Page 67 - Mind, Body and Spirit Online Edition

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inal closure, included in this is ‘Party in the without its pitfalls and stresses especially
park’, ‘Freedom of Mönchengladbach’ commuting back and forward from
and a number of other celebrations over Germany to Preston on a near monthly
the month of July. As I mentioned in my basis. This has been a personal goal of

opening lines, this is end of my RAPTC mine to complete the course.
career. I head into civilian life in April 2014;
I am settling in Germany and hope to The last three years have been great fun with
continue within the itness industry once the fellow RAPTCI’s based locally, namely

resettled. I began my resettlement in 2010 WO1 (SMI) Galley and his wife Sarah, who
when I enrolled in the UCLAN BSc (Hons) always lead me astray at the functions. In
Degree in Strength and Conditioning, I am closing I would like to say goodbye to all
due to complete this in August 2013. If I fellow RAPTCI’s I have met and worked

can give any young aspiring RAPTCI new with and wish them luck with their future
to the Corps a piece of advice, utilise this endeavours. I look forward to the next stage
opportunity while you can. It has not been
of my life and a new exciting career.
Last JHQ Xmas

1st MILITARY WORKING DOG REGIMENT

(ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS)

Sgt (SI) N Yates RAPTC

Iwas posted into 1st Military Working Dog Regiment (Royal Army the AMS ski championships in France, with another in Austria

Veterinary Corps) in April 2012 and things have been moving for the AMS Snow Board championships. Since I arrived at the
fast ever since then.
Regiment I have been responsible for adventurous training in the
Harz Mountains, Mohnessee Sailing Centre and 2 Weeks Multi
The Regiment formed in 2010 and consists of 6 squadrons: 3 activity in Bavaria. I have also been involved in two AMS PJNCO

located in Sennelager, Germany, 1 in Aldershot, 1 in North Cadres and a number of sports and Families Days.
Luffenham in Rutland, and a Squadron in Cyprus. Having the
Regiment split in this way creates quite a challenge when trying to With such a heavy operational focus in the Unit, it could be easy
coordinate PD activities. The Regiment permanently has one of its to lose sight of the great opportunities to train here in Germany.

squadrons deployed on Op HERRICK so pre-deployment training More events are planned for the coming year to get as many of the
never stops. 105 MWD Squadron return in March and 104 MWD soldiers away after operational tours as possible.
Sqn will replace them. This means life is always busy, and it can
be a challenge to ind opportunities to get soldiers away from the Newly formed, the Regiment has only just fully grown and is
Squadrons to get qualiied as AAPTIs.
unlikely to be signiicantly downsized as it moves towards 2020.

In Sennelager, an extra Squadron and a Regimental Headquarters
With manpower split across so many locations, we have had to have been squeezed into the space previously occupied by two
be careful not to spread ourselves too thinly on the sporting front. smaller Squadrons and the PT staff have had to ind imaginative
We try to ensure that the Regiment has a presence on the sports ways to make the best use of the space and resources. Although

scene by focussing our efforts to try to do a few sports well. It there is a recently installed gymnasium, it is fairly basic and
is early days, but we have had success at the BA (G )Swimming contains only two treadmills, two Concept 2 rowers, a bike and
Championships in June and the newly formed female and male various free weights: not a lot of equipment if there are over 60
Cross Country teams rufled some feathers by pushing regular people on PT! Training focuses heavily on running the dogs and

contenders further down the results list. The Regiment’s football there are loads of great running routes around the ranges.
team put in an impressive performance for a new team who had
barely played together and it is hoped that the hockey team will With the added dimension of keeping the dogs as well as the
do similarly well.
soldiers it, serving here is really different to your average unit.

There are loads of opportunities to help shape the PD of a relatively
This winter the Regt has also taken full advantage of skiing new Unit, I would recommend it to anyone.
courses courtesy of Ex Snow Warrior and a team competed at

1 Military Working Dog Unit
Dogs on parade