Page 22 - RAPTC Mind, Body & Spirit

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www.raptcassociation.org.uk
HEADQUARTERS 3RD (UNITED KINGDOM) DIVISION
‘THE IRON DIVISION’
Major (MAA) D E Williams RAPTC – SO2 PD
‘The mission of Headquarters 3 (UK) Division Physical Development Branch is, to assist, direct, guide and advice all Regular and Army Reserve units under command via their 1 Star Headquarters on all facets of Physical Development. This includes Physical Training, Rehabilitation, Adventurous Training and Health’
Having been in post as the SO2 PD, 3rd (UK) Division for nearly 12 months, time has certainly flown by. The pace of life in the Army, let alone the Division remains hectic, frantic
and full of surprises. As the ‘Warfighting Division’, troops remain in a flux of readiness, training or on Operations, with the addition challenges of gapping, trawls, deployments and experimentation having an adverse effect on manning and white space. Conversely, the Division is still active across all areas of PD with sport and Adventurous Training remaining surprisingly healthy.
In my role, I am ably assisted in the Headquarters by my sidekick and fellow Paratrooper, WO1 (SMI) ‘Gaz’ Halliwell who is a stalwart within the Division. He remains extremely active in his role as SMI Health Promotion and Deployability and is hugely active in getting around to assist units. Between us, we have managed to visit nearly every unit within the Division and have stopped at every Costa Coffee in between! Within the Division we are assisted by the 4 Brigade SMIs who are at the coalface of PD, interacting with the units and providing the link-men between us and them. We will sadly soon lose WO1 (SMI) Al Harris and WO1 (SMI) Scotty Prior who have been successfully selected for a commission, and WO1 (SMI) Steve Baker who is now sunning it up with the rest of the ‘Qatari 12 Apostles’ out in the Middle East. On the operational front, the Division remains fully committed to the Enhanced Forward Presence of NATO troops in the Baltic States, and I was lucky enough to visit SSgt Hawkins with 5 RIFLES out in Estonia in Jul 17. At present, SSgt Brown has continued the good work with
The SO2 & SMI
1 R WELSH and will be followed by SSgt Spires with 1 YORKS in mid-2018. I did however have to look after Maj Russ Reid on the visit who was a bit confused on how to wear uniform and brought his woolly hat instead of his beret!
Sadly, my time in 3 Division will come to an end in April 18 and I move onto my last post in the Army at JLE Abbey Wood. I wish Maj (MAA) Dave Boocock all the best for his forthcoming tour.
THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY REGIMENT
SSgt (SSI) A Burt RAPTC
SMI Harris & SSgt Burt in Canada
SSgt Burt