Page 83 - Mind, Body and Spirit Online Edition

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1 ROYAL GHURKA RIFLES

WO2 (QMSI) P Fort RAPTC

M
y understanding of other cultures with swimming training and within 3 months 42 were
regards to religion, language and social able to swim proiciently.
differences are in my view relatively

extensive. I was made welcome and part of 1 RGR Rear Operating Group (RoG) have
the family instantly. It was imperative that I been kept busy whilst the unit are away on
understood how they did business before I Ops however some have still managed to
could improve their training and connect with train and compete in both Army and National

the Battalion.
Taekwondo competitions, with 3 attaining very
high standards. There has been lots of family
1 RGR love their sport and conduct competitions sport, swims, recreational activities and fun
at all levels, during work hours and in their free days conducted to coincide with the Battalion’s

time. It is a great sight to be able to watch and deployment to help time pass a little easier, and
support soldier’s participating in sports to such as expected, the gym staff have been pivotal in
a degree and particularly Volleyball, Basketball, making these a success.
Football, Badminton and Taekwondo which
the Battalion play and compete in on a regular One advantage with not deploying to Afghanistan

basis.
is preparing the Battalion Adventurous Training
(AT) and sport, not only for the Rest and
Pre-deployment was an extremely busy period
Recuperation period after deployment but also
due to Coy’s having to deploy with various units of the battle for Brunei. I have organised numerous courses for mountain

group. The C-Form cycle had to be managed at Coy/Individual bike instructors, lifeguards, oficials and coaches for both
level due to an array of deployment dates. As I am sure you can standing and sitting volleyball, handball oficials and coaches,
appreciate; when there are a number of timeframes to meet at the and AT qualiications where possible. The Kent Regional Sports
beginning of a journey, it will also have an affect on their return. In Committee for various sports have been extremely supportive in

1 RGR’s case the situation is compounded further with an Arms organising courses in sports that will provide depth of knowledge
Plot Move to Brunei, resulting in some Coy’s only touching down and experience to deliver safe sport in Brunei and the Battalion in
in the UK for a short period before, Post Operation Tour Leave and the future. In addition the Gym staff have also conducted numerous
then moving their families to Brunei within a few months.
activities such as mountain biking, leadership development and

conidence training at Bramley training Area and visits to places
1 RGR had a new intake of 44 all of which were unable to such as Bovington Tank Museum, Land Warfare Centre, the
swim; fortunately with the Bn being away on tour there was an National Army Museum and Chelsea Pensioners.
opportunity within the training programme to conduct regular

2 ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES – BRUNEI

WO2 (QMSI) S Waddell RAPTC & Sgt (SI) L Burrows RAPTC

B
oth Sgt Lee Burrows and my time in Brunei is is an achievement due to being thousands of miles
almost at an end. I await my inal assignment away. This will become easier when the Battalion
in the Army, while Sgt Burrows keeps his
moves to Folkestone in the summer. Since arriving
sun tan by being assigned to 2 YORKS in Cyprus. I have managed and coached the Battalion football

The time here has lown by and been an amazing team which has also involved travelling back to the
adventure. Leaving my quarter in the morning UK for the Nepal Cup where we came runners up
wearing shorts, t-shirt and lip lops all year round in a fantastic inal against the Royal Gurkha Signals
and never scraping ice from my car is the only way who won by a goal in the last minute, denying us
to live. 2 RGR and the AAPTI’s within the unit have the opportunity of extra time.

looked after us both and given us a great insight into
the Gurkha’s culture. I have never been with a unit There are few gymnasiums within the Army that can
which is so dedicated to physical itness, with both boast their own outdoor 25 meter swimming pool
the gymnasium and sports pitches always buzzing with diving boards, and even fewer that have the

with activity from both the soldiers and their families.
conditions to utilise this facility all year round. Sgt
Burrows has even attempted to play golf, which
Brunei is a long way from home, but with South East
has been made easier having the Shell Oil Country
Asia on your door step the travelling while on leave or adventurous Club golf course only 500 meters from where we both live. The

training is out of this world. During my time here I have been on golf shop has made plenty of money from both of us since joining
holiday to Australia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, due to the number of golf balls we have hit into the sea.
Japan, Java, Bali, Lombok, Komodo and Malaysia. We have both
been scuba diving in Bali and Malaysia and now have progressed As we both come to the inal few months with 2 RGR in Brunei

from PADI open water divers to PADI rescue divers with speciality I will look back on this assignment and think how lucky we were
wreck, deep and nitrox.
to come here and experience this whole new way of life. With the
Army getting smaller and sunshine posts becoming less, this post
The Battalion sports team have travelled to the UK and competed offers an opportunity of a life time.
in numerous Support Comd UK South competitions, which in itself