Page 130 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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MISSION READY TRAINING CENTRE
WO2 (QMSI) P HARRISON RAPTC
After leaving the Corps in 2013, following 22 years of service, I settled with my family in the village of my last posting in Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire. My kids were settled in school, and it was a small, picturesque village, ideal for family life. Some seven years later, an FTRS job in MRTC at Bassingbourn Barracks appeared. Being familiar territory (although previously ATR Bassingbourn) and only 10 minutes from my house, it was a no brainer!
So, returning as FTRS in 2020 after a seven-year break was a huge culture shock, especially when the whole Corps had gone digital (help)! No more paper returns, what’s going on?! On my first day at arriving at MRTC, I was sent home for a month due to the COVID outbreak, winner-winner chicken dinner! However, this gave me a great opportunity to research the Unit and more importantly research all the changes that have been made during my gap years. To put this into perspective, the only THOR I had ever heard of was from the Avengers, I had a lot to learn!
As it turns out, MRTC was starting from scratch; no Policies, Risk Assessments, Standing Orders - absolutely nothing! Thank God I did my homework and discovered that the AGAI Vol 1 Ch 7 had a great starting point on writing a PD Directive. Whilst I’m on a roll for praising, thanks also to all those WOs within LWC I leaned on in my first 12 months at MRTC. Without their support, I think I would still be in no man’s land!
Before I go into detail about MRTC, who they are, and what I have done so far, I must add that the Corps have come a long way since 2013. The APTS is an absolute winner, the team that designed it must have brains the size of a planet!
MRTC is located in Bassingbourn Barracks and conducts both Individual and Collective training; Individual gives a generic package to Troops under Training (TuT) to deploy in several different locations and Collective is Mission Specific. The primary purpose of training here at MRTC is to better prepare the TuT for the challenges they will face on Operations. It is informative and provides them with knowledge which will keep them safe and protected from the varied dangers and threats they will face. It helps them understand their kit and equipment so they can use it in the right way, and it helps them understand the dynamics of the environment they will be entering. The training can be as general as ITR completion and as detailed and specific as J2 and PJHQ Op specific briefs.
My role within the Collective Training elements is to deliver the RFT(S) to approx 2000 SP that attend these courses each year. Courses could consist of 23 different cap badges so you can imagine, I really needed to know my stuff. To support the delivery of RFT(S), I ensured the 23 different cap badge standards had A3 magnetic signs attached to an ISO container for the TuTs to use
as a reference for their Corps’ testing standard. I break the groups down into 3 categories (red – level 1, amber – level 2 and green – level 3). The RFT(S) runs like clockwork and what was once a big headache is now a smooth operation.
In addition to these courses, I also look after the Permanent Staff (PS) within MRTC that consist of one Colonel (Commander), two Lt Cols (COS and DCOS), eight Majors and Captains and the remainder are mainly WOs and SNCOs with a few JNCOs. Being a Level 3 Unit, PT is delivered twice a week with a sports afternoon every Wednesday. PT attendance is always excellent (probably helps that the Cdr, COS and DCOS always attend) and my staff are constantly praised on its structure and delivery – thanks to the clear guidance given on the APTS.
To deliver all this training, my team consists of one SSgt (due to the complexity of the unit and being rank heavy, the Commander gave me acting rank of QMSI) and 2 extremely capable AAPTIs. Luckily, I fall under LWC policy, and my teaching ratios are 35:1, otherwise I would be struggling to meet the demand.
Once I finally settled into my job and re-learnt everything about a 21st century PT Corps, it was then time to start enhancing the Unit’s facilities. The gym itself was satisfactory in terms of equipment, but with 2000 soldiers visiting here every year and a Unit strength of over 240, it needed to be better. I then started to pen several business cases - my first BC was for three FOB lockers that were needed for the TuT at two locations within the barracks and one at STANTA. Due to the high number of Downgraded personnel within the Unit, my next BC was for 10 Wattbikes which are now used not only for downgraded PT but also for those suffering from long covid and those that fall in the very high or extreme category on the Body Composition Measurement (BCM). My next BC is my proudest achievement and thanks to both Maj Lundie and SMI Pyburn became a reality – a new S&C area to deliver APTS to the PS within MRTC. This has made a major impact on the delivery of training here at MRTC. In addition to this, BCs were also approved to update the climbing wall and gym signage in and around the gym. My next project (although I think I might have hit my peak) is a unit swimming pool, the research is in place and who knows (Rob Head – watch this space!). In the words of my Commander - this is the best gym in the British Army’ - I challenge anyone who disagrees!!!
I have now been in post for 2 years and hope after my 3-year appointment is up, my time here will be extended until the day I retire... again! Once again thanks to all those that have assisted me in my transition from Civilian to QMSI PT.