Page 6 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
The MBS is part of the Corps fabric and as an annual publication it provides an insight into the Corps, often from a personal perspective which in many years to come will remind us of how life was like to serve at a particular moment in time. As a reference, the back issues of the MBS are proving to be invaluable and can quite often provide information regarding an event or individual that would be hard to nd anywhere else. Searching for this information has been made easier following the Museum Curator’s initiative to digitise back copies of the MBS. Further to this the MBS can be used to make comparisons with issues and problems from years gone by that we may think are new to our generation but in fact have been around for years.
With this in mind I hope to reproduce articles from past editions of the MBS to give the reader a avour of what life in the Corps was like in days gone by and for this MBS I have selected 2 articles from edition No 17 of the MBS which was published in 1937.
The rst article which I think is appropriate in this Olympic year is a personal account of the opening ceremony at the 1936 Olympics which gives the reader a avour of how events were organised in
those days and how much the global event we know today has grown.
The second is a personal perspective of Territorial Army tness which may have some comparisons with the problems faced by the Corps Instructor and policy makers of today. Both articles can be found under the Features Section of the Journal.
Once again I am indebted to those who have made the effort to provide the articles and photos for this edition of the MBS which re ects life in the Corps over the period Apr 2015 to Mar 2016. I do understand how onerous
producing an article can seem at times but once published it remains an everlasting memory which may, like the 1936 Olympic article be reproduced in 80 yeas’ time (2096) for the Corps Instructors of the day to re ect on days gone by.
Finally, I make my annual but very sincere apology for those who have submitted articles which did not make the nal cut for this edition but please be assured, your efforts do not go unrewarded and your articles are passed onto the RAPTC Museum Curator to be kept on our les for future reference.
MBS EDITORIAL 2016
RAPTC Regimental Secretary Lt Col (Retd) G B Jones
So after four years as your Comdt, it is time to step aside as I retire from the Army. It has been tremendous fun so a massive thank you for the
camaraderie and friendship that you have shown to me. I have been proud to have been the Comdt of the RAPTC, a fantastic way to round off 36 years in the Army and I have worn the Corps stable-belt and TRF with enormous pride. I have great respect for the skill and professionalism of every one of you: I am regularly stopped by my fellow of cers to be told what “an impressive bunch the RAPTC is” and “how brilliant their unit RAPTCI is”.
Education is an important part of our ethos and I am delighted that the SMAA has championed proposals to enable 5 SSgts to study for a Bachelor’s degree each year, to support the Masters
programme. It is fantastic to see that we are leading the debate on health, nutrition and lifestyle, all of which play a critical role in physical development: you are all superb role models for the rest of the Army, so do not underestimate the in uence that you have. We are also having an increasing role in the research arena, both with academia and the UK Strength and Conditioning Association. And last, but certainly not least, it is terri c to see the way you are all rejuvenating sport in the Army, including 4 members of the RAPTC being honoured in the Army Sports Awards in 2015.
I wish all of you the very best for the future and, while I recognise that there will be some uncertainties ahead, you will continue to have a vital role shaping the ethos and character of the British Army: that is a given.
COMMANDANT’S FOREWORD
Brigadier JPS Donnelly CBE Commandant Royal Army Physical Training Corps
HEADQUARTERS ROYAL ARMY PHYSICAL TRAINING CORPS
Lt Col (SMAA) SAJ Davis RAPTC
Another year passes and with little time to re ect on all that has been achieved other than to give a sideways glance, a wry smile and then move on to the next challenge. Only this time the end of an era approaches fast; both that of my tenure as your SMAA and that of a career that spans three decades, three Defence Reviews and just under three years as the SMAA. How things have changed.
In drafting my nal and 28th entry into the RAPTC Journal, the SMAA Foreword, I feel extremely proud to have been given the opportunity to serve as the Professional Head of such an esteemed organisation – it has been an honour and privilege to lead the Corps into the next stage of the Army’s rebuilding process under A2020 and to work alongside so many good people. I would especially like to thank Lieutenant General (Bash) Bashall and