Probably the fittest soldiers in the Army
12 Feb 10
After 30 weeks of intensive physical training and education, the newest batch of fully fledged Sergeant Instructors have joined the Army Physical Training Corps where their role in preparing soldiers for the physical demands of Afghanistan is essential. Report by Leigh Morrison.
The Army Physical Training Corps' High Walk Way
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
With physical fitness being high on the list of priorities, especially for troops on operations, the role of fitness instructors is an important one, offering benefits to units both on deployment and at home.
Predominantly based at the Army School of Physical Training in Aldershot, Junior Non-Commissioned Officers from all units train on a ten-week course to become All Arms Physical Training Instructors (AAPTIs).
The next stage of progression, should they wish a full career in physical development, is to attempt to transfer into the Army Physical Training Corps (APTC), which is not an easy thing to do.
After completing the ten-week AAPTI course and returning to your own unit, only after further experience gained as the Regimental PTI can you then attend selection for the APTC.
If you pass the selection course you then undertake a 30-week intensive training course which involves physical fitness training and testing, physical training theory including anatomy and physiology, adventurous training, sports, and a foundation degree. If you pass all these, you then qualify as an APTC instructor and join the APTC.
Soldiers competing in the Army Physical Training Corps' Pass-off Relay
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Army Physical Training Corps member, Warrant Officer Class 2 Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor Stephen Chappell, is based at the Army School of Physical Training. Describing the role of the Corps he said:
"Our instructors are the guys who lead fitness in the Army. We are the subject matter experts. We make sure that everyone who deploys on operations are training properly.
"The intensity of operations, the kit they [the soldiers] have to wear, the job they have to do, they need some form of physical-based training. Soldiers have to be physically prepared."
One of the new members of the Corps, who passed out from the school recently, is Sergeant Instructor Julia Bloomer, the only female on the latest course.
She said:
"Because it is such a male-dominated area I felt like one of the lads. But I did everything they did. I struggled a little with the ACFT2 [Army Combat Fitness Test 2], carrying over half my body weight, but my fellow peers encouraged me throughout."
Training for the Army's Physical Training Corps includes anatomy and physiology
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
She explained her new role:
"I'm staying at HQ APTC as a Training Analyst. I'll be researching and developing adventurous training courses to make sure they're up-to-date and include everything they should."
Another newly qualified Sergeant Instructor is Daniel Stanley who picked up the Sorsbie Trophy which is awarded to the best student on the course. He will be now going out to prepare engineers for the physical demands of deploying to Afghanistan. He said:
"Now I'm looking for a fresh challenge. My new post will be with 24 Commando Engineer Regiment and I will be running the Engineer All Arms Commando Course. I'll be preparing the engineers to be deployed in 2011."
Describing the Army Physical Training Corps he added:
"The people who work in these areas are so important to prepare people for war and the APTC is at the forefront of this preparation."
Over the years, the APTC has spawned a plethora of military world champion sportsmen and women who have competed and triumphed in fields such as football, cricket and the Olympic Games.
Members of the Army Physical Training Corps on parade
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Famous former APTC personnel include footballer Matt Busby, cricketer Len Hutton and Olympians Lieutenant Colonel Barry Lillywhite and Kriss Akabusi.
But, of course, the most important aspect of the Corps is its role in training soldiers for battle, a role it undertook during both world wars and currently does for Afghanistan.
Major Dougie Peters, a Senior Officer 2 at the Headquarters of the APTC in Aldershot, said:
"Without physical fitness soldiers wouldn't be able to sustain operations. To be able to respond to the enemy, people have to train to sustain that level of endurance.
"Just like athletes who compete in the Olympics, soldiers have to train for Afghanistan. They have to train to prepare for fatigue in 40-degree heat and do it without injuring themselves.
"Afghanistan is about feet on the ground so it is massively important that soldiers can cope with the physical exertion of being on operations."