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and physical
challenges The soldiers had to
overcome both mental and physical challenges in order to ascend the 30m vertical
rock face and reach the top. All were pushed outside of their comfort zone in one way or another. Despite this, there were a lot of smiles once they were back down on the ground and a real sense of achievement was felt by all.
Regimental Journal 2018-20
Annual Deployment Exercise
Adventurous Training Package 2020
The Regimental ADE package took part in Snowdonia National Park, based at the Llyn Gwynant Campsite, which is located to the SE of Snowdon. The site is close to the village of Beddgellert, where the unit had a perfect location from which to operate. Every Soldier slept separately due to the COVID-19 restrictions in place, most opting for a 1 man pop up tent. The Regi- mental Chefs provided excellent support throughout the package from a single 12 x 12 Tent using a dated No
5 LPG burner (the packed lunches, Breakfasts & BBQs were OUTSTANDING).
The key to any successful
AT package lies in the
planning stages and getting
the JSATFA from Stage 1 to 5,
a challenge for any organiser.
The 103 Regt RA JSAFTA was
moved to Stage 5 on Thu 1
Oct 20 by the AT Desk (North) located in Edinburgh. Lt Col (Rtd) Dougie Peters (ex PT Corps) is the SME and he really does help units throughout the process.
Instructor qualifications must be held on JPA for an Instructor to be selected to deliver AT. The unit must also have a qualified and in date Unit Adventure Training Officer (UATO), which is currently Capt Graham Stephenson RA.
The package was split down into 2 groups during the 2nd week of ADE. Group 1 consisted of RHQ, 208 and 216 Bty personnel. Group 2 consisted of RHQ, 209, 210 and HQ Troop personnel. All up the unit delivered AT to 60 of the 100+ personnel that attended ADE.
Day 1 dealt with arrival, a welcome brief by Maj D R Rawcliffe RA (OIC) and a
safety brief by Maj J Young RA. The group was then split into 3 separate groups for 3 AT activities.
Day 1 Activity 1 – Rock Climbing deliv- ered by Capt G Stephenson RA (UATO) A single pitch rock climbing activity was run by Capt Graham Stephenson and 2Lt Frankie Lennon on two of the days during ADE. A variety of routes of different difficul- ties were set up on 2 faces of a crag above
Betws-y-Coed. This provided progressive challenges to the soldiers conducting the activity, enabling the Instruc- tors to test both the novices and more experienced climbers alike.
Day 1 Activity 2 – Mountain Biking delivered by Capt A Thompson RA Having recently passed the MAIS MTB Ldr L2 Capt Thompson assisted on the AT package to gain some experience. There was a choice of using either the Gwydir Mawr (The old Marlin trail) or Coed-y- Brenin country park. Having Recced both sites Coed-y-Brenin stood out a country mile, a mixture of Blue, Red and Black routes with a purpose-built training area and of course the mandatory socially distance Café at the bottom. Group One with six varied in skill and experience. On arrival at the park the group was sized off for bikes, safety gear and carried out the mandatory M check on our bikes.
The soldiers had to overcome both mental
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