Page 86 - Mind, Body and Spirit 2015-16

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WO2 (QMSI) Dykes and a Barbary Ape you decide which is which
I managed to hook up with WO2(QMSI) Matt Arlow again when the AGC Band and I popped over to the Rock of Gibraltar for a spot of AT in the summer. An amazing place although I’m not sure I will be getting on the in atable banana again after ending up with 3 Adams apples at one stage Thanks must go to Matt for being such a great host, it is well worth a visit, if only to see the monkeys and the cave complex.
A brief irtation with the Army Cross Country Relays followed again, it’s always a pleasure working with Keith and Claire and for the second year running I’m sure nobody went the wrong way! Another opportunity presented itself this year thanks to the AGC; they offered me a place on the British Association of Snowsport Instructors Level 2 (BASI2) cse with ex QMSI Michael Graham. So off we went back to Neustift for what we imagined would be a fairly relaxed 2 weeks
QMSIs Wigley Dykes & Arlow ready for a day on the slopes
QMSIs Dykes & Arlow escaping the coastguard
prior to Christmas. What we encountered was entirely different as the instructor was a rather robust Scottish chap, who as the previous chairman of BASI, turned out didn’t do warmth, breaks or humour! We eventually managed to bring him around to some of our ways with the odd break at least. He was brutal, but in an ever softening world of discipline he gained respect in what we perceived were unconventional teaching and coaching styles. It was a tough but enjoyable course for the most part and we all got big sparkly badges, so it must have been worth it.
2016 started as 2015 had nished, another opportunity, this time skiing with 11X HQ and again alongside Matt Arlow. 23 years he has followed me and I still can’t get rid of him! WO2 (QMSI) Matt Wigley RAPTC joined us for an outstanding exped in Tignes, at one stage we thought we’d never get out of the resort as it snowed for
DCLPA WD Gym Staff in usual work attire
QMSI Dykes working hard as usual
QMSI & Ex QMSI Graham on BASI 2 Trg
the rst 5 days solid. Luckily due to the quality of Matt Wigley’s snow plough we made it out of the resort on the nal day. Hot the heels of the 11X trip was my own Ski exped to Val Thorens. It was another outstanding week, this time in glorious sunshine in an amazing resort with good friends.
In amongst all the fun was the usual day to day work which as an RAPTCI we all do, frustrating at times but mostly enjoyable. DCPLA WD continues to go through massive changes as the demolition and building work continues on what has now become a 320 million pound redevelopment. Whilst PT is challenging to deliver with less and less real estate being available, the future looks amazing for whoever eventually gets the keys to the palace in 2018.
To be Frank, I’ve had an amazing year.
ARMY FOUNDATION COLLEGE, HARROGATE (AFC (H))
Major (MAA) R Groves MBA RAPTC
First and foremost a big thank you to the Battle Back team for 16 great months it was emotional!, secondly to Major Jimmy Hendrickson for the in depth handover of the juggernaut
that is AFC Harrogate. All the work and stories below emanate from the time that Jimmy was in command and the successes are certainly down to him and his team of RAPTC and civilian Instructors that have grafted to control the beast that is AFC
Harrogate. I personally look forward to 2 years at the helm and hope that all the staff buy into the management style of Groves and continue to produce the highest quality Junior Soldiers for the next phase of training; additionally staff development of career and personal objectives is paramount if this is to be a fair and rounded Company. Here’s hoping!!
2015 was the start of my second 6 months at AFC (H) as the Duke of Edinburgh, Sports and Skills (S&S) Co-ordinator within Fox Coy Headquarters. Having found my feet on the
nancial aspects of my role, my intention for 2015 was to develop
Sport within the College for both the Junior Soldiers (JS) and Permanent Staff (PS) by organising more local Competitions and Sport Quali cations.
Fox Company Headquarters
SSgt (SSI) S Richardson RAPTC