Page 30 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
After a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding time as part of the permanent staff at the Army School of Physical Training it was time to move onto pastures new. The SIO PT post at Wellington Bks was advertised so I applied and successfully got the job. I therefore left the Army after 34 years’ service (regular and FTRS) or did I? Not long after I had informed APC Glasgow that I was terminating my contract I was contacted by the Training Major at the London Regiment asking me if I would be interested in the RAPTCI role which had not been filled since it was created 3 years earlier.
The London Regiment is the only Reserve Regiment in the Guards Division and recruits within the Greater London area. The unit provides soldiers to reinforce the five regiments of the Foot Guards on operations throughout the world. I knew the regiment extremely well having conducted annual Physical Development Audits on the regiment over the last 9 years and I knew that they would benefit from having an RAPTCI in post, so I accepted the post in Feb 2020.
On arrival at the regiment I was met by ex RAPTCI WO1 Gaz Till who is now the Permanent Staff Admin Officer for B Company
located in Kingston Upon Thames. Gaz provided me with an up to date description of the unit and what was required, in particular for the upcoming Physical Development Audit (PDA). Not knowing at the time that COVID was on the horizon which would create such havoc, I arrived in post with a to do list at hand and wanting to achieve so much during my first 6 months in post. This included delivering an ETL course, a DOFit course, PTI study day to name a few however, COVID put a stop to this.
So, 12 months on (March 2021) so where is the Regiment now? Although the whole of the UK has been in and out of lockdown since March 2020 I have still managed to deliver an ETL course for 7 pre- Army Reserve PTI course personnel, enter the Regiment into the Army Indoor Rowing League and prepared the regiment for a PDA which went extremely well. The Regiment has also mobilised 69 soldiers for OP RESCRIPT and supported 1 GREN GDS and 1 IG on training exercises in SPTA and at Lydd. So, when the restrictions are finally lifted the plan is to continue where I left off, including to get the regiment involved in as much sport as possible. Here’s to an upcoming second successful year in the London Regiment.
THE LONDON REGIMENT
WO2 (QMSI) K Pitcairn RAPTC
WO2 (QMSI) Pitcairn delivering his final Army Reserve Basic PTI course at the ASPT