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ADVENTUROUS TRAINING GROUP (ARMY) – ATG(A) Maj (MAA) M J Lewis RAPTC
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s always seems to be the case,12 months flash by and its time to reflect upon the happenings of the year gone by for the MBS notes. Given the amount and pace of significant change across the Adventurous Training Group (Army) there is much to report. We said farewell to Colonel Ian Horn MBE, Late RAPTC who retired to his cottage in the Lake District; we wish him and his family well as they develop their ‘forever’ home. We welcomed Col Nick Richardson, Comd ATG(A) – Late RE, as our new Commander; Col N Richardson Late RE he settled in very quickly, has an array of AT experience and is truly passionate about AT and its value to all. We have relocated the HQ from Andover to Upavon; continued our integration as an Operations Group within ARTD and managed the ongoing resubordinations of ATG(A) sub units along functional rather than geographic lines. Our support to the Army’s reinvigoration of AT has continued to gather pace and remains the ‘main effort’ with HQ Adventurous Training Foundation Delivery (ATFD) now firmly established and leading on the task. As
part of this work, ATC (Scotland) is becoming an exemplar for the delivery of Foundation courses via a journeying template, something that will engender the aims of AT and have students coming back for more. As ever, the staff across JSMTC and its wings have continued to develop and qualify our future AT leaders and instructors whilst their course design cell constantly improve the content of Army led AT schemes. A notable achievement, amongst the many, was the commencement of the new GTO – Rock Climbing Scheme in April 14. Maj (MAA) M J Lewis RAPTC Across the entire Group, ATG(A)’s military and civilian staff have risen to the challenges that, inevitably, go hand-in-hand with development; they are highly skilled professionals whose dedication and resilience is second to none. Sadly, these will be my final notes as the Group Training Officer as I will shortly be handing over to Maj Rich Gilbey RAPTC and moving on to HQ RAPTC in Aldershot. I would like to thank everyone across the Group for their support and I will leave readers to peruse the sub unit reports straight from the coal face.
ADVENTUROUS TRAINING FOUNDATION DELIVERY (ATFD) Capt (MAA) N O’Shea RAPTC – Trg Offr ATFD
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s with most units, this has been a very busy period with the end of the training year fast approaching. The year has seen this HQ renamed to HQ ATFD, a new mission issued that has clear direction and purpose, a new sub unit formed and the Alpine Training Centre made ready for resubordination to CO JSMTC. This has all been under the planning and direction of HQ ATG (A) whose main effort focus has been to help units re-invigorate AT. In the background, routine business and training has continued to gather pace as units aim to achieve and develop their AT Plans with the support of this HQ. The AT world is definitely not regressing, it’s a growing arena against dwindling manning. The following words and pictures offer a glimpse of our portfolio and a round up of the year. Thanks to the individuals that have contributed to this article. Alpine Training Centre (ATC). ATC has had a good year, re-invigoration of AT has seen an increased demand on resources for both the Type 4 Courses being run from Hubertus Haus, Oberstdorf and the lodges in Wertach, which support Ex SNOW WARRIOR (ESW) and unit expeditions throughout the summer. Type 2 summer delivery was unusual in that ATFD ran a number of Foundation courses for visiting expeditions, utilising contracted instructor support from the lodges. A successful pilot that will be developed further and embedded directly into unit
expeditions, enabling them to meet their AT Plan and start the process of developing unit individuals towards instructor qualifications. At the time of writing ESW 14 is nearing a successful conclusion; almost 100% output against planned figures on this very popular exercise that I am sure will always be oversubscribed. Another year that has seen developments with adaptive skiing with both a Adaptive Instructors Concentration being run in January and 2 successful ESW (A) packages during which a new piece of kit came into service – The