Page 38 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

36
www.raptcassociation.org.uk
1 ARMOURED INFANTRY BRIGADE
WO1 (SMI) R J Richardson RAPTC
On the 6 Jul 20, I arrived as a newly promoted Warrant Officer Class One (SMI) to 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade headquarters, assuming the role of Bde SMI. Due to the
pandemic this was a start date that was delayed from April earlier in 2020.
So, what does that mean? 1X commands six regular combat units; each unit has an RAPTCI on the coal face of PD management during what has been an extremely
testing time, but with these adversities
the opportunity for innovation has been met by our RAPTCIs, never seen to be resting on their laurels the Bde RAPTCIs have continued to produce outstanding forms of physical training albeit in the virtual environment for the vast majority of my time so far. This has meant that as we move forward from these uncharted times soldiers have continued to be engaged by their PT teams to maintain some form of fitness structure whilst under the strictest of lockdown restrictions.
not only with fellow Corps men and women and women but also unit personalities which I am happy to say has still been possible in the virtual space. A minor but very real secondary task of the Bde SMI is the delivery of PT, often the Bde SMI is the only qualified PTI in the organisation so it was very refreshing to dig out my whistle and the potted sports book I got on my Class 3s, who’d have thought a four cone warm up would still be good 20 years later?
Breaking trend with the usual positivity of
an MBS article this has been a very tough
time for a lot of RAPTCIs including myself.
If like me you are on the extreme end of
the extroverted people person scale (at least that’s what I think of myself) this has made me feel like a fish out of water, the lack of human interaction has been a real test. The brief flicker of hope between the first and second lockdowns enabled me to assume this role replacing SMI now Captain Paul Newton. This really wasn’t how I ever envisioned ending my time in the Army. However, every cloud has a silver lining and for me that was replacing Captain Newton. Never have I had such a thorough well planned HOTO. After the first 15 minutes of the five day HO I realised that me running hot at 10 was like a steady 3 for the out going SMI, and my internal voice said... “just don’t change anything or move anything on the desk and 1X is going to get a decent shift out of me”.
My first task was to introduce myself to the units. A very real ambition of mine has always been to provide the best possible support to my RAPTCIs should I ever reach the dizzy heights of Bde SMI, which relies on establishing good working relationships,
Another career highlight for me during my tenure so far was being selected to perform the duties of RAPTC selection DS. I always knew I would enjoy selecting the future RAPTCIs of our Corps but I massively underestimated how I would actually feel once it was over. As I left Fox Lines that Friday evening, I felt very euphoric and admittedly a little emotional having played my part in making a few individuals careers that afternoon. We will all no doubt remember the moment our DS informed us we had been successfully selected and remember every word they said, so I seized the opportunity to drop my own pearls of wisdom to each candidate. I reinforced the fact that we all have such a very short time in the Military
The dream team - SMI Richardson and Captain Slade-Jones
to do good. However, as RAPTCIs the example we set is magnified and we have a fantastic opportunity to leave the Army in a better state than when we joined simply by looking after our teams and doing what’s right by them.
It’s been a very different start to this assignment, but the time has flown. The most satisfying reward
for me is being at the end
of the phone for the Unit
RAPTCIs, It is a two-way reward as I have learnt as much from them, as they have from me.
Only one of these SMIs was looking forward to the endurance event. SMI Essam and SMI Richardson.