Page 10 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
CORPS SERGEANT MAJOR – THE POSITIVE SIDE OF 2020
ARMY SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL TRAINING
WO1 (Corps SM) R Mckenzie RAPTC
As I reflect over the last year, it is hard not to look at the negatives of what has been a very tough year for the RAPTC, the Army and the United Kingdom. However, when I really do a deep dive, from my perspective and I know lots of people will have had differing experiences, there were a lot of positives that came out of 2020 (around the negatives of the current climate). The initial lockdown back in March 2020 was an enormous shock to the Army, but knowing we had job security and wages coming in every month allowed us to take a breath, gather our thoughts, work at a steadier pace (providing we had the IT to support us) and catch up on those tasks that had been put to the bottom of the priority pile time and time again. In many areas the work from home routine continued into the summer, enabling people to spend more quality time with their families (putting aside the dreaded home schooling), stay fit in the fantastic weather with some amazing initiatives coming from the Corps, showing the Army we were here to support them and help keep everyone fit and healthy, even if we were in full lockdown.
So, what else has 2020 taught us? It has proven that working from home can work, not in every aspect, but where the job role does not require the individual to have a physical presence, many have found they can get more done with limited distractions whilst reducing commuting times to and from work. The impact of this will hopefully enable the Army to move forward with more flexible working, cutting out on what is deemed as non-essential practices and focussing on what really is important. You will notice that meetings have reduced significantly in length from utilising Skype and Teams as a platform and whilst this is a good thing, we must be careful not to eradicate that physical personal touch all together and maintain a balance.
Although we had a period where most things had to pause, the RAPTC were still providing an essential service with personnel providing great initiatives to keep people fit and healthy during lockdown. Once the much-needed Force Health Protection measures were put into place, we were soon keen to get back up and running with what we do best. Being able to recognise our outstanding Corps Instructors through Corps SM coin presentations, continuing our inflow to the Field Army, welcoming new RAPTC Instructors to the Corps, albeit in a much scaled down version and qualifying AAPTIs where we had the pleasure of hosting the Army SM as the Inspecting Officer were to name a
few. We were also able to bid Lt Col (MAA) G Hendrickson MBE a fond farewell after 38 exemplary years of army service.
As I am writing this I’m in my last few days as the Corps SM. Do I feel slightly robbed of what is a very prestigious position and the fact that much of what my job role entails has been cancelled over the last 12 months? It would be a lie if I didn’t say I felt a little bit robbed, but the first 12 months was outstanding and allowed me to get out and about and see the fantastic work my fellow Corps ladies and gentlemen do day in, day out. This is a fantastic position and I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to undertake it and will treasure fond memories for many years to come. I hand over the reigns to WO1 (SMI) Duncs Southern-Naylor RAPTC who takes over the role as a newly commissioned officer (under the new rules for promotion he has been commissioned into the RAPTC but will hold the appointment of Corps SM in the Rank of WO1 for his tenure) and I know he will do a fantastic job seeing out the other side of this terrible pandemic.
I am now moving towards my next challenge at 160X, Brecon and looking forward to the time when we can all get together again, and this is all a distant memory which will live in history. In the words of Captain Sir Tom Moore, ‘Tomorrow will be a good day.’