Page 30 - Mind, Body and Spirit Online Edition

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team – my only knowledge of radios being the Afghan tour virgins amongst us spent Having deployed early it was a huge relief
the ones that play the top 40 music charts the night body popping in a jungle sleeping and a bonus to be one of the irst returning
on a Sunday evening!).
bag in temperatures that would have made from theatre, squaddie humour as always
a Polar Bear don a leece!
evident when asking the remaining lads

Theatre role for us as a TAC would be how long they have left and replying with the
escorting the Commanding Oficer on In between deployments some of the standard ‘nobody has got that long’, though
various different taskings across the AO soldiers embarked upon the standard ‘Op that humour was strangely only appreciated
with his Afghan Army equivalent, quite Massive’ whilst others opted for the latest from the perspective of the one posing the

a daunting experience initially given the craze and subscribed to the ‘Insanity’ question! So being back in the UK I eagerly
receding but still very real threat, posed by training plan, for only a few days in some await the safe return of all of my colleagues
Improvised Explosive Devices and green on cases! Gym facilities within Camp were when we can enjoy a (fair) few beers, spin
blue situation. It is at this point, when inally of a good standard and I decided to run some war stories and savour some well

out on the ground that the reality sets in boxing style circuits as an additional itness earned Post Operational Tour Leave.
and you understand why such emphasis is option. On the whole, itness training
placed on training prior to, and even during played a key part in the Jock’s routine and In summary the tour had its usual ups and
deployment. Dependent upon the task there were some commendable results downs and gripes but I am honoured to

we would ind ourselves out for anything and positive lifestyle changes for many, have been able to serve on Operations
up to 5 days, bedding down at Forward especially given the exceptional quality with such a great bunch of lads and will be
Operating Bases and Patrol Bases. A of the food on offer (hopefully the blokes receiving my campaign medal with pride
harsh lesson was learned in respect of the haven’t become too used to that).
on 20 April when the Battalion will march
unforgiving Afghan winters’ evenings as all
through the Capital city.

3 SCOTS THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND,

(THE BLACK WATCH)

Sgt (SI) PN Morse RAPTC

3
SCOTS serve as a Light Role Infantry Battalion that forms
one of seven units within The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Based at Fort George Inverness the Regiment has recently
been appointed as the UK Contingency Battalion. This has seen,
in its infancy, the Battalion conducting a wide range of training
including, ranges, public order and most importantly Physical
Training (PT).

We returned from Ops in late 2012, landed at the Fort in early Jan
2013 and acquired a new Chain of Command (CoC) we had a
huge enthusiasm for PT. As the new RAPTCI, my feet have had

to hit the ground running. The pace of life at the gymnasium is
fast but enjoyable with sub units across the Battalion arriving
throughout the working day to undertake a wide range of PT.

After a lourishing participation in the 19 Light Brigade Sports
Week in Ballykinler 2012, the CoC has also directed that sport be
at the forefront of the soldier’s recreational activities with individuals Belgium in May 13 to participate in a two day tournament. We will
and teams training for both internal and in UK North sporting also be hosting the Unit Highland Games in Sep 13 and entering

competitions. This will also see the Regiments rugby team visit
teams into the Para ten miler, Edinburgh Rock ’n’ Role Marathon
and the Edinburgh City Marathon in Apr/May 13.

3 SCOTS are also illing their Adventurous Training (AT) diary at
a rapid rate. With ive day paddling expeditions to Loch Ness