Page 20 - RAPTC Number 102 2018/19

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HEADQUARTERS 1ST (UNITED KINGDOM) DIVISION
Maj (MAA) CM Roberts RAPTC
Having arrived at HQ 1st (UK) Division towards the back end of summer 19, the pace of life compared to that of ITC Catterick stepped up a
couple of notches, both in terms of the flight manual, and the way in which the newly polished desk needed to be driven.
My first insight into the Commanders Update Brief was aligned to the fast and furious pace of STTT’s, deployed packets of personnel and the role out of Div/ Bde Ex planning. The Starship Enterprise is probably the nearest comparison, but a really interesting step-up to wider Div business.
The roll out of PES and the passage of key information
has been the ‘hot topic’, and one which I know has
very forefront of our core business over the past 12 months. Speaking to Maj Mark Field on a regular basis; he has managed to navigate the RAPTC along a rocky path of recent and has done an absolutely sterling job. PES and SCR, through the delivery of APTS will pave the way for several years to come. The individual team discussions and the collective view right across the Division has been positive and well received.
Selling the product, winning the war of influence, creating the conditions for success; all part of the bigger picture from an RAPTC perspective. We had a great opportunity to demonstrate our trade at the recent 1st (UK) Division Command Conference, which took place in Mar 19. With the newly appointed GOC, (who by the way is a real supporter of the RAPTC), the route into the conference was made fairly easy. With a 25-minute presentation on the first day to the GOC, CoC and Bde Comds, the PES
pathway and the walk through of Programme THOR was, in my opinion, received extremely well.
The following morning saw 130 Commanding Officer’s and RSM’s land at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall, to receive a full SCR demonstration by Divisional/Regional RAPTCIs. The demonstration was headed up by WO2 (QMSI) Scott Pollock RAPTC, and SSgt (SSI) Phil Welch RAPTC; both ably supported by a further 19 instructors who came to assist with the event. Extremely humbling to see the comradeship on the ground by some of our outstanding instructors.
been at the
A look forward to a number of key events over the next twelve months; the reinvigoration of the Bismarck The GOC wants to bring back the event from the Herford days in Germany. Extremely close links to the Divisional HQ, and a challenge that I think will be fairly well received by the Divisional units – The 1st (UK) Division Bismarck 4x4 Challenge (Sep/Oct 19). The second event will take the form of a Divisional Boxing Championship, demonstrating the art right the way from Dev A boxer, up to and including Open and International Boxers. The aspiration is to capture an international training camp at GB Boxing, with a view to holding a couple of high-end bouts and an
English Title Belt...
From a personal perspective, my start at the Division has been excellent with a really good buzz around the HQ. You will never take that feeling of ‘shock of capture’ away, but new challenges, understanding the dynamic, and applying our role is unique to every appointment.
Onwards and upwards!!
Challenge.
HQ 1 (UK) Div)