Page 40 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MOUNTED REGIMENT
Sgt (SI) M Evans RAPTC
Joining HCMR in April 20 meant that I have spent the duration of my time at HCMR in a national lockdown, it wasn’t quite what I had envisaged for my move from the ASPT, but it certainly has
been a swift learning curve. As I’m sure you will all agree, we have faced challenges and obstacles which we wouldn’t have dreamt of facing but have overcome these and developed new strategies to support the maintenance of the Army’s fitness.
If taking over as HCMR RAPTCI during the first UK lockdown may have been challenging enough, I was soon made aware of the Regimental commitments that would make delivering a successful PT programme very difficult indeed. The excitement of working in Knightsbridge and delivering PT sessions on Hyde Park was soon squashed when the Regiment were working with skeleton manning, sending the majority of personnel and horses on dispersed leave. To the soldiers themselves this may have been seen as a welcome break to their normally hectic daily routine, but to someone who was excited at the prospect of delivering a successful PT programme, it just became extremely difficult with half the regiment on leave and the other half keeping up the daily care and maintenance of the horses. With the Regiment on leave, the Lone Soldier Training programme became a vital tool in maintaining the Regiment’s fitness, it also allowed me the opportunity to reinvigorate the Regiment’s training facilities.
Upon returning to some kind of ‘normality,’ the focus soon shifted to getting the Regiment MATT 2 compliant. Once the first test we conducted, the Soldier Conditioning Review (SCR) was complete, specific training was then undertaken to complete the Role Fitness Test Soldier (RFT(S)). This test is a reasonably new test meaning many members of the Regiment had not conducted this before. I underestimated how difficult it would be for such a busy Regiment to conduct appropriate build up training to give individuals the best possible chance to pass.
Due to the reduced amount of ceremonial duties, it was a perfect time to re-introduce sport into the Regiment. Notoriously, something that isn’t very often undertaken on mass due to the sheer fast-paced daily life of the Regiment. An Inter-Squadron Sports Competition was undertaken over a 4-week period. Teams were picked from each Squadron and would go head-to-head in a round robin style competition competing to win that particular event.
Event 1 – 6 a side Football
1st – HQ Sqn, 2nd – LG Sqn, 3rd – RHG/D Sqn
Simulated Casualty Extraction
Event 2 – Touch Rugby
1st – LG Sqn, 2nd – HQ Sqn, 3rd – RHG/D Sqn
Event 3 – British Army Warrior Fitness
1st – HQ Sqn, 2nd – LG Sqn, 3rd – RHG/D Sqn
Event 4 – X-Country
1st – HQ Sqn, 2nd – LG Sqn, 3rd – RHG/D Sqn
After 4 extremely close and well-fought events, congratulations to HQ Sqn who were crowned the overall winners of the Inter-Sqn Sports Competition 2021!
I look forward to seeing what 2022 has in store for the Regiment.
Jerry Can Carry