Page 83 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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the Recruits, and secondly to aid with the integrated pilot course that would be running towards the end of the year.
On top of normal Regimental duties, PT Troop added a few extra tasks to its list. Firstly, we implemented Commanding Of cers PT for all permanent staff. This PT takes place every second week from 0700hrs. The JNCOs attend the rst session and the SNCOs and Of cers attend the following fortnight. Secondly, we also added a bespoke ATR (W) corporate image to the unit sports teams by kitting them out in a design that was the same across all sports. Additionally, both gymnasiums were given new names; The Top Gym was named ‘Howard Hall’, after the late Major John Howard, OC D Company 2 Ox & Bucks LI, this was to
ATR (W) Boxing Night set up
maintain a link to the past as the home of the Light Division. The main gym was named ‘Haughton Hall’ after the current Army Sgt Major, WO1 (ASM) Glenn Haughton; this was in keeping with the new Army Leadership Code being introduced into
Entrance to ATR (W) P&RTC – Haughton Hall
the Army and the Regiment. All this was done on the back end of keeping Captain (MAA) Eddie Williams under control and having at least 30 brew breaks a day. A task that outweighed anything else I have achieved in my rst year!!!
ATR (W) Triathlon Team & Winners Of The Uk Sport (South) Competition
2015 was an extremely busy year for PT Troop. The primary goal of the Regiment is to train and transform recruits into trained soldiers ready to commence Phase 2 training. During this busy period, I was approached by the MAA to organise a Regimental Triathlon event and form a Triathlon team from a wealth of potential talent within the unit.
Being IC of Triathlon within the Regiment, my main roles were to identify new talent,
ATR (W) recently completed a demanding Type 3 AT Expedition to the Dolomite Mountains in Northern Italy, where we conducted Via Feratta also known as Kletterstieg. Via Feratta is a series of cables, bridges and ladders that were put in place to move troops around defensive positions in the Dolomites during WW1. These have now been updated and upgraded to use as a means of taking non-climbers to places and heights that they would never normally experience. 20 Personnel from the unit deployed on the expedition, including the Commanding Of cer. Deployment was mid-September at the back end of the summer, and therefore the weather was a challenging obstacle in this remote area of Northern Italy with the highest climb being in excess
Sgt (SI) N Rana RAPTC
encourage Permanent Staff to try a new sport, and nally establish a triathlon team in order to succeed in the upcoming season. Organising a Unit Triathlon event massively helped to identify the new talent I required and allowed me to design and schedule suitable training programmes for all athletes. With great support from the Regimental 2IC, Maj Blanch eld who has been a role model for the younger generation, the Triathlon team’s superb efforts paid off with ATR Winchester
‘Exercise DOLOMITE TIGER’
Sgt (SI) D Grenier RAPTC
of 3500m. The altitude, terrain and weather made it a challenging experience for both the instructors and those taking part. Exactly the aim of Adventurous Training!
The Expedition was conducted over a 7 day period in September. Whilst in the winter months, the small remote village of Araba deep in the Dolomites national park is a famous skiing resort, during the summer it becomes a climbing and mountaineering hotspot. Organising and executing the Expedition was a great experience, while the build-up was the most challenging part, with us as a unit having to qualify 3 RAPTCIs as Alpine Kletterstieg Leaders (AKL) before the expedition could go ahead. Once this
winning the 2015 Triathlon Minor Unit event. With a strong contingency of PS possessing a strong sporting talent, ATR (W) has also excelled at both squash and Mountain biking. With all the additional coaching courses and strong individual appearances in other sports and disciplines, the unit won the Minor Units UK (South) Sports Competition 2015.
RAPTC Personnel and the Commanding Of cer on the Kletterstieg Exped
obstacle was cleared and the expedition went ahead, all aims were achieved and it was a thoroughly memorable experience. With the CO’s backing, we will de nitely be going again next year.