Page 93 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2016/17

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PCBC Students on the nal leg of Ex Fan Dance with the stretcher
come from this is that Comds at all levels are now scrutinising heavily JSP 539 and ensuring all training is conducted as safely as practicable within the Safe Systems of Training.
The Battle School has a PS of approx. 300 personnel with the majority being SNCOs and above. The School composition is split into 5 Div’s (Junior Div, Senior Div, Pl Comds Div, Inf Wpns Div and Trg Sp Div) that are responsible for all of the courses run here. Approx. 1000 students will train here per year including international students. The training delivered by the DS on SCBC, PSBC and PCBC is renowned all over the world for its professionalism and robust approach. The course attendees categorise the courses by the time of year you attended, similarly to “The PTI course I did was harder than it is now”. If you attended and passed a winter course then you are seen in a different light to those who attended the summer course. Hey, it only went down to -13 on Sennybridge last Dec. Without a doubt the Tactics phase of any of the courses is as dif cult as the next despite the time of year and I wouldn’t want to do either.
The tempo of training delivered here is extremely fast paced and as some may be in a position to imagine, when the courses are
out on the ground, so are the DS. This leaves very little time for the Battle School DS to participate and represent in sports. Nevertheless, at the Battle School we have the Gurkha Wing Mandalay (GWM) within the Trg Sp Div who is sport crazy. In all my time within the army I have never experienced so many sports afternoons. I mean every afternoon of the week these guys are in the gym playing sport. Basketball, Volleyball and 5 aside football is played daily. On initial arrival I attempted to teach them 7’s rugby as I saw potential but it didn’t survive contact. However, the GWM Sport Billy’s (All of them) do participate successfully in all Regional Volleyball and Basketball Competitions every year.
The gymnasium is a heavily used facility and we are working towards a complete uplift on the equipment here. Last year we purchased in excess of £10K of new S&C equipment for the PT being delivered on course lessons and spent another £20K on refreshing CV PTE. As we are all aware, those amounts don’t buy you much nowadays but it’s a 3yr plan to completely uplift the quality of equipment available to the new Infantry Comds of the British Army.
During the Tactics phase of PCBC the new Pl Comds deploy to Belize for a 4 week exercise which tests their newly acquired skills and their personal administration to breaking point. The jungle does not suffer fools. My next venture is a trip to Belize in order to assist BATSUB with the setup of a new gymnasium. Standing Orders, Risk Assessments and Inductions are not everyone’s cup of tea but, I’m assured there are hidden treasures outside of the gym to experience and explore.
The Infantry Battle School is always running hot which allows the RAPTCI to experience the role and life of an infantry soldier. More importantly, it allows you to participate in and endure some of the most demanding physical training over a relentless terrain that you may never have experienced before. This gives you explicit understanding of the rigours placed upon our infantry soldiers in their support to operations. As this will be my last ever article due to time served it has to be said that it is an honour to work alongside and with the Infantry once again and see my career out with them.
HEADQUARTERS ADVENTUROUS TRAINING GROUP (ARMY)
In previous MBS notes I quoted that success as the GTO was to survive and at the time of submitting notes last year I was about to embark on a 14
month extension to my original 2 year assignment. At the time of submitting this year I am 3 days away from completing that 14 month extension and thus stake my claim as the longest serving GTO. Unless I get sacked in the coming three days, I can say I have survived, as for success that is for others to decide.
The many changes affecting the transformation of
ATG (A) have all come to fruition and the last 12
months has provided ample time for those changes
to bed in, providing a very positive outcome for all
employed within ATG (A). I also made reference to challenges and the expectation that savings measures would feature high on the agenda, as nancial constraints continue to be imposed on
MOD spending. I can honestly say I was not to be disappointed (if only I could apply the same level of certainty to the bookies or casino) I would be a wealthy man.
I was however right and left anked by; the RAPTC savings and the Tri-Service AT review, both of which hit with rather more severity than anticipated. Thankfully both have slipped a little in the priority stakes but I fear both will come back to haunt us to some extent in the not too distant future.
As I prepare to take on my new role as the CO of the ASPT, whilst I re ect fondly on the role of GTO, the time has been marred by our devastating loss
of our dearest son, James. He so desperately wanted me to promote and would have been so proud. These next 2 years are for you Son.
Maj (MAA) R Gilbey RAPTC GTO