Page 29 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

27
Iwas posted to 26 Royal Engineers in January 2021 after a 3-year post at Northwood HQ. From the moment I arrived I could see that this was a very busy and professional unit
and will be very different to my previous post.
The unit has squadrons deployed at various times, 30 Armoured Squadron returned from Op CABRIT 8 in Oct 21 with 33 Armoured Squadron then deploying on Op CABRIT 9 immediately after and have recently been extended until Jun 22.
With the introduction of the new Non GCC RFT(s) we had to make sure all those deploying on operations were fully fit and competed their RFT(s) and SCR. This was successfully achieved with a solid and progressive build up programme to ensure all those personnel were ready to conduct the new test and successfully pass.
Physical and Mental resilience are the foundations of which 26 Engineer Regiment is built on. Whether this is on arduous green PT sessions out on the area or Yoga and flexibility, it is the key to make sure that all those service personnel buy-in to the training and are fully prepared for any task they are given.
With the majority of the unit deploying on various operations or on high readiness there has still been time for various sporting events to take place. Commanding Officers Cup was reintroduced which gave the Squadrons a chance to compete against each other, this was made up of various events from Dodgeball to Tactical PT on the area, finishing the year with the ever so popular santa kart race.
Early this year the regiment had their annual Squadron competition called EX SCARAB TOR which took place at Tregantle Fort in Cornwall. The competition was designed for JNCO’s to show off their leadership skills within their section and to complete various mentally challenging tasks/activities
PT on Ex SCARAB TOR
throughout the week such as river crossings and tabbing for 65km across undulated ground for 36 hours. The event was a huge success with personnel being pushed to their limits with little sleep and being put out of their comfort zones.
The regiment is now looking forward to the Swinton Barracks Inter Regiment Boxing Competition in April 22. This will be the first time that Boxing will be taking place at Swinton Barracks since the Pandemic.
To conclude, I have had a fantastic first year with the regiment, and I am very much looking forward to what the future holds. My aim as always will be to maximise opportunity, decrease non-deployable numbers and enhance the overall physical capability of our soldiers.
26 REGIMENT ROYAL ENGINEERS
SSgt (SSI) M Bloom RAPTC
21 SIGNAL REGIMENT
SSgt (SSI) T Hemming RAPTC
Having arrived at 21 Signal Regiment in September 2021 from 8 Training Battalion REME I was keen to be challenged at running my own unit. The RAPTCI post had been empty
prior to Sgt (SI) C Scott RAPTC’s arrival in May 2022 and again after their departure in July 2022 until my arrival, thankfully for me two pf the unit’s AAPTI’s stepped up to the mark and did a fantastic job (Cpl J Rowley R SIGNALS and LCpl T Gwynn R SIGNALS).
My time here started off with a Health and Wellbeing event where sports, teamwork and enjoyment where the key drivers of the day. The unit enjoyed a morning on an indoor inflatable obstacle course and an afternoon of learning about mindfulness and relaxation. All orchestrated by the gym department.
My main aim from the outset was to get the unit conducting the RFT(S), due to COVID the unit has struggled conducting any training. The aim was to complete it pre-Christmas leave, then COVID struck the unit with over two thirds getting a positive result. Now a few months on and through gradual build up the unit are back in full flow, conducting the RFT(S), deploying to Cyprus on Ex Olympus Beaufighter 22 and conducting AT in Patagonia.
Inflatable Obstacle Course Challenge