Page 11 - Mind, Body and Spirit Online Edition

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THE ARMY COMMAND GROUP

Maj (MAA) S D Collinson RAPTC

“I
need a volunteer?”.... you always know when there’s brief its members on the current and future provision of Physical
incoming from the SMAA. “The new Colonel Commandant, Development (PD) in the Army.
General Bashall, has asked the Chief of the General Staff

(CGS) if he’d be interested in holding an Army Command Group For our part, the main focus was preparing for the opportunity
(ACG) meeting at the PT School. Steve, you’re the new boy, to deliver the series of stands depicting RAPTC capability.
here’s a small project to get your teeth into!”. So it began, a small Discussions with the SMAA and endorsement from the Comdt
task to co-ordinate and host an ACG meeting and deliver a series conirmed that we would focus on the Corps’ contribution to

of displays depicting the capability of the RAPTC.
Physical Training, Adventurous Training, Sport, Rehabilitation,
Health and our role within Battle Back. So it was that we
The ACG is the Army’s central executive decision-making began to develop six stands. Stand OICs were appointed and
framework, it is comprised of 2, 3 and 4* Oficers and a 2* Civil a series of three, monthly progress meetings were scheduled.

Servant. The ACG is convened on a monthly basis; or as frequently Responsibilities were as follows:
as CGS requires. There are 10 standing members, who are:
Activity
Unit
OIC

Appt Holder Star Appointment
Abbr
HQ RAPTC
Project Oficer
Maj (MAA) Collinson RAPTC
on the day
Tally
Physical ASPT
WO2 (QMSI) Reese RAPTC
Chief of the
Training
4*
CGS
Gen Sir Peter Wall
General Staff
Capt (MAA) Best RAPTC
Adventurous
JSATI
Training
Commander 4*
Gen Sir Nick Parker
Land Forces
CLF
(now 3*)
WO1 (SMI) Horner RAPTC
Sport
HQ Sp Comd
WO2 (QMSI) McIlroy RAPTC
Adjutant General 3*
Rehabilitation
AG
Lt Gen G W Berragan
RRU Aldershot
Commander Force
Comd Health
3 RSME
WO2 (QMSI) Paton RAPTC
Sgt (SI) Rush RAPTC
Battle Back
Development
FDT
Lt Gen J D Page
3*
Battle Back
& Training
Quartermaster
3*
The monthly meetings conirmed the stand requirements in terms Lt Gen C M Deverell
QMG
General
of content, location, format, equipment and manpower, but owing
Chief of Staff
Land Forces
COS LF
2*
to the complexity of co-ordinating all the various groups, there Maj Gen D M Cullen
wouldn’t be an opportunity to rehearse until the day of the ACG.
Master Gunner of
the Ordnance
2*
MGO
Maj Gen N A W Pope

Assistant Chief of 2*
ACGS
Maj Gen J Everard
the General Staff
Commander Joint Comd
2*
AVM C Dixon
Helicopter Command
JHC
Comd
Command Secretary
Sec
Mr D Stephens
2*

Essentially, the day was split into two components: the ACG

meeting itself, followed by an invitation to ACG members to
observe a series of stands depicting RAPTC capability. Within
the agenda of the ACG, the Col Comdt had the opportunity to

Capt Eddie Williams and QMSI Bren Reese brief CGS at the PT Stand
SMAA and Capt George Best brief CGS at the AT Stand