Page 82 - MERCIAN Eagle 2011

Range Card Lesson
A ‘deep dive’ into training wastage across ARTD has just been completed but the headline observation was that wastage needs to be looked at holistically across the pipeline in order to make large reductions. A ‘look at life’ conducted at the ITC(C) for all applicants would almost certainly help. Whilst mindful of reducing wastage the PoW Division is also driving hard to increase output to the Battalions and the Div Lt Col has changed the way we output to ensure that we now aim
to load the Regiment to the 8005 by D-6. To help this he has also secured an uplift in the PoW RAP by 144, 48 of these
are already well into their CIC and the others will load in over the next few months. When I arrived here myself and Capt Doug Hallam (Divisional Capt) conducted a study of the PoW wastage and observed that there were 4 main ‘spikes’ in those that leave (DAOR), as follows:
We then targeted the activity of the Regimental Shepherds and, along with the revised distribution of branded items and a new annual budget of £1,200 produced a retention and
nurturing plan that we now follow rigidly. As a final update on this area the long term goal is to achieve manning parity with the other Divisions and establish an 8th training team to ensure a continued higher output in line with the Regiment’s size and manning requirements, this will hopefully include an uplift in PTIs.
The MAIN EFFORT here remains the Permanent Staff (PS) and, hopefully, the high standard of our output reflects clearly the quality of the instructors in the Coy. The message is clear to the JNCOs that a posting here enhances their profile for promotion, especially in a peer group of over 140 other high quality JNCOs from across the infantry. Indeed the majority
of those leaving here do so with a strong report book, a place on PSBC or even promotion. We must do our bit across the Regiment to ensure that the myth and stigma of the ITC(C)
is dispelled - most of the Corps will not promote to Sgt
unless they have served at a trg establishment. This is helped enormously by visits from Commanding Officers to speak to their NCOs but to assist in this the mid year Divisional meeting now takes places at the ITC(C). As part of the main effort I use most of my new budget to subsidise an annual PoW Dinner Night for the PS and an annual Gheluvelt breakfast in the Officers Mess - after all they are the future of the Sgts Mess so they need to be encouraged and trained!
To break the cycle of the CIC I have involved the Training Teams in other activity such as hosting visits from Cadets.
In April this year Wrekin College CCF visited the ITC(C) and Capt Dave Payne demonstrated his organisational prowess
by hosting an excellent visit over 2 days - we have already yielded an interested potential officer from this visit.
Finally from me a crowning moment in this year’s calendar was the opening of the Brelsford Block, to explain more I will hand over to Doug.
80
Infantry Training Centre - Catterick
Major L D Crabb
An update from the Infantry Training Centre Catterick (ITC(C)) is long overdue and I am glad that we have (just) made the deadline
for this edition - thank you Jim. When the last Mercian Eagle was published the (ITC(C)) was just emerging from the RAP gap (reduced intakes following OP SOLOMON), the training teams were all focusing on CLM, reducing their leave card, on courses or away on trawls and we were all preparing to ramp up to full capacity - so where are we now?
Well for a start, the Common Infantry Course (CIC) has changed several times over the last year and by the time you read this it will have been extended by another
2 weeks, on top of the 2 week driver training package and 3 week education package. Although the principle reason for the ITC(C) is to teach and deliver a soldier that can function against the core infantry skills and is fit enough to begin preparation for operations, we also introduce OP ENTIRETY on a measured basis. The ITC(C) School of Infantry ENTIRETY levels are designed to apply context to our training
in order to blur the boundaries between Individual Training and Collective MST, setting the scene for MST that will provide recruits with a seamless progression as
part of preparation for battle. For the first 17 weeks we cover basic military skills, team and section skills and platoon live firing, in weeks 18 to 26 the pace increases covering confirmation training, assessment and driver training. ENTIRETY measures have been extended to include GPMG, HMNVS and CQM range work and will start this month with the new 26 week CIC. Hopefully you are already seeing the benefit of the driver training package.
I must stress however that we are focussed on getting the basics right and delivering core infantry skills.
A word that is often used up here is wastage and with the financial storm still blowing the ITC(C) has not escaped the application of the fiscal thumbscrews. Pressure to reduce training wastage is harder than ever and we are now trying to achieve this whilst under the added burden
of reduced ammunition allocation (pyro) and the reduction of some of the retention positive activities such as the Platoon Commanders’ weekend.
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