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BATTLE BACK – DEFENCE MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE (DMRC)

WO2 (QMSI) J Street RAPTC

O
n 12 August 2008 two visionaries
arrived at The Defence Medical
Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC)
Headley Court armed with nothing but

a good idea, the mandate for which to
realise it and an empty ofice with a solitary
phone in the middle of a bare loor. This
is where Battle Back was born. Almost 5

years on and a team of two still reside there
and are the only element of BB that work
under direct clinical guidance, in order to
deliver the mission. “To use Sport and

Adventurous Training to complement and
accelerate traditional therapies in the Bio-
Psycho-Social spheres of rehabilitation
and recovery” and one might add and to
continue to promote a healthy and active

lifestyle into the future. In order to achieve
this, the team consists of WO2 (QMSI) The Author just hanging around in Spain
Jon Street RAPTC as the Battle Back
Warrant Oficer (BBWO) and Mr Ash measure. This certainly keeps the DMRC

Clare the BB Recreational Adventure team on it’s toes. Originality is deinitely
Therapist (RAT). Primarily as an Exercise the name of the game when catering for
Rehabilitation Instructor (ERI) WO2 Street both new and re-admissions especially
provides a rehabilitation legitimacy to BB when the physical delivery is only one third

delivery at DMRC and it’s wider numerous of the mission with the Psychological and
associated expeditions. Mr Ash Clare an Social aspects requiring as much, if not
ex Sapper, and having been the original more effort to achieve the gains.
BBWO, provides the continuity of adaptive

delivery. The team provides a plethora of As well as recruiting for and running
activities which are used as vehicles to numerous nominal rolls for wider activity
achieve the desired clinical outcomes, courses, the BBWO and RAT also deliver
bespoke to each patient, regardless of on core BB expeditions. These include:
which team they come from; Complex Exercise Snow Warrior (Adaptive) an

Trauma, Neuro, Lower Limbs, Spines, adaptive skiing exercise to Bavaria, Level
Upper Limbs, Medicals and Mental 3 adaptive paddle sport and climbing
Health. With up to 200+ patients on expeditions and multiple activity courses
admission at any one time this keeps the in both Cyprus and Bavaria.
Battleback on Ex Snow Warrior Adaptive
team busy planning, co-ordinating and
providing activities such as; Paddle Sport, If asked to summarise my role I would
Adaptive Waterskiing, Archery, Indoor say “It is the best and most demanding Since it’s inception BB has evolved but
Climbing, Horse Riding, Gliding, Fishing RAPTC WO2 posting the Corps has to despite the outward perception, and

and Shooting to name but a few. With offer”. The opportunity to make a true as Ash has so often said ‘’BB is not
so many patients and activities it seems difference to all those that I come into a speciic, person, place or activity it
that there is little time for respite with the contact with is humbling and even though remains an idea, an ethos, an attitude.
potential for up to 10 sessions in a week, I crawl into bed at night both physically The Battle Back effect is different for every

with at least two of these running club style and mentally exhausted I still wake up patient and the secret to BB is to facilitate
late on into the evening and sometimes with the most enthusiasm for work the the opportunity for each Battle Backer to
other late inishes thrown in for good
next day that I have ever had.”
take from the process what they need’’.

THE DEFENCE MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE (DMRC) HEADLEY COURT

WO2 (QMSI) G Till RAPTC

A
fter joining the team at DMRC in Jun last year, I was swiftly The normal daily working pace at DMRC is swift and challenging
reminded of the pace of life in a rehabilitation setting. I took due to current and previous operations and a continuing
over the role of Treatment Co-ordination Warrant Oficer commitment to Force Generation. Between Apr 2012 – 13, the

(TCWO) from now ex WO2 (QMSI) Gareth Thomas RAPTC.
breakdown of patient admissions speaks for itself with a total of
1215 Force Generation patients being admitted. In addition to
I arrived at a time where change was afoot with the opening of the this, 949 Complex Trauma, the majority from Op HERRICK and a
£16.9 million pound Jubilee Complex, built for Complex Trauma 137 Neurological patients were admitted. ERIs that work within

patients within DMRC. The 48 bed ward and treatment facility DMRC, are pushed daily to achieve clinical excellence. All staff are
was opened on the 19 Sep 2012 by Their Royal Highnesses, The inspired each day by severely injured soldiers who posses a ‘crack
Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. During their visit, they on’, positive, mental attitude.
met staff, patients, and Paralympians. The Prince even found time
to join in with some yoga.