working alongside these RAPTCIs has been brilliant and invaluable. Having RAPTCIs has enabled a positive change from rehabilitation to mainstream. RAPTCIs mainly represent the Corps in units alone, so WFS is unique in that you can bounce ideas and best practices by simply having a brew or walking a few metres into the neighbouring RAPTCI’s office. I highly recommend this as an assignment, although it is heavily personality dependent like the rest of the Army. Thankfully, and fortunately for us, although I can only speak for myself, we have a healthy working environment.
Wattisham Flying Station has seen a resurgence in Army boxing over the last couple of years and 7 Bn REME took overall command with the station boxing event on 26 Mar 24. 7 Bn REME Boxing Team have been led by their head coach and AAPTI, LCpl Brewer. During these years, 7 Bn REME has won three REME Corps Championships, and Wattisham Flying Station has produced three Army Individual Champions using boxers from 7 Battalion, 3 & 4 Regiment Army Air Corps, This seasons preparations began with a WFS boxing show which saw the home team pick up five wins out of seven in the hope of gathering the necessary experience to achieve a fourth consecutive REME Corps Championship title, a feat not previously achieved by a REME Battalion. These aspirations are spearheaded by a committed team of organisers led by 7 Battalion Boxing Officer, and newly appointed REME Corps Boxing Officer, Capt Burdon.
On 27 Mar 24, 7 Bn REME hosted a sports fair to promote participation and
SSgt (SSI) T Robbie RAPTC
7 AVIATION SUPPORT BATTALION REME
7 Bn REME P&RTC Staff carrying out the final event of the CO’s Cup Competition Ex BIG PUSH Team Members
involvement for sport across the station. After the previous night’s boxing event success, LCpl Brewer went from cornering his fighters, to gearing up to step in the ring at 0300hrs after having only two hours sleep. Central to the sports fair was his attempt to break the world record for the most rounds sparred consecutively whilst raising money for SSAFA. The previous record stood at 150 3-minute rounds taking 10 hours to complete. After 12 hours and 44 minutes, LCpl Brewer successfully broke the world record completing 191 rounds of boxing. The attempt involved participation from service personnel across 7 Bn, 3 & 4 Regt, some of which joining LCpl Brewer in the early hours of the morning to support him in the ring. After a gruelling test of endurance and a sore body, LCpl Brewer was back in the gym at 0700 the next day to lead the CO’s Cup final event, running with sub-unit teams as they completed military stands within an endurance race. LCpl Brewer demonstrated the exact qualities that the British Army need and require for optimal operational effectiveness. The relentless determination to keep going when
CO, RSM & P&RTC Staff after the awards ceremony
Lt Col Huggins, CO 7 Bn REME (Left) with LCpl Brewer WFS Head boxing coach (right)
fatigued is a brilliant example of how AAPTIs continue to extract this quality from troops when on PT.
SSgt (SSI) Robbie & P&RTC Staff at the WFS boxing event