Page 68 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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HQ LONDIST and LONDIST Units have continued to thrive through 2015 and into 2016 under the ever watchful
life! Everything changes from uniform to capbadge! There are approximately 40 Army Loan Service Personnel (LSP), the largest in the Army. On top of the Army there are contractors (ex-Army who have feathered their caps and work (loosely) alongside the regulars). A Navy and RAF contingent cap the complete LSP team to over 100 personnel. To help you make the choice in becoming an ATI the pay in Oman isn’t too shabby, well it’s almost double!! The pictures are taken in the largest single entry open cave structure in the Middle East - Majlis Al Ginn (Cave of Spirits). That’s me
eye of Maj (Retd) Chapple BEM RAPTC
now in his 10th year in the District! I had
the pleasure of taking over from Capt (MAA)
Lee Davison in Sep 15 after completing a
2 year tour with the Royal Army of Oman
(RAO). Al ham d Allah!! The RAO RAPTC
appointment in the Sultanate of Oman is an
ATI CI (WO2) appointment, quite possible
the best opportunity and job going within
the RAPTC (if you dabble in AT!) A beautiful
country with stunning scenery, friendly
hosts, 365 days of sun (granted, 2 months in the middle are not for the Scottish skinned!). This job involves you in all aspect of the training, from delivery to development and everything in the middle. You learn to read, write and speak in Arabic through a 6 week course in Salisbury and then y business class to a new
WO1 (SMI) I Navin RAPTC
HQ LONDIST
WO1 (SMI) IP NAVIN RAPTC
Maj (Retd) A Chapple
hanging around on my way out! For those interested it was a 180m abseil, judging the length of rope was quite a challenge!
The rst task (and my skill set helped) was nding the of ce! HQ LONDIST is a labyrinth of corridors and of ces all set in Horse Guards Parade next to beautiful St James Park. My feet not having touched the ground I was soon in the thick of the action meeting the RAPTCIs and running the two major sports competitions LONDIST hold within my rst month. There is a good bunch of hard working RAPTCIs within LONDIST who all ensured the success not only of a sporting calendar but also continue to support and make a difference to their Units. We have had success with the promotion of now SSgt (SSI) Emmerson who will have moved on to 1 GREN GDS, taking over from WO2 (QMSI) Richardson MBE. SSgt (SSI) Noteyoung has parted company from the HCR with his Warrant in hand with SSgt (SSI) Burt grabbing the reigns with a sideways move from LONDIST PCRF. SSgt (SSI) Bishop has stepped aside to allow SSgt (SSI) Williams into the realm at 1IG. SSgt (SSI) Tosh will move to the PCRF. New into the district are Sgt (SI) Davies LCG and Sgt (SI) Baldwin PJHQ. Sgt (SI) Ashton completed 3 months at PJHQ prior to his move AFC (H). We had a brief glimpse of Sgt (SI) Jallow at PJHQ (only 3 months) and wish him well on his Rehab course.
With AT at the top of all priorities! and now having been in post for 3 months it was time to get away!! So I went to New Zealand with 1 GREN GDS instructing on a 9 day Sea Kayak Expedition on the South Island in a place called Marlborough Sounds. You may have drunk a bottle or two from the region! Being an SMI at LONDIST is not so bad! Every year you should visit somewhere new and with 2015 ticked the AT at the start of 2016 was a HQ AT Ski Trip to Le Plagne, in the French Alps. This was a trip which quali ed HQ personnel to SF1 standard, helping to keep my ngers in the AT world rather than tapping the keys! The Regimental Association via the Corp SM kindly supported this expedition with £50 towards