Page 124 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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1 ROYAL SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING REGIMENT
WO2 (QMSI) D Read RAPTC
With the pandemic easing and Force Health Protection Measures (FHPMs) slowly lifting, 1 RSME have returned to some form of normality. A long-awaited Regimental Boxing show was the best way to rally the troops and get ‘esprit de corps’ back on the gym floor. Twenty athletes trained tirelessly for six weeks with their passion and dedication on display for all to see with an outstanding evening of boxing.
At 1 RSME we are very lucky to have great support from the Medway Council Public Health department that assist us to deliver guidance to our soldiers and their families in various subjects such as stop smoking start living, NHS Health Checks, Medway Food partnership, Change for Life, Medway Go activities, Survivors of Bereavement, illegal tobacco control and be clever about sugar. It was decided to hold our first Health Fair in around two years, and we invited other agencies such as the sexual health clinic, Army Welfare Service, Forces Mutual, a local bike shop, the Anthony Nolan project and the University of Kent’s sports massage team who provided free sports massages and body fat tests. As always, the AAPTIs set up three competition stands to create a challenging but fun atmosphere where personnel could win various prizes for completing wordle in the fastest time, memory games with cards and speed climbing. The whole event was an overwhelming success with around 600 soldiers, 60 civil servants and approximately 30 families attending throughout the afternoon.
The gym team delivered the annual Amherst Five event; an event that incorporates teams of soldiers competing against the clock over an arduous 4-mile circuit. The course is broken down into five sections which are aimed at challenging and developing
1 RSME Health Fair
the team’s communication skills, leadership ability, robustness, cohesion and, of course, to just have fun!
Organising large scale sporting events has become the normal at 1 RSME and having the RE Corps Boxing Championships back at Chatham, the home of the Royal Engineers, is an outstanding opportunity for the AAPTIs to get involved. Over three days we hosted ten Royal Engineer Regiments and held the finals night at Medway Park Sports Centre; not only did this provide more room for spectators, VIPs and Unit displays but it also enabled us to foster the strong ties that we continue to enjoy with our local community and businesses.
I was tasked with organising the Regimental skiing package in 2019 and with two trips cancelled due to international travel restrictions days away from leaving I was overwhelmed to collect the equipment from Bicester and board the plane to Tignes in France over two years later. Ex TIGER REACH 22 allowed 13 personnel from 1 RSME to conduct an excellent adventurous training package in a high-altitude ski resort in the French Alps, with 300km of pisted slopes across the Tignes-Val d’lsere area. The week delivered SF1 and SF2 courses in outstanding conditions, exposing the soldiers to all the aims of adventurous training.
The last twelve months have been mentally challenging with ever- changing boundaries, but the commitment of my team in the face of considerable challenges has been outstanding and admirable. My team have not only continued to meet their operational outputs but have had a significant positive impact on our people, keeping them in sound mind and strong body and staying true to our Corps motto: ‘Mens Sana in Corpore Sano.’
WO2 Read skiing in Tignes
1 RSME Regimental Boxing Team