Page 52 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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Into my first year at a new Unit. I was apprehensive coming to an RLC unit, it was a capbadge I was hoping to avoid, especially having been at 1 Rifles previously, I had a feeling I wasn’t going
to get the same level of enthusiasm for PT.
7 RLC welcomed me into the Unit just before Xmas leave and to my surprise, they were especially keen. The uptake to PT was evident in the fact that the AAPTIs telling me they didn’t have large numbers attending. The PT programme was already in place so the first thing was making sure the PTIs were up to date on APTS and delivering staff training.
Now in January, the excitement of putting my PTI programme in place, with the increased attendance, I was hoping for some positive results, then COVID! Like most Units, lockdown happened which scuppered my plans.
Before I got a chance to work out what we can do to keep the troops fit working from home, everyone that could deploy on Op Rescript were all in and receiving training to go out on the Mobile Testing Units. By April 2020, 7 RLC was deployed to all 4 corners of England working 7 days a week helping with the Covid testing. I was deployed to Evington in Leicester for 2 months. This was a challenging and different experience as the majority of the population in that part of Leicester do not speak English. Luckily the MTU I was commanding had some outstanding Soldiers that really stepped up and found ways to communicate to ensure we were getting valid tests.
7 RLC is renowned for its sporting prowess, I was very much looking forward to getting involved with the boxing and seeing how well we could do in the Major Units; always next year.
7 RLC did find some success in the sporting arena, the Rugby team were finalists in the Quaich Cup, something the OC will be looking to do one better next year. The Football team did go one better, winning the Army Cup beating the favourites 3 RSME 4-0. No doubt, 7 RLC will be dominating the Sports when we get back to normal, whatever normal will look like.
Going on the MTUs wasn’t something I was looking forward to but it did end up becoming really enjoyable. I had a team of 12 Junior soldiers who each brought something to the team, and I was able to get to know their feelings on how PT was previously conducted and what to implement to ensure the Junior soldiers were buying into the importance of Physical Development.
Running the MTU turned out to be a real positive experience. Having been deployed to Kabul in 2019, to be able to be deployed again, albeit in Leicester was great as I was able to command and make a difference.
Hopefully when lockdowns end...I will get to see some quality Corps guys on the boxing circuit.
7 ROYAL LOGISTICS CORPS
SSgt (SSI) G Bruce RAPTC