Page 28 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
29 COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
SSgt (SSI) P Dodds RAPTC & SSgt (SSI) W Ficken RAPTC ERI
29 Commando Regiment is the Commando-training unit of the British Army’s Royal Artillery, based in Plymouth, in The Royal Citadel. We hold a unique capability within the
Royal Artillery. 29 Commando Regiment RA exists to provide Joint Fires and Targeting to the UK Commando Forces (UKCF) and the Royal Navy, our mission is to ‘FIND - PROTECT - STRIKE - INTEGRATE’ and this is our unifying purpose. We are a regiment of Army Commandos held at Very High Readiness (VHR) and we specialise in amphibious operations, mountain, desert, jungle, and arctic warfare. As part of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, we routinely deploy around the world and to several very different environments.
• Arctic (Norway)
• Temperate (UK and America)
• Desert (Oman)
• Jungle (Brunei, Belize, Singapore)
Dec 21 – CO’s Charity Christmas XC Run –The Gym Staff of 29 Cdo Regt RA under the direction of SSgt (SSI) Dodds RAPTC laid on the annual Commanding Officers Regimental Charity XC Run at Saltram House. The event aimed to raise money for 3 x charities and to expose the Regt within the wider community testing components of fitness and to showcase their strong Commando Spirit. LBdr Cragg organised the event, with LBdr Winchester OIC for the Christmas themed Warm-Up, supported by the Commando AAPTIs as Elf’s and Turkey. LCpl Perkins from the Galley provided well-earned post run refreshments. Every competitor donated money, along with chocolate selection boxes from Sub Units, and
a JustGiving Page was also set up for the wider regiment to donate via social media – with a total of £586.13 raised.
The Regiment continues to take a proactive approach to injury prevention and supports ERI delivery on level 3 PT, which facilitates a proactive ERI rather than a reactive one. After joining the Regiment in August 21, a complete turnover of staff and infrastructure was already underway which set up the ability to bring new ideas and innovations to the delivery of rehabilitation. The injuries from
The Regiment consists of a HQ battery,
three-gun Batteries, a Naval Gunfire
Support Forward Observation Battery
and an attached Royal Electrical and
Mechanical Engineers workshop, which
includes a Royal Logistic Corps stores
section. The gun batteries are equipped
with six L118 105MM light guns and
three Observation Posts each. The RAPTCIs within 29 Cdo Regt RA are SSgt (SSI) Phil Dodds and SSgt (SSI) Will Ficken (ERI) who provide all physical and rehabilitation aspects to maintain the unit’s high readiness state.
Training soldiers ready for the All-Arms Commando Course (AACC) is one of the Regiment’s main efforts. Potential commandos arrive from Larkhill, where they embark on the journey of becoming an Army Commando. This arduous course is held at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon. On completing the course, they will be awarded both the Commando Green Beret and ‘Army Commando’ shoulder flashes (badges). We aim to set the Soldier up for success and have the facilities required to train and prepare them to pass the AACC. The Regiment have a Commando Training Team which prepare the potential commandos for the AACC, running a conditioning programme within the Royal Citadel and Okehampton Battle Camp which is a perfect setting for harnessing and homing in the commando elements of the
course. The REME Cdo Wksp run a ‘Cdo Familiarisation’ package which incorporates a general overview of key elements of the course. Topics include, fieldcraft, navigation, survival skills, high confidence assessments at the infamous Fogin Tor and above all, the ability to operate in cold and wet environments.
Although a lot of emphasis is put into preparing potential commandos to complete the AACC and prepare Cdo trained personnel for deployments.
29 Cdo Regt RA – Charity PT
Oct 21 – 29 Cdo Charity Event – The gym staff organised a Regimental Ultrafit competition running alongside Ex RAPTC Tin Phys within The Royal Citadel. The competition was a team event focusing on the components of fitness and testing the Commando Gunners - showcasing their strong commando mindset. The event was a success, and it was a pleasure to support the Trussell Trust and Plymouth foodbank with every competitor donating a tin of food for our local food bank.
provided one on one sessions to test all those that dared to test their flexibility. In the afternoon all serving personnel experienced one of the best presentations on mental health by ex RAPTCI Tony Wiltshire which provided a hard hitting but humbling brief on the effects of mental health on military personnel and the tools needed to stay in the fight.
“United we Conquer”
29 Cdo Regt RA – Rehab Suite
Within the regiment. the annual Unit Health Fair is often organised by the unit ERI. This year the delivery was split into two, parts 1) Unit Health Fair 2) The impacts of Mental Health presentation by charity ‘Its ok not to be ok’ founder Tony Wiltshire former RAPTC. The initial heath fair was well supported with many local businesses providing their valuable time to deliver important information to the regiment on all aspects of health. Marjon Universities sports rehabilitation department provided sports massages and post exercise recovery tips. Yoga instructors
personnel attending the AACC was slowly starting to increase which meant the need to implement a new training delivery and evidence-based screening process for all gunners newly arriving at the regiment. The new program brought in the delivery of balance and proprioception, anatomical sling sessions, lower and upper quadrant S & C and educational presentations. The emphasis was to empower the soldiers and provide them with education and mentorship early on in their careers. Each gunner arriving at the regiment conducted a new ‘potential commando screening process’ which utilised 5 functional outcome measures often used at Regional Rehabilitation Units (RRU) for patient monitoring. The five measures included: single leg press, dumbbell external rotation endurance test, single leg bridge endurance test, calf raises and side plank. From here the PT staff were able to analyse statistical data to periodise an ERI lead S & C program delivered to all potential commandos weekly. A successful business case allowed the rehabilitation gym to add a substantial amount of new S & C kit for the delivery of rehabilitation and physical training.