Page 39 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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1ST BATTALION THE ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES & HEADQUARTERS BRUNEI GARRISON
SSgt (SSI) R Remmer RAPTC
Jungle Training
Having arrived in Brunei during the summer stand down period the rst key event in the calendar was Brunei’s largest training exercise. The COS had a light bulb moment and thought it would be a good idea for the RAPTCI to tag along to gain an insight into what the Gurkhas train for. Exercise Typhoon Kukri is conducted annually over three weeks and encompassed the whole Battalion and Garrison support troops performing manoeuvres from one side of Brunei’s jungle to the other, after nishing off with a nal assault on top of the highest jungle peak overlooking Malaysia, an insight is what I de nitely got.....
Physical Training
Physical Training conducted by the Soldiers in Brunei is somewhat different than to what would normally be conducted by a British Battalion. From the Ri eman up it seemed running and load marching four days a week followed by 3 hours of basketball and volleyball daily was the norm and that’s all there was to it! It has been a pain staking process of changing a historic mind set on how a unit should be training however with the help of 11X and RC a full uplift of physical training equipment should be arriving in 3 weeks of writing this (4 month deliver time in Brunei!). S&C, Robust PT, Swimming, varying sports and most importantly fortnightly Battalion PT are now playing a key part in what is delivered in Brunei with repetitive injuries on the downward spiral and things can only progress!
Dashain & Tihar
For those that have never served with the Gurkha soldiers Dashain and Tihar are major events within the yearly calendar and the whole Battalion comes to a standstill. The gymnasium with the great help of the unit PTIs turned into a venue for celebrations for not only the soldiers but also for the families and the local Military school. A very warm welcome into the Gurkha culture awaited not only me but also my family where parties, dinners, gambling and plenty of free owing “beverages” were the norm!
Future Plans
DIO Brunei run the Estate development Plan here with major projects being undertaken all the time. There had been plans to build a new Gymnasium in the next 3 years however the design that was put together some 4-5 years ago just did not suit what was required in Brunei now. Therefore to “future proof” any new build the current plans were scrapped and both myself and the Garrison QM have put together all our requirements along with visits to the UK to design a full Gymnasium Complex that would rival anything within the UK........
So far an assignment to 1 RGR has been nothing less than exciting with these Gurkha soldiers keeping me on my toes and with 6 weeks in Kenya and then 6 weeks in New Zealand upcoming I am sure to be kept busy!