26 August 2014 Introduction Colonel (retired) Sandy MacGregor was invited to attend as a DV (Distinguished Visitor) to address and take part in the US Army's 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) Training Program on the topic of Resilience.

 The Brigade is based mainly in Vicenza Italy and is the premier unit to react in Europe as and when called upon by the US Army. The timings were from 28 July to 3 August 2014 which was in the Brigade's Bayonet Week of celebrations. In Vietnam in 1965/66 this unit was known as 173rd Airborne Brigade and had, under command, 1 Royal Australian Regiment Group (1 RAR Gp). Sandy, as a Captain, commanded 3 Field Troop, Royal Australian Engineers and was in support of 1 RAR Gp. Thus at different times throughout the tour Sandy was under direct command of 173rd Airborne Brigade. (There are links to Sandy's Diary and his presentations below.)

Background

In March 2009 Lt Col (now Colonel) Rupert Hoskin, Commander of 3 Combat Engineer Regiment (3 CER), was conducting a mental toughness and leadership exercise called “Plan Shackleton” in the Tully Training Area North of Townsville for his soldiers about to embark for Afghanistan. Lt Col Hoskin invited Colonel (retired) Sandy MacGregor to address his soldiers on Mental Toughness at the immediate conclusion of the exercise.

The soldiers had endured hardships of lack of food, little sleep, strenuous exercise and were wet and uncomfortable over the 5 day exercise. Lt Col Hoskin was aware of Sandy MacGregor’s personal experiences of using his mental powers to assist him in overcoming tragedy, and his current public work with the subconscious mind. The immediate challenge for Sandy was to keep the soldiers awake for 2 hours.

Maj Aaron Cox was a US Exchange Officer attached to 3 CER and was the Executive Officer (XO) of 3 CER. He attended the presentation titled “Mental Toughness” delivered by Sandy. Subsequently Maj Cox was posted as XO of the Special Troops Battalion of 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) based in Italy.

US Army Training Directive

As part of its current directive to US Army units, emphasis is to be placed on the “Ready and Resilient Campaign”. The www.army.mil website states “Individual resilience can be built, maintained, and strengthened when viewed as an enduring concept and acquired through regular training” and it says that resilience is “The mental, physical, emotional, and behavioural ability to face and cope with adversity, adapt to change, recover, learn and grow from setbacks.”

Part of the Commander of 173rd Brigade Training Policy includes –

Total Soldier Fitness:

   – Physical

   – Mental

   – Emotional

   – Spiritual

And this contributes to the Army “Ready and Resilient Campaign”.

Action

Major Cox took the action of raising the topic of Sandy MacGregor giving several 2 hour presentations to the 173rd Brigade, similar to the one he heard delivered to 3 CER at Tully in 2009, as part of the Ready and Resilient Campaign and in particular the Mental aspect of Total Soldier Fitness. The Commander, Colonel Foster gave his permission and requested that Sandy also give the Brigade Ball Address for 30 minutes, focussing on:

1. Sandy’s link to 173rd Brigade

2. Some of his experiences in Vietnam.

3. What it means to be resilient, and thoughts on moving forward to cope with tough times.

Timings and Program of Training Presentations

The timing was set down as the 173rd Brigade's Bayonet week being a week of celebration and competition, culminating in the Brigade Ball on Friday 1 August 2014. (About 350 participants).

The program of Presentation:

Monday 28 July:            11am – 12.30 pm

Tuesday 29 July:           10am – 12 midday

Wednesday 30 July:      10am – 12 midday

Friday 1 August:           5pm to Midnight. Brigade Ball – Address for 30 min

Saturday 2 August:       Drive to Poland – Drawsko Military Base– through Austria and Germany

Sunday 3 August:         9.30 – 11.30 am – Presentation to Sappers and Infantry Company.                  

Result

All presentations went according to plan, gifts were exchanged and Sandy MacGregor states that the whole experience is one to be remembered as an honoured highlight of his life.

Links to Detail

1.      Diary of Sandy’s trip which includes photos Read it Here – includes a link to many more photos at the end of the diary.

2.      Presentation See it Here – this includes further links to Pictures from Vietnam and the Tunnel Rats Documentary.

3.      Ball Speech Read it Here.

 

All the best 

Sandy MacGregor

"Your gift from God is your potential – Your gift to God is to use it."