Page 127 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

SECURING THE FUTURE
Many readers of this article for the MB&S will be aware of Trail’s End Camp AT centre in Canada and will no doubt have fond memories of it. It has been here in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains for a few decades now. It is arguably the premiere location for AT in the military, whilst on exercise abroad (although Belize, Falklands, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Kenya and Oman are pretty damned amazing too!!..........oh yes, did I tell you I have done them all??). However, like everything these days, it is having to ght for its place for funding! Now, before we start the hares running I have the good news; we are safe! A lot of work has gone into securing the future for TEC and it is staying at its current location at Lazy ‘H’ Ranch. The contract is set to run for the next 5 years with an option for DIO to continue, should it wish, for another 5 years + 5 years.
This is a great ‘win’ for AT and indeed for the RAPTCIs whose career paths will see them serving here in the future. Although parachuting is now off the agenda, the standard of AT and it’s delivery by contracted services (Yamnuska Adventures at time of writing) remain quite simply outstanding. Training is safe, professional and almost more importantly relevant and exciting. The team really do put the troops through their paces. With regular 1st Party Assurance by the Chief Instructor (WO1 (SMI) Simon Naylor) and myself and Annual 2nd Party Assurance by JSMTC (through ATG(A)) TEC continues to be at the top of its game.
The Summer phase of training year (TY) 16 -17 has had some great results, putting some 1750 of BATUS’s 6000 exercising troops (Ex PRAIRIE STORM etc) on T2 AT courses and CP activities. With only 2.2% wastage, this is indeed an impressive
Table 1: TEC Summer courses for exercising troops at BATUS.
2 3 (12)
2 (12)
4 2 (12)
2 (12)
7 4 (40) Table 2: Distribution of courses to exercising Battle Groups
2 4
Maj (MAA) M S Gresty RAPTC –OC TEC
Course Activity
No of courses
Maj (MAA) M S Gresty RAPTC
Max Cse loading at any one time
125
BRITISH ARMY TRAINING UNIT SUFFIELD (BATUS) TRAIL’S END CAMP (TEC)
Ser
No of Pax
Ratios
RAPTC Rugby Tour Canada (training at TEC)
stat. Winter phase (Ex WARPAINT, WINTER REPAIR etc) saw a further 343 conduct T2 AT courses also. The future TY for 17 - 18 looks set to be just as successful (see the tables below).
We don’t just contain our horizons to T2 AT courses out here either. This year alone we have supported some fourteen T3 expeditions in Canada, both directly and indirectly. At time of writing there
Table 3: TEC Winter courses at for exercising troops at BATUS.
22
1
41
1
61
1
1
Rock Single Pitch Foundation (RSF)
57
342
1:6
3 (18)
Introduction to Alpine Mountaineering
47
188
1:4
3
Open Canoe 2 Star Foundation (O2F)
Mountain Bike Foundation (MBF)
30
180
1:6
Inland Kayak 2 Star Foundation (MBF)
35
35
210
1:6
5
210
1:6
Ser
Course Activity
No of courses
No of Pax
Ratios
Max Cse loading at any one time
Rough Ride
62
620
1:10
1
Ski Foundation 1 (SF1)
18
108
1:6
2
Exercise
PRAIRIE STORM 1
PRAIRIE STORM 3
106
Remarks
Ski Foundation 2 (SF2)
15
90
1:6
Ser
Bde AT Allocation
Max Package
3
Ski Foundation 3 (SF3)
5
30
1:6
Ski Leader 1 (SL1)
2
12
1:6
1750 (pax)
(pax)
5
Nordic Foundation (NF1)
6
36
1:6
1
382
Ski Concentration (10 days)
82
1
12 +1 Chef
2:12
PRAIRIE STORM 2
382
106
3
382
106
7
Introduction to Ski Mountaineering
5
25
1:5
382
5
PRAIRIE STORM 4
BATUS
222
106
40
TY 17–18
Ice Climbing (WCF)
15
30
1:2