MATTs

That's right, they've replaced ITDs with this badger

msr

 

What is the WIP all about?

 

MSR, have you been deleting my posts?

 

WH - there was a lot of info on the original thread which identified a few individuals. msr looking after us (I mean them ) as brilliantly as ever. Cheers msr. Please don't anyone name anyone they think they might remember from the original post - msr has enough to do!

 

A 137 page document for MATT 2, how OTT is that?

Saw these posters spring up around our TAC last night.

Swapping Recognition for Navigation is a good idea i reckon, shame our regiment only has the one MAPRIC as far as i'm aware.

Overall though, my apprasial is... same shit... different name.

Wonder how much this rebranding exercise cost?

My £1E-2.

TB

 

First impressions, and that’s all most of us can have at this stage, is that MATTs is an improvement over ITD(A)s.

All the real crowd pleasing training, Security, Health & Safety, Health, and Equality & Diversity has been put into the Workplace Induction Programme, so no need to run them for everyone each year. This will free up a lot of time for interesting training which helps retention.

MATT 2 – Fitness. It still shows the TA CFT as 4 miles. I thought this was going to change to 8 miles (as it should be).

I am a bit concerned by the picture on the front of the MATT 2. Do those hands and feet belong to the same chap? If so I’m going to struggle to get to that level of flexibility.

DoE

 

I have mixed feelings - the documents themselves are excellent, and state what is required very clearly. If soldiers fail to meet the standards they get remedial training, retested and then AGAI 67 if they still fail. I mean, who can argue with that ?

BUT .... and it's a big but ... they appear to require more instructors and time than we're used to devoting to ITDs. It's not so much the testing, more the mandatory revision, remedial training and retesting.

The need for a qualified and in date CMT for the CFT(TA) for example, does every unit have one ? I know we don't. What OC or CO will hold a CFT(TA) without one knowing that if they have an incident they can be well and truly shafted by the system for failing to adhere to promulgated safety requirements ? If someone over 40 goes down on the CFT(TA) and the required programme of training from a qualified in date PTI has not been provided and adhered to then stand by for the compensation bells to ring (I mean, "So Col Blank, you went ahead knowing that you had not met the Army's laid down requirements for this activity ...")

And AGAI 67 is all well and good but if the unit hasn't provided remedial trg before the retest then that's a real get out of jail free card. I can't see any way out of making this main effort for a year or two, not least to get the instructors through the system.

 

Next years training programme is going to have little else other than fitness in it...

msr

 

Sorry msr, but I don't quite understand why you wrote your last post - surely people should be taking responsibility for their fitness - the BPFA and the 6-mile CFT which is 'an aspiration' according to the MATT documents on the website are not difficult tests, even for the out-of shape!
If people aren't keeping on top of their fitness they are failing in their duty as soldiers.

Or do you mean units will have to spend a lot of time re-testing/doing remedials on the ones who don't make the effort on fitness?

V

 

I don't. A Recognition MATT should be mandatory in teeth arms, and I'm not just speaking as an instructor in it. Recognition is an essential skill.

There should also be a Comms MATT . The standard of Comms at section level and above is appalling in my experience , or are we just going to take Comms as read, as everyone knows how to use a mobile? Are we going to rely on us Det. Commanders to identify those that need remedial radiowork , and then beg and plead to have class time with them? Believe me, appalling radio use is not restricted to the JR's.

A Comms MATT , with emphasis on C/S , VP and BATCO via PRR/349 should have been included.

 

Great minds think alike

I must admit that I didn't think about comms skills. It's a good idea. Anyone else have ideas on things they would like to see as a MATT?

 

Reading through it in a bit more detail, although it mentions the 6 mile CFT is an aspiration, it seems the 4 miler is here to stay for the time being.

I think it is positive that the rules are laid out in black and white, although I too am concerned what the standards will be like for things like recog and shooting.

 

Couple of interesting pointers:

Pressups Procedure (pg35)
"Rest periods are permissible as necessary...participants may adopt a rest position of their choice...but must return to the Start Position before resuming the test"

So I guess they binned the bit where you remain in the "pressup up" position, when resting.

'Excuse me PTI, I'm now going to assume my rest position, leaning over there against the wall'

A subtle lowering of standards?

Plus it's only 1 x PFT and 1 x CFT (TA) for TA units unless warned for Ops - which conflicts what our CoC have been briefing! Still, nothing like really terrifying the guys into working!

Oh, and "Attainment of higher standards than those required is a creditable goal which is to be encouraged, but this should not become a unit objective" - I'd love to know who writes this stuff, and whether they've visited any sort of training or field unit in the last ten years!

RSigsSTAB.

 

MATTS is never goning to please everybody, recognition should stay in, with the basic, intermediate etc looked at , a chef in a recce regiment needing to know what a Merkava looks like .......
about time navigation got a look in, comms is a good call, then again it's horses for courses.

We'll just have to see & wait for it to change back to ITD(A)s again in a few years, on average 5!

 

vanners,

This has been done to death here