Page 43 - RAPTC Mind, Body & Spirit

170 ENGINEER INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT GROUP
SSgt (SSI) CM Charles RAPTC
Life at 170 Engineer (Infra Support) Group keeps you focused! Having to plan and deliver physical training without the support of All Arms Physical Training Instructors, managing
levels 1, 2 and 3 PT, attending Unit Health Committee meetings for six different sub units, preparing the unit for their Physical Development Audit, assisting 7th Infantry Brigade with their physical training, managing the UK Midlands Football League and your daily routine can be very challenging yet rewarding.
For those unaware, 170 Engineer is a special Hybrid Unit with varying skill sets across the Group and this makes our job of maintaining the Fitness Information Software System (FISS) statistics very difficult as they deploy on various operations around the world. This means the entire Unit is never within the confines of Chilwell Station at any one time. In September 2017 elements of the Unit deployed on Operation RUMAN to the Caribbean in order to deliver aid after Hurricane Irma. This unit was responsible for returning power and water to villages within the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as the British Virgin Islands.
Although extremely busy, there are still opportunities to attend Adventurous Training and Sporting activities. I decided to take on the role of Athletics OIC with minimal support and in May I left Chilwell with 8 volunteers (some were deployed at short notice) destined for the RE Athletic Championships in Tidworth. Some clever planning and commitment from my 8 athletes meant we gave a good account of ourselves on the day. The highlight of the championships was the 170 Engineer 4 x 100m male relay team,
Strapped in and ready...destination...the Caribbean
Engineers loading a backup generator
SSI Charles along with other RAPTCIs after receiving the 7X Comd Coin
anchored by SSgt Charles (me), defeating the Royal Engineers 4 x 100m team! This was down to quick feet and some exceptional baton changes by my team as we left 22 Engineers stunned. We were given another boost at the prize giving when we found out we placed joint 5th overall, a position not even ourselves could have imagined.
Come September and with the football season in full swing, I had the opportunity to referee a very high profile fixture back in my home country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The stakes were high as it was first place in the league versus second place and at the end; I was commended by the President of the
SSgt Charles planning the baton changes for the 4 x 100m
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