Page 102 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

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JOINT SERVICE MOUNTAIN TRAINING WING - LLANRWST
WO2 (QMSI) J Bradford RAPTC Wing Sergeant Major (WSM) JSMTW (L)
JSMTW Llanrwst of cially opened on 18th May 2016 to become a Type 4 AT Centre after relocating from Capel Curig Training Camp. Many of you will have fond memories of your time at the old JSATI site and will be glad to know that the local running routes are still as hard as ever and the drive to the infamous Llyn Padarn on a cold winter morning is as exhilarating as it ever was.
Moving from being a lodger in one unit to becoming self-suf cient in the new centre has not been without challenge. One week after receiving the keys to the Centre, the rst batch of 24 students arrived for their training course so we had to pull together with a limited number of staff to get the Centre ready. The aim as ever was to ensure that the learners had a memorable experience during their training course and that the safe system of training was carefully managed and put in place to ensure safe and effective training would be achieved. On re ection, I would like to thank all those who helped move boxes and assisted with getting policies and procedures in place to help us achieve what was a mammoth task. 1 year on and nally there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are fully operational Centre delivering courses for up to 36 pax on a weekly basis in a variety of activities. The Centre has continued to improve in all respects from the clothing and equipment issued, centre training resources, and improvements to student welfare and broadband facilities to become a modern adventurous and educational training centre.
JSMTW Llanrwst is the lead centre for the delivery of the JSAT Mountain Bike Scheme which is civilian accredited (the Joint Service Mountain Bike Leader to the British Cycling Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader Award), however it must be stressed that a civilian award can only be issued subject to the course instructor and the student having all the necessary NGB procedures in place. With access to all of the Snowdonia MTB trails and wild rides, this makes Llanrwst the ideal location for the delivery of Foundation through to Instructor quali cations.
A Student on a Rock Climbing Foundation Course using coping strategies to deal with Anxiety
The Adventurous Training Group (Army) constantly seeks well motivated personnel to serve as incremental staff on detached duty and Llanrwst Wing has opportunities for soldiers, both Regular and Reserve, to assist with the running of the Centre; in turn, we will look to develop their AT quali cations. If you have soldiers in your Unit who show an interest in this type of work, please see 2016DIN07-156 for information and guidance on the application process.
This will be my last entry in to MBS after 16 memorable years with the RAPTC. I have travelled a long way with my development over the years and have a lot of people within the RAPTC to thank for their help and support on making achievements possible, so if you have stopped me in my tracks over the years to offer advice and guidance, TVM. Finally the Centre looks forward to the arrival of WO2 P Mellor RAPTC and I wish ‘Phil’ and his family all the very best during their stay at the Wing.
ADVENTUROUS TRAINING FOUNDATION CENTRE (ATFC)
ATFC has seen signi cant changes over the last year, only a year into its infancy. A number of key personalities moving on; namely the Commanding Of cer, Lt Col Simon Macrory-Tinning (post gapped from Nov 16 until Apr 17), the 2IC, Maj (MAA) Phil McGregor RAPTC (post gapped from Oct 16 to Jan 17) who has managed to engineer his nal post in Germany – no surprise there! All 3 x clerical G7 posts gapped – which has meant only one thing.............. act up, act down and act sideways!!
Fortunately, I have been hugely supported by Ex
WO2 (QMSI) Jim McDougall, who with his SME AT
knowledge and experience, and will to help me,
we have managed to cover the gaps. Jim is the Training and Assurance Support Of cer for ATFC. The OCs of each Wing have also aided the transition period of these gapped posts, by leaning in and supporting the Headquarters (slightly reverse engineered as a HQ should function).
There is light at the end of the tunnel. The 2IC, Maj Dave Stevenson RIFLES assumed his post earlier this year, after us having a brief gap, and quickly set about understanding the complexities of ATFC and the differing construct across ATFC Wings – no easy task.
Due to the remoteness of some of our Wings, and an out-dated 8005, we have to use Fee Earners to deliver and are heavily reliant on Temporary Employed Elsewhere (TEEs) from Regular or Reserve Units for our Wings to function. The TEE opportunity is one that requires further exploiting at Unit level and can add real value to Unit AT Plans for the future. TEEs employed at ATFW (C) are enrolled
on a bespoke Unit Adventurous Training Leaders course, kindly facilitated by JSMTC (our sister organisation). This force multiplier does and will help Units re-invigorate AT at Unit level with quali ed persons able to deliver.
Capt (MAA) B Sweatman RAPTC Training Of cer