Page 36 - RAPTC Year of 2019

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Army Sergeant Major WO1 Paton conducting some Commando Phys
29 COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
SSgt (SSI) P Dodds RAPTC & SSgt (SSI) N Craven RAPTC ERI
29Commando Regiment is the Commando-trained unit of the British Army’s Royal Artillery, based in Plymouth, in The Royal Citadel. The regiment is under the operational
control of 3 Commando Brigade, to which it provides artillery support and gunnery observation. We hold a unique capability within the Royal Artillery. We are the Commando Gunners and we provide offensive support to 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. We are a regiment of Army Commandos held at Very High Readiness (VHR) and we specialise in amphibious operations, mountain, desert, jungle and arctic warfare. As part of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, we routinely deploy around the world and to a number of very different environments.
• Arctic (Norway)
• Temperate (UK and America)
• Desert (Oman)
• Jungle (Brunei, Belize, Singapore)
The RAPTCIs within the unit are SSgt (SSI) Phil Dodds newly in post from Aug 19 and SSgt (SSI) Neil Craven (ERI) who provide all physical and rehabilitation aspects to maintain the unit’s high rediness state. Training soldiers ready for the All Arms Commando Course (AACC) is one of the Regiments main efforts. Potential commandos arrive to us from Larkhill, where they embark on the journey of becoming an Army Commando - To become a Commando Gunner you must pass the AACC. This arduous course is held at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Lympstone, Devon. On completing the course, you will be awarded both the Commando Green Beret and ‘Army Commando’ shoulder flashes. The Regiment have a Commando Training Wing which prepares the potential commandos for the AACC, this has recently been revised and the foundation programme is now conducted within the Royal Citadel and Okehampton Battle Camp which is a perfect setting for harnessing and homing in the commando elements of the course.
Although a lot of emphasis is put into preparing potential commandos to complete the AACC and prepare Cdo trained personnel for deployments, we still find time to represent the Regiment and Corps in various sporting and adventurous pursuits.
Sept 2019 – Lympstone to Poole Race – which is a prestigious 2-day trail race, it is a team event consisting of 4 soldiers, 1 pair run 22 miles during the morning of day 1, meet their team at a point where the second pair will run a further 22 miles in the afternoon. The race takes place between CTC RM in Lympstone and RM Poole in Dorset. This year as a Regt the team finished 4th overall.
November 2019 – Army Sergeant Major (SM) Visit – Fantastic to welcome the Army SM to the Royal Citadel and an opportunity to showcase our value-based, purpose-driven culture. In
exchange for his sage and authentic thoughts on leadership and empowerment....we treated him to some commando Phys!
December 2019 – To bring 2019 to an end in the gym, staff organised a Commanding Officer’s ‘Christmas Fun Run’ where personnel ran a cheeky booted run around the beautiful National Trust grounds of Saltram House followed by a hot bacon bap. Community engagement meets commando Phys, coupled with the run we raised money which we donated to the Children’s Ward in Derriford Hospital. The gym staff and our very own Padre – took time during Christmas to act as Santa and elves to visit the hospital ward and deliver the cheque and some chocolate and morale to both the children, their families and the hospital staff. Being part of this festive cheer was a great privilege and very humbling experience. This was then followed by the annual Unit Health Fair which was a very well designed and innovative approach on the traditional Unit Health Fair. The Commanding Officer was enthused and incredibly complimentary about the diversity and impact of stands selected.
Rehabilitation within the Regiment has continued to play its part turning blue into green. During the last 12 months we have successfully assisted 6 soldiers return to full fitness, re-join and pass AACC as a result of attending rehab troop. The hot topic of injury prevention is becoming more recognised within the unit with the ERI leading S&C, biomechanical screening, goal setting and flexibility sessions to level 1 PT personnel. This not only seems to be having a positive effect on MSKI numbers under PCRF care but there are also early signs that this could be improving fitness levels on AACC tests.
From left to right SSgt (SSI) Dodds, LBdr Glen Gym 2IC, Nurses from Children’s Ward & Maj Clarke RA