Page 10 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
After 31⁄2 years as the SMI PD at the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick, it was time to leave God’s Country and move to pastures new and the next stage of my career at HQ RAPTC in the newly established post of SO3 Research and Development (R&D Cell). The post was established to investigate the current trends and innovations within the military and civilian tness spheres and to conduct studies of the available research and literature to amend and improve the course content of all PTI courses. This will ensure our PTIs at every level, AAPTI and RAPTCI, are both current with new initiatives and training methods as well as being competent to deliver PD using the most ef cient means possible.
Since I started my role; good avenues of communications have been rmly established. I am now engaged with Army HQ on a number of current issues, most notable being a member of the Women in Ground Close Combat (WGCC) Implementation Team as well as liaising with the researchers from Chichester University and the Institute of Naval Medicine who are, as part of the WGCC study, conducting a complete review of the physical demands of all the A2020 roles. This Physical Employment Standards (PES) study will be speci c to each role and long term will create a selection of new role related physical tests. The PES study will take 2-3 years to complete and includes reviewing all aspects of testing from Physical Selection Standards (Recruits) to the Annual Fitness Test and the Operational Fitness Tests. Having a soldier’s input to this study is vital and I intend to provide the team with real life experience and military thinking rather than just relying on
purely academic research. Another link I have fostered is with the newly formed Army Personnel Research Capability Committee at Army HQ which has been established to bring together the key research teams and Depts from across the Army. Its aim is to provide greater visibility of studies already completed and those underway in order to highlight best practice across the Army. Being a permanent member of the committee ensures the RAPTC are at the very front of all innovations and interventions conducted across the Army. Additional tasks and projects undertaken within my role have been varied and range from exploring the possibility for a fully funded BSc (Hons) degree either full or part time for our
soldiers to complete to scoping the potential for a Short Term Training Team deployment to Fiji delivering a Health and Fitness package to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. A particularly interesting piece of work conducted recently was to investigate the use of elevation training masks during PD sessions. These masks are advertised as replicating the effects of altitude training however; following a study of published research documentation and conversations with SMEs from across HQ ARTD, Army HQ and Loughborough University a paper was produced and a policy to restrict their use on PD sessions has been created by Army Trg PD Branch. This piece of work has reinforced the requirement to have a dedicated R&D Cell within HQ RAPTC to stay proactive rather than reactive. In closing, the R&D cell is up and running and hopefully will grow in size and provide opportunities for individuals to improve the PTI Courses and shape the future of the Corps.
HQ RAPTC
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CELL
Capt (MAA) RJ Roberts RAPTC
SO3 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
Army Personnel Research Capability
Women in Ground Close Combat Research Team
Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation
Institute of Naval Medicine
Online Science Gateway
Defence Musculoskeletal Health Advisory Group
UK Emergency Services Best Practice
National Governing Bodies
University Studies
Articles and Report Findings
Other Armed Forces Studies
HQ RAPTC Direction
PTI Review Findings
Established Fitness Industry Research
SO3 R+D
No
Does the research/information gathered assist with the Army’s and HQ RAPTC’s current priorities and ultimately increase the Army’s capability by improving the training of our PTIs?
Yes
Is it academically proven or is it new?
Can it be easily delivered? Who will it benefit?
Is there a cost?
Has it been tried before?
Is it better than the current training methods?
Is it relevant?
How long will it take to implement?
Prepare a short brief for HQ RAPTC stating what the new initiative is and how it will improve Physical Development in the Army.
Archive for potential future use
SMAA
Amend Policy Accordingly
SO2 P+P
SO2 TDT
Update PTI Courses Accordingly