Page 98 - RAPTC Mind, Body & Spirit

96
www.raptcassociation.org.uk
Mental Resilience Training (MRT)
One of my other responsibilities as an SI at ATC (P) was to attend the MRT course which was delivered over 2 days at ITC Catterick. The aim of the course was to give Instructors some base knowledge about MRT and how it should be implemented in an ARTD (soon to be ARITC) environment and secondly to teach the basic skills to Instructors and Recruits.
The content covered the Recruits ability to control daily mental habits, such as, Goal Setting; Dealing with Negative Thoughts; Positive Thinking and Self Talk; Emotion Regulation; Anxiety and Arousal Control; Pain Tolerance; Positive Imagery and Mental Rehearsal.
By making individuals aware that the above mentioned Mental and Physical habits are a natural process that the mind and body experience daily, could potentially improve the physical and mental performance on a professional or personal level. My role at ATC (P) has been to instruct and mentor the Training teams on how to teach these basic MRT modules to the Recruits.
So far the content and physical aspect of what I have delivered has been successful and I will continue to positively promote MRT throughout the rest of my career in the RAPTC in the hope that it will help individuals like me to overcome mental habits in their personal life and professional career.
An image of the Human brain
ATC (P) PRE-CONDITIONING AND CONDITIONING COURSE’S
Sgt (SI) M Tatton RAPTC ATC Pirbright
As I move into my second year as a Sergeant Instructor within the P&RTC at ATC Pirbright, new challenges and responsibilities have been placed in front of me. As well as my usual duties of looking after a syndicate of AAPTI’s (18 to be precise) and manage all aspects of PD for 1 Army Training Regiment (1 ATR), the centre has now introduced 2 new courses to give recruits the best chance possible of completing the 14 week CMS programme, these are the Pre-Conditioning Course (PCC) and the Conditioning Course (CC).
Pre-Conditioning Course
The PCC is a 4 week course designed for potential recruits who don’t meet the standard either physically or educationally when conducting PSSR testing at their local selection centre. Potential recruits will complete the 4 week course which is headed up by 2 AAPTI’s responsible for the physical elements and an ETS Officer overseeing all education.
The PCC PT involves: Aerobic Development, Swimming, Flexibility, S&C, SAQ, theory lessons and Sports. On average the recruits will do a minimum of 2 PT sessions a day, varying in intensity so potential recruits are not over fatigued thus reducing potential MSKI’s. Potential recruits also within these 4 weeks are to attend numerous education lessons in order to successfully pass the
education standards required for literacy and numeracy. Potential recruits attend a 3 day AT package at the Soldier Development Wing (SDW) in Sennybridge during the first week of the PCC, conducting: High wire obstacles, Hill walking and Caving. These activities are set to take recruits out of their comfort zones in a controlled environment.
Conditioning Course
The CC is 4 weeks in duration and is in place to assist recruits that are unable to meet the RMT Input standards needed for their CEG in week 1 of the CMS. This involves the Recruit being removed from their troop and placed into Sword Company where they conduct CMS based lessons at a slower rate with the emphasis on reattempting and passing the Initial Input test.
The Recruits are tested on the RMT Input test every week; if successful they will move back into training when the next CMS troop for their gender forms up.
ATC (P) Recruit experiencing the joys of caving