Page 69 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

As I now approach the last few months in this post and begin to start thinking about handing over to WO2 Lee Paterson, I look back over my time in this post and the varied array of areas and topics that I have worked on during my assignment here.
As a Service Advisor to the Chief of the General Staff, the Army Inspector and wider Inspectorate staff receive its direction from both CGS and DCGS on areas that may be considered a weak signal, i.e. could become worse if not dealt with, or are an immediate concern.
During 2021 I have been part of a review team that have delivered a 3rd Line of Defence Assurance review of Army Performance and Risk Management and also a larger review into Army Cadet Safeguarding.
Personally, being involved in such a varied workload has helped me hugely in understanding how the wider Army and MOD operates outside the world of PT, AT and Sport. As we move back to a sense of normality it was great to have been back involved in activities that sit more in lane of the RAPTC when I took the department for a week’s adventurous training at ATFC Castlemartin. The week was a great success for both the department internally in building team cohesion but also allowed the staff officers of Army HQ to see some of the great initiatives that are delivering top JNCO instructors in the AT world.
Climbing and abseiling at Castlemartin
WO2 (QMSI) S Hawkins RAPTC
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THE ARMY INSPECTORATE, ARMY HEADQUARTERS
2022 has also started to see a move to more of a hybrid working pattern at Army HQ and one that has allowed both flexibility but also challenges when it comes to areas such as PT programme adherence. As I look forward, I am lucky to be moving on promotion to HQ 20 Brigade in Bulford in Oct 22.
1ST BATTALION THE ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES
In my second year at 1RGR the battle rhythm got back to a normal pace, with operations and major unit exercises being the focus for the Battalion effort. 2021 should have seen 1RGR
switch with 2RGR to Brunei, but as the Covid situation was still unclear, the unit move was once again delayed until 2022. This gave the opportunity for the Battalion to refocus their efforts on training and deployment. 1RGR was given the chance for a deployment to Kosovo on Op ELGIN, the deployment came at short notice which meant a lot of training to meet the standards prior to deployment. For the PD Department, this changed our focus to pre-deployment fitness training for the 530 pax due to deploy. Whilst out on deployment, the focus for the PT Staff was to conduct acclimatisation training for all personnel, prior to them being moved into forward locations.
Since October the gym staff have been fortunate to help plan and coordinate the PT training and testing for the Battalion’s Junior Leader Cadre 2022, with over 110 SP now eligible for promotion to LCpl. We also produced and led on the command tasks for the courses. We have maintained our close relationship with the Brigade Training Team helping them prepare SP for upcoming Special Forces Selections, Pre-Para Build up training and Pre-Brecon Build up training.
1RGR have been successful in their sporting achievements this year with competition wins in Army Golf and most recently winning the Army championships in Volleyball. The Gymnasium staff had a large part to play in the yearly 1RGR Champion Company, with competitions in March and Shoot, Navigation and Command Tasks, Inter-Company Sports competition and a BAWF event to conclude the week’s competition. This was
1 RGR 3-miler
a hotly contested week with the overall Champion Coy being awarded the Trophy and prestigious Flag.
My time with 1RGR has been challenging, busy, but very exciting and is slowly coming to an end with the unit move on schedule to happen in Summer 22.
SSgt (SSI) C WARD RAPTC