Page 20 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
My rst couple of months saw the Bn continue to push for the Army Boxing Championship Title beating 13 Air Assault and 9 Regt RLC before meeting 2 PARA in the Finals held at the Combat Sports Centre, Aldershot. A close and competitive nal saw the contest even at 3-3 with only the Heavyweight contest remaining; a gruelling bout won by the Fusiliers meaning the Bn became Army Champions for the rst time in over a decade.
As the lead Unit for the Tidworth Garrison Super Gym
(GSG), sharing the facility with two other major units,
just shy of a dozen minor units, 2 Bde HQ’s and an
RRU does present a lot of challenges but it’s all part
of the fun I guess. Other events hosted in my rst
year have been Brigade Festival of Sports (BFoS) events, Army X-Country races and various Boxing competitions including the
Hart’s Trophy event, the agship for Fusilier Boxing and the 1X Competition won by the Ri es in Dec 16.
Within the Tidworth GSG, a revamp of its S&C facilities has seen a sizeable sum of money from Regional Command go towards a mini revamp. As previously stated, sharing a gym with an RRU means only one gym hall is available for the many units using it. This does present problems with so many people having fantastic opinions yet little ideas as to how things can be improved with such little room and no budget. Shim ng aside, sharing a gym with two other amazing Corps blokes does make life more enjoyable and without the daily whinging, it wouldn’t be another glorious day in work.
1ST BATTALION THE MERCIAN REGIMENT
Ihave been in post for nearly 3 three years; it’s unbelievable how time ies as I approach the end of my time at 1 MERCIAN. I have not been
disappointed with the challenges a large Armoured Infantry Unit had to offer. The Regiment certainly live by the ethos “Stand Firm Strike Hard”.
The middle of 2015 saw the MERCIAN Battle Group deployed to Canada for EX PRARIE STORM, in what was to be an extremely successful deployment in preparation for the following year. Thereafter they took the lead on OP TEMPERER. The following year saw 1 MERCIAN deploying to the Ukraine and the Falkland’s on OP FIRIC.
During what has been and continues to be a very busy training year, 1 Mercian have still promoted various sporting events including the hosting of the GOCs Cup, Inter Company Boxing
and entering the Battalion Boxing Team into the 1 Arty Brigade Boxing Competition.
I have been nothing less than impressed with 1 MERCIAN and their willingness to adapt to different variables of Physical Training; they have embraced all initiatives and modes of training I have introduced. This includes Strength based programmes and all sessions are geared towards Operations and are shaped by current trends in Theatre.
British Army Warrior Fitness (BAWF) has been included into the AAPTI CPD in order to educate and gain interest from the 1 MERCIAN PTIs, who then deliver BAWF training sessions to their respective
Company or departments. The feedback has been very positive with improvements evidently being made in all tness domains.
SSgt (SSI) D Forster RAPTC
7 INFANTRY BRIGADE AND HEADQUARTERS EAST
THE DESERT RATS
Capt (MAA) L Davison RAPTC
Desert Rats ‘Vision’
The adaptable brigade based on a war ghting capability, ready for operations, persistently engaged in West Africa and East England.
It has continued to be full steam ahead for 7 Inf Bde. 7 Inf Bde is an adaptable brigade based on a war ghting capability, ready for operations, persistently engaged in West Africa and
East England. As Desert Rats, we are all of one company; as disciplined professionals, we do as we ought not as we want and, as an adaptable force, always mindful of our context, we think to the nish. The main effort is READINESS. Our base must be war ghting since that is what the nation may demand of us and from this base our adaptability ows. Units must be as t for deployment ( t to ght, not t to sit) and this is where the RAPTCIs come to the forefront and they do a cracking job.
7 Inf Bde is an area larger than Belgium, it has 12 counties and 97 local authorities. The majority of our units are 3-4 hours’ drive away. No wonder I have had two crashes in the past 12 months. Our main point of focus is West Africa. 7 Inf Bde have made their transition into its training year (2017) in preparation for
readiness as a Vanguard Light Forces (VLF) Bde in 2018. The Bde is committed in West Africa (Defence Engagement), maintains FE@R for UK Resilience and standing commitments delivers UK Engagement in East Midlands and East Anglia and commands the largest Cadet force in the UK.
This year the RAPTCIs have been extremely busy organising RAPTCI brie ng courses, PTI training days, A3 Wattbike workshops, UK Midlands Female Festival of Sport and Bde Festival of Sports (Reg and AR), UK Midlands sport events, of ciating at various events, ETL courses, running OSC courses for the Cadet Training Teams, centralised weak and non-swimmers courses and this was on top of their normal day jobs. 7 Inf Bde is not a place for the work shy individual.
The Festivals of Sports were the highlight of the year for me, seeing the majority of the Bde RAPTCIs doing what they do best