Page 110 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
In May 2021 I took up role as the TWO at ATC Pirbright with Capt (MAA) Stu Jackson RAPTC starting the same week! At this point we were still in a national lockdown, therefore it was
key from our handovers that steering the Unit successfully out of lockdown and bringing recruit training back indoors was our first priority. In addition to both starting the same week, we had a new Commanding Officer who was getting to grips with his role too, which is never ideal but clearly with the volume of staff here it would be a sharp learning curve for us all. In addition to the MAA and I, Sgt (SI) Cooney joined us replacing Sgt (SI) Walker who went off to HQ RAPTC leaving Sgt (SI) Mortley (1 ATR) and Sgt (SI) Davies (HQ Regt and G4 rep) as the continuity during this time of significant staff flux.
The volume of training currently conducted at ATC Pirbright is huge, from Recruit CMS to Army Reserve training. We also deliver the Soldier Development Course, All Arms Initial Training Course PT, Permanent Staff PT for 3 Units and then the reconditioning pathway for those on Level 1 or 2 PT. All courses combined currently means outputs of between 3500-4000 recruits annually. To add; the Unit went from a 3 to a 4 troop form ups which means that the volume of delivery continues to grow. As it stands, this is only due to increase when Pirbright becomes the British Army Soldier Academy (BASA) when Recruit output will increase to near 6000 Recruits each calendar year. The team consisted of approximately 76% of AAPTIs who had conducted the old version of the AAPTI course (prior to Jan 2018), which meant there were some deficits that we were required to train to bring the majority of staff in line with the new AAPTI course. We conducted this with workshops on areas identified in surveys to account for these deficits and then followed this by delivering the RAPTC ADT workshops that are aligned to the UKSCA to ensure our AAPTIs can be at the cutting edge of training delivery across all courses at Pirbright.
One of the first tasks outside of bringing the gym out of lockdown, would come straight from the new CO, which was to deliver a Murph competition for permanent staff for Armed Forces Day. The competition was overseen by Cpl Jack Walmsley RAMC and was a huge success. Additionally, the next task that followed was the CO’s cup challenge competition between the three major Units (HQ Regt, 1 ATR and 2 ATR) which consisted of 6 events culminating in the Turkey trot last December. In the background the Unit Boxing Club is ongoing for which Sgt (SI) Mortley RAPTC provided support as a Level 2 Boxing Coach alongside his role
CITG Commendations for Sgt (SI) Mortley RAPTC, Cpl Gale RLC and Bdr Joubert RA
as the Sports OIC for all 3 Units. For his efforts Sgt (SI) Mortley RAPTC was awarded a Commander ITG Commendation along with Cpl Charlie Gale RLC and Bdr Kyle Joubert RA who are both due to start the RAPTC Instructor course in the coming months.
From an Infra perspective, with Sgt (SI) Davies as lead, he has been working hard to secure funding to uplift two of the major gyms. This uplift will include new integrated platforms, wall mounted storage, racks and new Physical Training Equiment (PTE) to support this endeavour. The new layout will ensure that as we transition to BASA, we have the absolute best facilities ensuring this is a centre of excellence for Recruits and permanent staff. In addition to the Infra upgrade, in the main gyms Pirbright will be able to boast a brand-new swimming pool which will be located next to the gym. Add to that the 6-lane running track and the Indigo gym (known here as the Soldier Performance Facility) Pirbright is in a great place to be able to continue developing tactical athletes as soldiers for many years to come.
Soon we will welcome Capt (MAA) Lee Kinsley RAPTC as the new master at arms who is currently at DSEME and is replacing the current incumbent Capt (MAA) Stu Jackson RAPTC in April 2022. We wish Stu, his wife Sarah and his children Evie and Cole all the very best for a future outside of the military; and especially Stu for his exemplary 27 years of Army service, 17 of which was in the APTC / RAPTC.
ARMY TRAINING CENTRE PIRBRIGHT
WO2 (QMSI) L Cubbage RAPTC
As of April 2022, Army Training Centre Pirbright (ATC (P)) will see an increase of Recruits starting phase one training. A total of up to 180 recruits within four troops forming up all at once. This will be the largest number of recruits that will be transiting through ATC (P) at one time over 14 weeks. In order to be able to deliver the Common Military Syllabus (CMS21) the Physical and Recreational Training Centre (P&RTC) needed to see a large increase in Physical Training Equipment (PTE).
Partnered with Indigo fitness a new floor design was created to suit the delivery of CMS21. This new gym space will enable up to 80 recruits at any one-time conducting S&C in support of the CMS and APTS for Recruits and Permanent Staff (PS). The uplift will see a total of 20 integrated platforms, enough bars, and plates to accommodate each platform, 2 large astro turf strips and a large Rig.
ATC Pirbright, proposed new gym layout
This new training space will be a fantastic asset to Pirbright for many years to come and will see thousands of recruits each year come through phase 1 training with the hope being, they remember the time spent within the gym positively.
ATC(P) P&RTC CMS21 PTE UPLIFT
Sgt (SI) R Davies RAPTC