Page 116 - RAPTC Number 102 2018/19

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INFANTRY TRAINING CENTRE PRIMARY CARE REHABILITATION FACILITY
WO1 (SMI) A Balwah RAPTC
The Primary Care Rehabilitation Facility (PCRF) at the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) has seen a very dynamic year due to its manning and infrastructure changes. The manning spectrum to the department has seen the gapped QMSI position filled by WO2 (QMSI) McGregor and Sgt (SI) Palmer replaced by newly qualified ERI Sgt (SI) McGrevey. The infrastructure of the PCRF has seen huge improvements with a recent physical equipment project uplift of around £100,000 led by Sgt (SI) Charlton. The facility now offers up to date equipment to support the ever-improving dynamics of physical development and rehabilitation at the ITC. The building itself, known as Laidlaw which houses the Medical Centre is also undergoing a full refurbishment project with phase 1 encompassing the PCRF department; however, the project evicted us from our home and we have been hot bedding at the Physio department and the main gymnasium for rehab classes during the project duration. The infrastructure uplift included the installation of new clinical flooring, a climate control system and a freshen up on the look and feel of the place.
Alongside the awe-inspiring rehabilitation delivered around the various infrastructure changes the department has been working on revamping the rehabilitation pathway for recruits. This is to integrate alongside the newly reformed Combat Infanteers Course 18 (CIC18). Recruits on the CIC18 programme are now carrying out the Physical Employment Standards (PES) set for Ground Close Combat (GCC) troops during training. Injured recruits under rehabilitation require a pathway; ‘Return To Training’ (RTT) conditioned to reflect this new demand. WO2 (QMSI) McGregor
and the department created a RTT matrix, which sees recruits having to meet tapered standards of the Role Fitness Test Entry (RFT-E) and / or RFT Basic Training (BT) prior to returning to the CIC 18 programme.
Overall the ITC PCRF department has probably not seen change on this scale in over 20 years. With manning changes across its military and civil service staff, building and equipment uplifts and a complete rewrite to the CIC 18 programme, including the PES GCC element, the PCRF staff should feel very proud of their achievements during this turbulent year.
ITC PCRF Team – WO2 McGregor, Sgt Duncan, Sgt Charlton, Sgt McGrevey
ROYAL NAVAL AIR STATION (RNAS) YEOVILTON
SSgt (SSI) JRS Bambury RAPTC “Journey from mainstream to ERI”
My journey started when I received an email from WO1 (SMI) Till trawling the Corps for personnel wishing to undertake the ERI course from mainstream units,
after some deliberation I replied expressing my interest. In something resembling a Bourne identity film, once I had sent the email the phone rang with WO1 (SMI) Till on the other end; we discussed the procedure of applying, attending and career implications. This was followed up a couple of months later with a visit to Headley for aptitude screening and further discussions around the shape of my career afterwards, on successful completion of the screening I was offered a place on the next course which would include another mainstream PTI SSgt (SSI) Thompson.
The course itself was well laid out and the tutors demonstrated varying teaching techniques for their diverse audience due to the tri-service nature (the RAF studying constantly and the Navy sporting a strong beard game). The course despite much scaremongering didn’t melt my brain, have everyone up until 0300 and my eyes didn’t bleed, if you maintained a balance/ structured approach to the course it will not dominate you or your life. I chose to attend the course married unaccompanied which was due to the short nature of the course and the fact Headley was moving which meant there was no chance of being posted there resulting in 2 moves in 6 months, but we did have 4 students on course commuting daily from Aldershot with no impact on their results.
Having completed the course, I was posted to the PCRF on board HMS Heron at RNAS Yeovilton a busy PCRF having
a PAR of 3500 with a mix of aircrew, ground crew, NATO exchange, Phase 2 and Royal Marines. Having never worked alongside the Royal Navy, once I got used to the breads and language I had to adjust to their approach and adherence to physical training (not compulsory just a requirement to pass the RNFT yearly). Something I have noticed during my short time in rehab is the psychological effect of injury on personnel, although the injury may not be the trigger it certainly is a catalyst and you may find yourself listening to many problems which may not be injury related (all part of the rehab process). This is something I personally wish to develop myself further as I have seen how addressing the psychological problem first the physical will follow, nothing too dissimilar to that of remedial PT attendees and getting them to change their mindset.
On reflection of my short time in rehab in comparison to mainstream both jobs have different pressures with regards to your battle rhythm. The ERI role you are tied down to your diary and most of the time are in front of patients, so you cannot come back to it later if you need to think about it. The mainstream role can be somewhat more reactive with regards to providing information back to the unit/Bde and having more management of the building and staff; something less likely to undertake in the ERI role (no texts from PTIs the evening saying they’re on ranges tomorrow). If you are ERI-curious please feel free to look me up to answer any questions you have for someone who has gone from shifting tin to rubbing skin.