Page 132 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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ARMY ADVENTUROUS TRAINING GROUP (AATG) – COURSE DESIGN CELL (CDC)
Sgt (SI) L A Griffiths RAPTC
The CDC has had another busy year, especially given the challenges that 2021 brought with it. We continue to strive towards our main effort of aligning 65+ Army sponsored JSAT courses with the Defence Systems Approach to Training (DSAT), enabling the output of Army AT to remain world-class.
In 2021, CDC continued to work through the development of Army AT course material, managing to create documentation for Winter Climbing and Nordic skiing ready for use in the 2022 winter season. The Alpine Mountaineering and Ski Mountaineering Schemes have been started with an aim to have them both published before the start of the following season. The Summer and Winter Mountaineering Scheme, now 3 years old, have also had their periodic review completed, with only a few minor updates required.
SO2 LDA, Capt Wilson, and I also worked with a range of internal and external SMEs to develop an online e-learning resource for our Adventurous Leadership and Resilience Training (ALeRT). This is a fantastic resource which brings together decades of research on the breadth of impact and longevity of outdoor learning, in terms of how it develops self- esteem, leadership skills and mental health. Whilst the 3-day ‘Train the Trainer’ package has been supporting our ATIs in delivering the ALeRT content during JSAT courses for the
past 12months, we’re thrilled that the online resource is now available to help guide our JSAT students through the ALeRT materials, as well as supporting expedition leaders to deliver ALeRT content wherever they are delivering distributed training. The ALeRT online resource has received positive reviews from all three services, including trainers from a range of training establishments and the Centre for Army Leadership. This positive reception has culminated in its inclusion within the Army Trainer Pathway as a recommended CPD module. Going forward, ALeRT has also been picked up by the forthcoming Army Coaching Handbook and we look forward to seeing where else it can be of value!
Sadly, in July 2021 the CDC said goodbye to Captain Aaron Wilson as SO2 LDA, with Capt Lindsay Merrett stepping up as his replacement. We are also pleased to announce that the SO3 CDC Manager role has now been filled with the arrival of Mrs Alexandra Burge.
2022/2023 could ‘possibly’ look forward to the full completion of our main effort, aligning all 65+ Army sponsored JSAT courses with DSAT. We will also be reviewing further documents, ensuring what has been created is working and we can especially look forward to seeing what changes come out of the Paddling Scheme; we think there will be some really positive changes that will benefit both instructor and students.
JOINT SERVICE MOUNTAIN TRAINING CENTRE
Capt (MAA) PS Mellor RAPTC
JSMTC are about to exit the first Winter Season since Covid halted us. We’ve spent a great deal of time brushing up on our Winter skills in both work and personal time to ensure skill fade
is rubbed out and skills are back up to a high standard.
North Wales no longer gets a Winter that hangs around long enough for our North Wales Wings to deliver Winter skills courses. Instead, instructors are all rotated through Ballachulish, Bavaria and Norway. Normally spending two weeks in each location before relocating back to their home base to carry on with ‘normal’ delivery. Typically, an RAPTC ATI at JSMTC should expect around eight weeks away each Winter delivering and being developed on Winter courses. This can range from Winter Mountaineering through to Ski Mountaineering. The development journey never stops!
Our Battle Rhythm at JSMTC remains steadfast throughout the Winter. We continue delivery to the RAPTC PTI Class One Course, Resilience Training Margin (future RAPTC ATIs) and the wider Military. We are looking forward to a fuller year in 2022, with our sights firmly locked on to deployments in the Alps, Canada and Morocco.
This year JSMTC said goodbye to Maj (MAA) Russ Reid RAPTC who has now exited Army life after over 33 years of dedicated Service. Over the years Russ has trained hundreds of Service Personnel and thousands will have unknowingly benefited from his work in this environment.
Maj (MAA) Russ Reid RAPTC