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OPERATION - FEN Activity Type: Bushcraft exercise for the Proficiency and Advanced cadets of the Squadron. Objective: Build on knowledge gained on 2001 Basic Bushcraft Exercise. To confirm understanding of bushcraft covered in lectures. Location and Date: Orangimea Station - (Managamingi Valley) 20-21 Apr. 02 Exercise Numbers: Staff: 6 NCO's: 6 Proficiency: 10 Total: 22 Report On Saturday 20th of April we all got up early, well most of us and headed down to the unit round 0700 hrs. The morning was nice and crisp and everyone was in a cheerful mood. At 0730 hrs we hopped into the vans and started to make our way out to the Orangimea Station in the Managaminigi Valley. Once we arrived we saddled up and started to head down the track in section groups. The walk in was about a 30-minute walk and was a relatively an easy tramp. When we arrived at the campsite the cadets were briefed and then it was all go. Cadets seemed to erect their sites within minutes, some were setting up tents while other were collecting firewood for dinner and breakfast. Later on in the day the
cadets had a refresher on Map and Compass and started on a small
compass course. After the small compass course they went onto a
larger one that lead them up to a cliff face where they had to find
their location on a topographical map. They were shown other parts
of a map and how to relate them with their surroundings. Dinner Time!!!! Yum Yum. As the night sky got darker the cadets had a Night Infiltration Exercise. A group of cadets must make their way back to the campsite fire without being spotted by the guards. Bedtime! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. In the morning we all had breakfast and got ready for the new day. First up the cadets had a lesson on Native tree recognition follow by clothing and equipment. We all then started heading off to the confidence course and the cadets broke down into section groups. A staff member was with each group and helped cadets through each exercise. The group I was with seemed to really be enjoying themselves; the exercises included a spider web, angel bridge, crawl through, swinging log and two other ropes exercise that help group confidence. After that the cadets had lunch and packed up their respective campsites. The staff checked the campsite and debriefed the camp before setting out on the track back to the vehicles. It was about 1630 hrs on Sunday when we saw the SQN HQ where Mums and Dads were waiting eagerly to see their kids. Over all a great exercise.Report By:
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No. 9 (City of Wanganui) Squadron |
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