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BACK IN ‘GOD’S OWN COUNTRY’ – HEADQUARTERS 160TH INFANTRY BRIGADE & HEADQUARTERS WALES – BRECON
Captain (MAA) D E Williams RAPTC, SO3 G7 PD ‘Absorb complexity and deliver simplicity’
After 2 enjoyable and very busy years at the Army Training Regiment Winchester where my passport was thoroughly ‘beasted’ along with my bank account, I begrudgingly handed over to the very capable Captain ‘Reg’ Pierce who took over as Master At Arms on Commission. After a few tweaks to my Assignment Order (on the bus, off the bus), I was nally told I was not now going to sunny Preston (42X), but instead, to sunny Brecon!!! BONUS!
Since joining the Corps, this was my second assignment to Wales and I haven’t been disappointed. Located in the heart of the Beacons, Brecon is a superb location with vistas that you never get bored of. The only downside of being here is being located too close to my dad who has managed to track me down to enlist me into working on his farm in my time off, which is worse than any ‘phys’ session that you can imagine, he has also designed his own unique brand of Farmer Fit!! Basically getting thrashed with no rest!
The role as SO3 PD is thoroughly rewarding and dynamic. I turned up to a gapped post, one week early on request, to help out as the nights Visits Of cer on the Cambrian Patrol (CP). The CP is the annual international Patrol Competition held over a two week period in South Wales. It is run and administered by the Brigade Headquarters, and consumes every spare body who is ably capable of doing some kind of task to make the event successful. This means leaving the phones and emails to be answered by the camp dog and 2 Army Cadets! The CP has evolved over many years, from a competition to test the Welsh Territorial Units post WW2, into the renowned International event that it is today. Held every October, it tests section level teams over 55km of hostile terrain, in arduous conditions whilst completing military stands en route over a 48 hour period. The competition is set at the same standard for both Regular and Reserve units and both UK and overseas teams. Last year the competition was entered by over
Anon
130 teams with a large percentage of poorly prepared teams not nishing. It is de nitely not to be underestimated.
In my role as the SO3, I am ably assisted by the QMSI PD, WO2 ‘Geordie’ Fernandez RAPTC who is the proverbial ‘font of knowledge’. As an FTRS soldier, he provides a level of continuity and understanding which is second to none. He is also good company and keeps me on the ‘straight and narrow’, and makes sure I’m at the right place at the right time (usually with a coffee in hand)! In both the 160X role and the Headquarters Wales Regional Point of Contact (RPOC) role, we have managed to visit every unit (Regular & Reserve) on our patch in my short time in post. Due to the road systems in Wales, and no direct North/South route, this can mean a 4 hour trip to visit JSMTC & Capel Curig for example. Visiting the guys and girls at the coal face and conducting/ advising on assurance is the best part of the job. You get to see rst-hand where our people work and what challenges they face in an ever busier Army. During my tenure, both 1 R IRISH and 1 RIFLES have had enduring operations in Iraq and Afghanistan (Operations TORAL and SHADER) along with augumentees from other units. Sport, health, AT, the Reserves and RAAT are all at the forefront of the daily work routine, but there have still been plenty of units getting away to conduct some good quality AT. Alpine skiing remains ever popular, making up over 50% of Brigade AT clearance requests at desk level.
As I write these notes, the post has come to an end after a fast and furious 6 months. Where did it go? I’d like to personally thank all the 160X RAPTCIs for doing a superb job in sometimes dif cult circumstances and I’m still recovering from the ‘run ashore’ in Cardiff! I’d particularly like to thank the QMSI for being a diligent and hardworking individual who really has been great company and almost drinks as many coffees as me. I also wish all the best to Capt (MAA) Craig Woolass RAPTC who takes over in early April on Commission and I hope that he has a great 2 years in post.
14TH SIGNAL REGIMENT (ELECTRONIC WARFARE) – HAVERFORDWEST ‘The Raft Race’
SSgt (SSI) C Walsh RAPTC
In the British Army, Wednesday afternoons, during peace time or in the absence of other duties, are traditionally times for sport and recreation. On a beautiful warm sunny day in picturesque
West Wales, on an early afternoon parade on Wednesday 14th September 2016, soldiers from 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) were informed that a surprise event would take place not far from the Camp in nearby Solva, and that this would be a ‘mystery’, but that it was part of the Commanding Of cers’ Cup. Later that day, two large buses pulled into Solva car park, and 150 of cers and soldiers smartly dressed in casual wear disembarked and marched onto Solva Quay.
Teams were confronted by 10 sets of planks, barrels and ropes for the construction of rafts, which would prove problematic for a number of the Regimental teams. Over a period of many years this