Page 32 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
THE COMMANDO TRAINING CENTRE ROYAL MARINES (CTCRM) SPECIALIST WING – PT COMPANY
The prevalence of COVID 19 has enabled a smarter and leaner approach to training at CTCRM as recruits and Young Officers (YO’s) continue to progress through their 32 and 54-week syllabuses respectively. CTCRM also provides oversight to Phase 2 and 3 training, encompassing niche and specialist capabilities from Mountain Leader Training and Signallers, through to Junior and SNCO Leadership and Command Cadres. The All Arms Commando Course (AACC) is hosted here three times a year (details below). Currently, an RAPTCI is embedded within PT Company at Lympstone whilst a Royal Marine PT1 operates at the Army School of Physical Training (ASPT) in Aldershot.
I was assigned to CTCRM at the back end of September and had a short, but detailed hand over from SSgt (SSI) M Kirkbright RAPTC, whose reputation was second to none within not only PT Company but also the AACC training team. What impressed me immediately was the high quality, diligence and professional standards set down by each member of PT Coy, from the Major who acts as the Master-at-Arms at the top, to the Corporals (PT2s) who are the class takers and act as strikers on lessons.
My first role was to thoroughly understand the ethos of Initial Military Fitness (IMF). IMF is essentially the old school Swedish style PT. It is designed to build physical and mental discipline as well as acting as a foundation or General Physical Preparation block before recruits are thrust into green style PT on the infamous Bottom Field. The main sequences are four corners (a series of exercises performed to the timing of the PT2 who occupies the Dais); rope climbing - including a make fast (being able to lock yourself off on a rope to rest the arms); Main Group - various sit up style exercises; and a camp circuit (860m) that must be completed under 5 minutes and finishing with a beam sequence of pull ups, feet to beam, press ups, squats and burpees.
All those sequences are orchestrated and polished off to a choreographed standard. Recruits are expected to maintain parade square style discipline. For a troop to pass out of the gym they are formally assessed by the PT Balcony (CSgts upwards;
Beam Sequence Teach
Officers occupy a balcony that directly looks over the gym floor). It’s only then they can progress on to the Bottom Field Assault Course.
Royal Marine PTI’s spend a lot of time not only formally going through this type of training as recruits but delivering this syllabus as a PT 2. It took me a while to fully understand the intricacies and my role as a PT1, sometimes having to learn by taking a dip in the tank!
A PT1’s main responsibility is to provide overall assurance that policy, training standard orders and best practice are utilised and adhered to. We are also there to mitigate risk, step in where required and constructively critique the PT2s at the end of their lessons giving appropriate feedback.
The All Arms Commando Course (AACC)
One of the main responsibilities at CTCRM is to lead with all PT matters for the AACC. It is a unique position to be in, as you simultaneously take on the responsibilities of the PT2 class taker and the PT1. As it stands the course is 11 weeks long, culminating in a gruelling final exercise and commando test week: An Endurance Course (a course of bogged obstacles, a 4-mile run back to CTCRM and a shoot), a 9-mile speed march, the Tarzan assault course (a high obstacle route of ropes and transitions) and the 30-miler in patrol order across the rugged and unpredictable terrain of Dartmoor.
Students will spend 16 lessons on the Bottom Field assault course. The course itself has 30ft ropes, 12 varying obstacles, a fireman’s carry lane and a regain rope over a large water filled tank. From their arrival, students need to rapidly progress from 12lbs webbing to 21lbs webbing and a rifle strapped to their back. They need to be competent in climbing, make their way around
Sgt (SI) D Simpson RAPTC
30’ Rope Climb
Endurance Course