Page 57 - Mind, Body and Spirit Online Edition

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Having initially started my career as a genuine people and made some good
Gunner and this being, my last posting friends along the way. The laughs I have
within the RAPTC, It does feels like I am had have outnumbered the dificult times,
home. The last time I served with the be they on Ops or in Barracks. For those

RA was in 1997 when I had the pleasure of you who know me will be familiar with
of working in the gymnasium with L/Bdr my sense of humour and know that I
now WO2 (QMSI Tanner) RAPTC and L/ “always look on the brighter side of life”.
Bdr Jones or (SI) Gary Jones as some of

you will remember him, sadly Gary was My last thoughts:
unfortunately taken from this world in Military life is fast and furious, and before
2002 due to illness; God bless him! I must you know it, you have inished your time.
say the times shared with both fellow Make the most of your time and invest in

Corps members and the memories I recall your understudies as they are the future. I
will not be forgotten. By the time these would like to bid farewell and wish all my
notes are published QMSI Tanner will be fellow Corps brothers and sisters all the
Mr Tanner and I will be in my last months best for the future.
CDS General Richards trying to break my hand
of making the transition to civilian life.
“If anything don’t let your promotion affect
members have alluded to showing an Since transferring to the RAPTC I can your emotion, perceptions can lead to
interest in making the transfer the RAPTC, say that I have enjoyed every minute. The thoughts of deception, be yourself, strong
and it is my primary aim before I depart, support I have had from a good number
in mind & body and be steadfast in all that
to prepare at least one of my current staff of people is acknowledged and very you do, as this is a game and no one is
for one of the RAPTC selection courses much appreciated. My journey has been to blame”.
in 2013.
an adventure, which I have thoroughly
enjoyed. I have met some really good and
“Let the new game begin”.

28 ENGINEER REGIMENT

WO2 (QMSI) R MacLeod RAPTC and Sgt (SI) B Leach RAPTC
S
ince arriving at 28 Engineer Regiment towards the end of many more “mountains” that welcome these soldiers on an almost

November, after a fantastic lawless handover by QMSI (now daily basis whilst out on PT. As the run ended and my pre planned
SMI) Lisa Dunne, and given the gradual break in and further
“chubsters” did not require my assistance after all, it was then that
superb guidance By Sgt (SI) Ben “The Forehead” Leach, all was I had realised I had sampled my irst real taste of the Engineer
a little false – but in a good way, as the Regiment fully embraced “work hard play hard” ethos. These soldiers were “mountain” it
its “work hard play hard” ethos and grabbed the spirit of “silly – and I was not.

season” by the antlers. Once my hazy bedding in period was over
and the last bit of Christmas turkey eaten, it was back to work, My irst impressions of the unit have been superb, and I can
day one – reality. After bolting myself on to one of the “Larger” honestly say that I have never been or even seen such a unit,
looking physique Sqns, I went out on my irst “test” run with the where every one from the top all the way down, support and

Regiment, carefully pre choosing the obvious looking soldiers that embrace Physical Training and Sport in the way that 28 Engr Regt
looked like they may have overindulged during their recent festive does, their dedication, enthusiasm and overall general itness is
break and may perhaps need my motivational assistance during an absolute pleasure to be part of and with “28” being one of the
the run, we set off.
Units’ that has been a victim of the recent Strategic Defence and

Security Review (SDSR), it will also be an absolute honor to be
Wow, welcome to Hameln, no sooner had we left the front gate, one of the last RAPTCIs’ to serve with such a ine entrant in to the
we were suddenly climbing what felt like Mount Everest, one of
history books.

Sgt (SI) B Leach RAPTC

I
have had the privilege serving as the ERI for 28 Engineer winners of the Howlett Bowl for the second consecutive year –
Regiment for just over 18 months now. This is a unique post highlighting how committed the Regiment is to having it robust
for an ERI as I am embedded within the Regt working alongside
Soldiers, making the job of the RAPTCI very worth while.

the unit, I get to see the rehab from start point to inish point,
something I know ERIs’ miss out on. As I am rooted within the
Regiment I also still get to enjoy ‘Regimental life’ of a very busy
and a very adaptable Engineer Regiment.

28 Engineers unoficial motto is deinitely ‘Work hard play hard’,
something that has certainly not been lost during the Operational
commitments of recent years. Currently we have Soldiers in

Afghanistan, Cyprus, Kenya, Canada and a Squadron has just
returned from the Falklands. Whilst we are spread to the 4 corners
of the globe we have still kept a sporting presence within BA(G)
and also the Army. 2012 saw the Rugby team win the Army

Community Cup, a feat never achieved by a BA(G) unit, the
Basketball team was crowned Army Champions for the second
year running, Athletics team came third major unit in the Army and
we have a few outstanding golf players who have won at Army
level, to that end in December 2012, 28 Engr Regt were crowned
Nice day for a Run – BA(G) Cross Country League Race