Page 46 - RAPTC Year of 2019

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1 ARMOURED INFANTRY BRIGADE
HEADQUARTERS 1 ARMOURED INFANTRY BRIGADE
WO1 (SMI) P Newton RAPTC
WO1 (SMI) P Newton RAPTC handing over the 1X Bde SM Job to WO1 (Bde SM) H Upham RTR
Iarrived at HQ 1 Armoured (Strike) Brigade having served two years at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. The contrast between the two roles could not be bigger, although both are
challenging and equally rewarding. I quickly realised that I would be a one-man band within the Brigade and that PD would not be my only work strand.
The Brigade are about to move into training year one which will be the culmination of two years of strike experimentation and tactics development. The principle of strike is to fight dispersed and cover a larger battle space than a traditional AI brigade. This requires its personnel to be able to effectively combat team and be largely isolated on the battle field. So, what’s that got to do with PD? What part of being fitter, stronger and more robust would not make our soldiers more effective in their role. The Brigade have fully embraced APTS and PES and recognised its long-term benefits for producing the ‘Tactical Athlete’.
My time in the Brigade has seen me deploy on exercise to Salisbury, Germany and BATUS in a variety of roles from watchkeeper to Battle Captain so to quote the previous SMI (Capt Jessey) “to say I was in panic stretch mode would be an understatement”. As he did, I quickly adapted
1 Strike Brigade Inter Unit Boxing Event 2019
and became comfortable and competent in this new environment. In late Jul 19 I was asked if I would step up and cover the Brigade Sergeant Major role for 6 Months, a huge honour that I could not turn down. The role had me working closer than ever with Commander 1X which in turn also allowed me to champion PD at the highest levels as we conducted Unit visits across the UK. I have found the exposure in the role to be hugely beneficial and rewarding. Although fulfilling the Bde SM role, I still had plenty of SMI work that also needed to be done. 2019 culminated in a Bde Inter Unit Boxing event that would include all the newly subordinated 1X units and also those that have recently left the Brigade. In total 7 of the 10 available units entered the boxing with 41 boxers vying for a place in the finals. The event was a resounding success and saw 3 RIFLES spectacularly take the Brigade Champions title from 1 MERCIAN Regiment. I would like to take this opportunity to thank SSgt (SSI) Rob Remmer RAPTC for his outstanding contribution to the success of the event.
As my time in the Brigade comes to a close, I look forward to handing the reigns over to the extremely capable SMI Richey Richardson whilst I start a new chapter in my career as an RAPTC Officer. Thank you 1X for a great year “the boldest measures are the safest”.
WO1 (SMI) P Newton RAPTC being put through his paces on a pistol shoot
HQ 1 Strike Brigade Team Cohesion day at RMAS