Page 80 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

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on to represent HCMR at sport in the future. This in turn often leads to RAC sport representation.
This year has seen HCMR increase its sport up take with CoC buy in. We now try to get as many individuals away as possible on sports courses and always try to enter teams into LONDIST events and UK South events. The GOC’s Cup is the main sporting event in the HCMR sporting calendar and the unit nished the day
as the runners up. Another rst during my tour was the regimental boxing event. HCMR hadn’t had a boxing night for a few years and I was ecstatic that SSgt Burt (HCR) and I managed to hold a Finals Night; the night was a huge success and is something we look to plan every year. A successful year at HCMR and I look forward to continuing and developing all PD elements over the remainder of my tour.
On completion of my Class 1 Training, course No 204, and successful transfer into the RAPTC in Mar 16, I quickly found myself working in one of the most complex RAPTCI
mainstream jobs available. (I’m led to believe by Maj (Retd) Chapple, and I’m not arguing with him!) LCG is home to 3 Public Incremental Companies (PDICs), those being Nijmegen Company GREN GDS, No 7 Company COLDM GDS and F Coy SCOTS GDS, 5 Household Division (HDiv) Bands, Welsh Guards, Scots Guards, Irish Guards, Coldstream Guards and Grenadier Guards Bands, the PRU, 5 Regimental Headquarters, the Garrison RHQ... I could go on! The battle rhythm within LCG and focus of the units is State Ceremonial and Public Duties, with physical development a close second! During my rst year here I had the privilege of witnessing the Queen’s 90th birthday parade. I am sure you can imagine the amount of rehearsals and inspection time to get such a high pro le and world reaching event to its conclusion and is down to the hard work and attention to detail of the Guard units.
Upon completion of the Queen’s Birthday Parade the PDICS and Bands rotate through AT packages, sports, various other PD related activities and block leave. One of the highlights of 2016
was a high pro le boxing event, held at Wellington Bks, between the Household Division (HDiv) and the Parachute Regiment (PARA). This was the rst time the Regiments had fought against each other since 1967. There were some courageous bouts and although the PARAs won the event, HDiv Boxers held their own and had much to be proud of.
Another highlight during my rst year as an RAPTCI was HQ LONDISTs Ex COCKNEY WESTMINSTER 17, held in Chamonix, France. This was my rst skiing experience and although my skiing ability wasn’t all that great I did manage to gain my SF1 and create some attention by casually pulling out a headstand (RAPTCI style) providing much needed entertainment on the slopes. I thoroughly enjoyed the skiing and have caught the bug; I will de nitely be working towards gaining the SF2 in the future.
To conclude, I have had a fantastic year at LCG with some great highlights in 2016. I am looking forward to events as they unfold in 2017, aiming to maximise opportunity, decrease non deployable numbers and enhance the overall physical capability of London Central Garrison.
LONDON CENTRAL GARRISON (LCG)
Sgt (SI) L Davies RAPTC
Northwood Headquarters is a Tri-Service multi role organisation which provides Joint Force Capabilities from Land, Sea and Air. It partners the Multi National Headquarters which is
staffed by EU personnel commanding counter piracy operations. As the RAPTCI in my rst post, I have found the diverse Tri-Service environment an exciting yet challenging role. To see how the other services work day to day and trying to integrate a common standard of PD whilst maintaining the highest standards is very challenging, yet rewarding.
The gym staff have organised and run a series of inter departmental events. So far, 5-a-side football, 2K indoor rowing races, basketball and dodgeball have all been highly attended and well contested. Future events will include a potted sports with military skills day, nishing off with an in atable ‘human table football’ all coinciding with our families day in July 2017.
Adventurous training is a key aspect here at Northwood. Within the last 12 months we have promoted, help plan and given advice for a range of AT activities such as sailing, skiing and trekking. Next year will be no different with the standout expedition being the GR20 summit trail trek in Corsica.
In Oct 16, a team of 10 staff set out to complete the Windsor ‘Beast’ Reebok Spartan Race. A 15 mile multi-obstacle endurance race. The team stuck together throughout and helped each other through the demanding tasks; water obstacles, burden carries / drags, leopard crawling, log ips, rope climbs, spear throwing and
re pit jumping to name a few! Failure on any task constituted in a 25 burpee per person penalty. Lots of burpees were completed that day! The team performed heroically, and made it over the nish line with a weary but accomplished smile on their face. A fantastic day out team bonding and morale boost for all involved.
Spartan Race 2017
NORTHWOOD HEADQUARTERS
Sgt (SI) LP Baldwin RAPTC