Page 16 - RAPTC Number 102 2018/19

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SO2 ADVENTUROUS TRAINING & SPORT POLICY
Maj (MAA) N O’Shea RAPTC
During my 2-year tenure at Army HQ I have come to fully appreciate the complexities of policy. The importance of writing policy that protects MoD (and our soldiers) and is
supportive is a fine balance; getting it right is challenging and must not be underestimated. Whilst I am the first to admit that Army policy can seem unwieldy and complex, to just ignore it is the wrong approach, it must be read, understood and applied. Pers Pol(A) PD desks work hard to educate, giving context to and highlight the importance of policy.
Adventurous Training (AT). Currently the AT AGAI is being rewritten to provide new governance direction; Formal Sponsorships for High Level AT Expeditions is an on-going thread, as is Medical Payment for Overseas AT. With the new pillar AHd, Colonel Kirsten Dagless, the AT desk continues to grapple with several thorny issues at Training Education Skills, Recruitment and Resettlement Level (the ‘Centre’); ‘On Duty’ Status for Service Mountaineering Associations, Renaming & Defining Category 2 AT activities, JS Expedition Trust Criteria to name a few. All difficult to negotiate across the 3 Services’ whims and needs, not quite BREXIT but just as frustrating. The AT photos to these notes give an overview of Army HQ AT expeditions, 35+ this year.
Sport. Sport governance has made positive steps forward over this year. A new assurance approach that is supported by new HQ ASCB appointments have all made a difference, governance
will continue to improve as this filters to all levels of participation. The project to establish a formal ‘Sport Coaching & Officiating Training Requirement’ has been slow and complex but we now have baseline figures; a good foundation to build on. Also, as part of this project key governance aspects of sport course delivery have been identified, once implemented these will add rigour to this area. Collectively this project will clearly identify risks, help with mitigation strategies and professionalise our approach to sport. Other development threads are, Transgender Policy, Duty Status for Elite Athletes and Professional Sports Persons policy to name a few, all of which need to be joined up in the TESRR environment.
In addition to the above AT and Sport aspects the Water Safety AGAI has been rewritten and published, a complex document supporting many delivery areas but essential for safety governance.
By the time you read these notes I will have moved onto SO2 Trg Dev, HQ RAPTC and handed over to Maj Russ Reid. On reflection, my tenure at Army HQ has been very rewarding, a challenging working environment with a high tempo battle rhythm. The knowledge, skills and experience gained really give an excellent overview of Army business and the importance of policy development to support and protect the Army. Whilst on face value policy writing may seem uninspiring, it is far from it; an assignment at Army HQ will develop your portfolio and wider awareness.
Lt Col Lewis MTB
Ski touring