Page 32 - Mind, Body and Spirit Online Edition

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HQ 38 (IRISH) BRIGADE AND

NORTHERN IRELAND GARRISON

Capt (MAA) M S Gresty RAPTC

N
orthern Ireland has been a hot bed of movement in this last
year with many units moving on and 19 (Light) Bde in its

inal throes. We still await the inal pieces of the re-basing
programme but I am sure that will come and we will adapt to
whatever that may look like. Predominantly a TA-centric Regional
Bde, 38(Irish) are under the same structural and cultural change

pressures as any other unit within Sp Comd and although almost
ridiculously busy, it is a great place to ply one’s trade as a PTI. The
Comd is 100% behind PT and sport and has quite frankly pushed
the PD and AT piece extremely hard. Once I got used to the fact

that ‘our subject’ was high on the agenda in NI and that there was
nowhere I could hide, the job, albeit hectic has been extremely
rewarding.

The Bde carried out an Audit of Sport as part of the Comd’s vision

of ‘Sport in the age of Contingency’ with, I think, sound results.
On the back of this audit and concentrated effort from RAPTCIs
and willing volunteers, sport in NI has lourished to a point where
it is gathering pace and nearly at the point where it is being fuelled

by its own momentum. We have also used this interest to seize
the opportunity to get some of the less ‘mainstream sports’ into
the spotlight with some success too; namely Mountain Bike racing
and Suring.

The opportunities of being posted to NI far outweigh the threats
and I would say that if you ever get the chance to serve here you
should pounce on it with real enthusiasm. Geographically, you are

never more than 80 mins away from a unit or training area and this
makes ‘business’ relatively straight forward. It also means that
RAPTCIs have a closer support mechanism in place than some
other wider spread AORs. I will leave you to peruse the articles
from the RAPTCIs within NI to add meat to the bones of what it is Captain Gresty seeing off the opposition at the Commander’s
Challenge at the 38 (Irish) Bde Festival of Sport
like over here.

Personally, I have managed to exploit any and every opportunity assured that I will immerse myself, not only in the challenges of the
to explore this lush green island and have utilised my down time work ahead but the culture and wildlife therein!

to great effect. Rather than returning to the mainland I have taken
the time to jump on my motorbike with a tent and visited some of Finally, I will close by wishing Capt (MAA) ‘Russ’ Bailey all the very
the most wonderful beaches, wildernesses, cities and of course, best as SO3 PD 38 (Irish) Bde and by saying a genuine thank you
hostelries that are a plenty over here. I now have the equally and good luck to all the RAPTCIs ‘across the water’ that I have

fantastic opportunity to serve in Kenya (BATUK) and you can be
had the joy to serve with over the last 18 months.

NORTHERN IRELAND GARRISON SUPPORT UNIT

Sgt (SI) C A Wood RAPTC

Shortly after transferring into the shortest tour in history was on his way to small, the Leisure Centre helps administer

RAPTC I was posted as a irst tour the bright lights of the rehabilitation world.
all personnel within Lisburn Station;
Sgt to the complex and diverse
although over the past few months we
world of the Northern Ireland Garrison The Menin Gate Leisure Centre is where have seen the numbers dwindle due to
Support Unit (NIGSU). I took over from the daily business gets done and although the disbandment of 19 (Light) Bde HQ

Sgt Stu Hawkins, who after probably the
my parent unit NIGSU is comparatively
and 40 Regt RA.

NIGSU team led by
Lt Col N Ilic MBE QM –
Canyoning in Scotland