Page 85 - RAPTC Year of 2019

Having completed 22 years’ service within the regular Army and also having had a taste of civilian street life, the post for QMSI Army Training Unit (ATU) Northern Ireland (NI) became
available and I seized the opportunity and applied. Following an in-depth interview and selection process, I was offered the position. My new post commenced on 6 May 2019. Army Reserve (AR) life was not new to me, as I had served as the RAPTCI for 71 Engineer Regiment on leaving regular service. However, training AR recruits was a new challenge for me.
ATU (NI) is a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for AR training which is responsible for the centralised training of all AR recruits in NI and further afield. Situated in Ballykinlar Training Camp (BTC), close to Ballykinlar beaches and in view of the Mourne Mountains it is the idyllic location for outdoor training.
ATU (NI) delivers all Phase 1 training where recruits are trained in the initial military skills and physical development required to be an effective AR soldier. These are delivered over four weekend Alpha modular courses or as a seven-day consolidated Alpha course. ATU (NI) also delivers the two-week Phase 1 Bravo course which is a consolidation and continuation of the training undertaken at Phase 1 Alpha, with further training on subjects already covered and other military topics being introduced.
With the implementation of the revised Army-wide Physical Employment Standards (PES) from 1 Apr 2019, the Role Fitness Test (Entry) (RFT(E)) and the Role Fitness Test (Basic Training) (RFT(BT)), the AR recruits have adapted well to the new fitness standards at the ATU (NI). Recruits have been challenged in various aspects which have highlighted individuals’ strengths and also areas of improvement.
Feedback from some of the Recruits who have recently completed the consolidated Alpha course:
• RFT (E) Med-ball throw: “I found this quite challenging, but I
now know what I need to work on”.
• Strength & Conditioning lesson: “I found that the exercises
were informative on how to train your body to meet the needs of a career in the Army” “I felt that the circuit was a great way of challenging my athletic ability and it taught me a lot about different exercises to improve myself”.
• 2-mile Loaded March: “Felt like soldiering”.
• Aerobic Development lesson: “Beach run with a view of the
Mourne Mountains was awesome”.
For the GCC Reserve recruits’ part of their output standards assessment was to complete the new RFT (BT). This consisted of a 4km squaded Loaded March carrying 20kg within 50 mins, followed by a further 2km individual Loaded March carrying 15kg within 15 mins. This was a challenging assessment for the recruits however, with the aid and motivation of the PTI`s raising the
Aerobic Development (Alpha Cse) Ballykinlar Beach
resilience on a daily basis, the recruits’ nerves lessened, and as a result they embraced the RFT more confidently. Some of the GCC Reserve staff also got involved alongside the recruits with the RFT. This was their first practical experience of the RFT which created a highly competitive assessment amongst all personnel.
Within the new ATU (NI) Physical Training Programme, the GCC RFT (Soldier) Interim was introduced. This consisted of a 4km loaded march with 40kg within 50 mins, followed by a further 2km with 25kg in 15mins. The second and third part of the assessment consisted of a fire/movement (twenty 7.5m tactical bounds, followed by a 15m crawl and 15m sprint in 55 secs). Finally, a water can carry (2x 22kg water cans over 240m in 4 mins).
Progressive build up training commenced in preparation for the RFT (S) Interim.
With the CO and SSM grabbing the bull by the horns and leading from the front, we hit the ground running, and completed the assessment. From feedback there were various views on what elements felt harder than others, however I did hear a few comments such as; “glad that one’s over!” “I felt the fire and movement was bloody cheeky”. “I felt it was all cheeky”.
2019/2020 to date has been a busy period for the ATU (NI) PTI’s with the new PES being implemented for both the trainees and AR staff. Watching the trainee’s confidence, resilience and self- development growing is very rewarding. This gives me and my team a great sense of achievement and purpose, being part of the positive progression of the recruits becoming fully trained AR soldiers.
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ARMY TRAINING UNIT (ATU) NORTHERN IRELAND (NI)
WO2 (QMSI) S McKnight RAPTC
Loaded March 3 Mile Alpha Cse
Loaded March 5 Mile Bravo Cse