Page 99 - RAPTC Number 102 2018/19

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1 ROYAL SCHOOL OF MILITARY ENGINEERING REGIMENT
WO2 (QMSI) DP Read RAPTC
1RSME has one of the largest and best equipped gymnasium facilities that I have seen within the British Army where it is also planned to deliver a purpose-built rehab facility. The
P&RTC footprint boasts one large gymnasium hall which contains two basketball courts, a dedicated strength and conditioning area, climbing wall and a contained outside grassed area with two beaver fit rigs; ideal for conducting battle PT. Another facility contains over 30 pieces of cardio vascular equipment and an additional area containing over 40 pieces of strength & conditioning equipment which supports the APTS.
With so much infrastructure and so many events taking place it is a relief to have the support of 15 AAPTI’s who are all itching to take on the responsibilities of running these tasks. Each AAPTI gets the opportunity to organise and deliver a large event during their time at 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment and it is a great opportunity for the whole team to pull together.
The ‘Sports Passport’ programmes are a rotational eight-week sport package which trainees actively participate in when they first arrive. This is supported by the local leisure centre that facilitates swimming, basketball, badminton, martial arts centre and athletics track. This partnership is an overwhelming success delivering 15 sports at any one time.
Throughout the year and in addition to the traditional Inter Sqn sports competitions the Regiment also holds a Military Skills Competition which is conducted over a 4-mile course. This involves 8 teams from each Sqn competing at endurance events such as a land rover pull, equipment races, command tasks, military knowledge, first aid and memory games. The Amhurst 5, which is a tradition across the Royal Engineers involves all soldiers across the Regt conducting a 5-mile endurance event around the obstacle course and dock yard, finishing on the great lines. With the ability to deliver varied PT lessons in April the Wainscott Mudder Competition takes place on the ponderosa; a plant area which is used to deliver a low level “tough mudder”.
Since arriving I have been overwhelmed with the level of activities that are also on offer to the permanent staff from, AT expeditions to a Battlefield Study visiting Cassino and Anzio in Italy. The Battlefield Study looked at the Italian Campaign in general and focused on the four battles of Monte Cassino between Jan and May 1944. The second part encompassed the beach landings at Anzio and a visit to the Commonwealth War Cemetery.