Page 13 - RAPTC Year of 2019

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The SMAA on his introduction to Ski Touring
work (when he is in!) with the oldest guy in the Corps (WO1 Paul Holden; legend (his words, not mine)) at 63, who has now served no less than four Senior Masters, and these are just the ones he admits too; so, you can imagine the war stories. And, of course we have Capt (Bren) Reese (the human race horse), which sees us having two former Corps SM’s in the same office. An extremely rare occurrence but he knows his place as JUNIOR; Sorry Bren. You can see from the image below that he has adapted well to the ‘dark-side’; headband, zips around the waist etc.
The TDT & R&D cells will have their own stories to tell, but again their deliverables in support of wider Corps outputs have been truly exceptional. Let’s not forget the Association who continue to provide the very best support to all our Association Members. In particularly, a special mention goes to our Jules Fairclough who has been steadfast in her support to the Corps HQ, during a period of significant gapping of the Business Support Manager’s role. Thankfully though, the past 6-months has seen the arrival of Mrs Jade Davis who has quickly settled into the role as the Business Support Manager and is now delivering effective outputs on behalf of the SMAA.
So to work, as a small Corps headquarters, we continue to strive for excellence in order to serve our members, serving and retired. In the last year from a P&P perspective, we continued to recruit from the wider Army and those demonstrating an expression of interest to attend the RAPTC Selection course continued to grow significantly. This is very positive for the Corps, during a time where large parts of the Army continue to struggle growing and retaining their work force.
For those of you still serving, will know the Army has undertaken a STEP change to the way in which it delivers education. This has resulted in us having to revise the RAPTC Career Management Handbooks to include the new Army’s Leadership and Development education package; which replaced CLM 08. Other areas of development have included a change to our promotion
Capt Reese in relaxed mode
rules. In promotion year 20 / 21 we have seen the first year with the accelerated promotion from the Sgt-SSgt board. Furthermore, we have a well-established Late Entry Commissioning Assessment Board process and we continue develop, communicate and advise on an extensive range of PD policy that exists. It is also really refreshing to know that our Instructors are not worried about picking up the phone or emailing the policy desk for advice, in the absence of their formation SO3 / SO2; and long may that continue. After all that is what we are here for.
As I’m sure everyone will agree, the COVID-19 pandemic was a testing period for everyone. Prior to the build up to ‘lockdown’, WO1 (SMI) Paul Holden was seconded to deliver welfare provision to serving Service personnel and their families during Op BROADSHARE, which was the military response to the repatriation and rescue of UK nationals in the early onset of COVID-19. An area the SMI is very well versed in and, a great job he did too.
Shortly after his return and like all of you, we were then in a period of ‘lockdown’, displaced from firm base and ‘Working from Home’; without MODnet for most. Yet, it was essential for us to adapt quickly to maintain Business as Usual (Assignments, MS reporting, Policy development and communication of board results) and to undertake contingency planning, in order to ensure the impact of COVID-19 on the Corps was mitigated against. Like the rest of the Army, we made it work with the resources we had.
I’m sure all those serving and retired will have been tested to the limit, found themselves having to develop new ways of working having been dislocated from firm base and / or from family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. Moreover, I’m sure you will have been affected by the pandemic in some way shape of form and, in the coming year we will all need more of mental resilience, innovation, creative thinking and social connect to overcome and thrive post the COVID-19 outbreak crisis.