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OPERATION - HAUMATA Activity Type: Bushcraft exercise for the Squadron Objective: To build on knowledge gained and confirm understanding of the bush covered in lectures. Location and Date: Zone 3, Waiouru Training Group . 29-31 October 2004 . Exercise Numbers: Staff: 6 NCO's: 6 Prof: 9 Basic's: 9 Total: 29 Report: Friday 29-10-04 The first group at ATC just after 1600. Roll checked and any cadets who had insufficient clothing were issued with a swandri. Vans and trailer, loaded and we departed for Waiouru. We had arranged for takeaways for all at Waiouru and as we departed Taihape we phoned ahead. These were ready for us on arrival. We were met by Captain Dave Leonard, who provided us with a radio and a final brief. We left him with copies of the nominal roll, training programme and indemnity forms. All at Club Med around 1915. A quick orientation of the area and all were quickly into setting up the campsite before the onset of darkness. An evening briefing covering safety, personal hygiene, Saturday's training programme and the food was also distributed. Cadets returned to their respective campsites, hot drink and lights out. Lights out and check of camp by staff. A very windy and wet Friday night as the cold front went through.
Saturday 30-10-04 All up by just after 0700 and breakfast under way. There was a strong cold wind out in the tussock area so we made a decision that we would go to Shepherds Hut to conduct some of the days training programme as it offered a larger area with shelter under trees. All in the briefing area at 0800 for an update on the days training programme, a check of medical conditions, cadet welfare and the distribution of any section food or equipment that was not uplifted the previous evening. Cadets had another orientation in better light and the 3 sections collected firewood and continued to set up their respective camp sites. We moved around to Shepherds Hut where a Map and Compass lesson was held and how to set up a compass course. The three sections then set up a compass course under the guidance of a staff member. Each course had 6-8 paced bearings and was designed to link to form one large course. Flying Officer Frericks ran a fire safety lesson on how to light fires, the correct use of hexies and a refresher on gas cookers. All cadets then cooked lunch on hexies. Following lunch each group completed the compass course of the other two sections. This proved to be a very worth while exercise with all participating in the setting up and with the course been completed in groups, all cadets had an opportunity to improve their skills in using a compass. The subtle training was the team work and leadership. We returned to Club Med around 1500, snack break an then all equipment for building the confidence course and leadership exercises was moved to an area under some trees on the other side of the creek. We conducted four very interesting and varied leadership exercises, which were completed in sections. The tasks, to which some of the cadets had only participated on one before, sheep herding, (FGOFF Frericks) varied in length from 10-20 minutes. The other exercises, “on the mat” and “thread the needle” (Miss Smith) and “blind folded obstacle course (UO Hesketh) were keenly entered into by the cadets. Whilst these leadership exercises were been undertaken Flight Lieutenant Cleveland and I started building the confidence course. It took a little longer for tea as due to a lack of experience fire lighting and cooking on these fires. There was still a cold wind out in the open and the temperature around the camp site had dropped. A short spot and seek exercise was held, followed by a de-brief of the days training. We held a very short night exercise to complete the days activities, the cadets had a hot drink and all of to bed. Staff did a final check of the campsites around 2200 and all was quiet.
Sunday 31-10-04 All up by just after 0700. Breakfast and in the briefing area at 0830. While FLTLT Cleveland completed the briefing for the Search and Rescue exercise, UO Michael Hesketh departed to "get lost" leaving various clues along the way. The three sections under the control of the SNCO’s conducted a sweep search finally locating UO Hesketh. Miss Smith carried out a small 1 st Aid lesson focussed on the patients “known” medical condition and on treatment to be provided. Cadet Walker was put on the stretcher as the patient, and all cadets participated in the carrying back of the stretcher over varying terrain to the car park of Club Med. Debrief held and cadets returned to camp site. Confidence Course in-groups with one being a challenge and completed as a section. The confidence course took a little longer than planned and we were fortunate that with the fine weather the clean up could be carried out quickly. Lunch, cleanup inspection by staff, followed by the last emu parade and we departed for Wanganui. Arrived back in Wanganui, vehicles cleaned, gear returned to store, with tents pitched in the Army garage for airing. The tents will be cleaned out and returned to the store on Wednesday's Parade night. Last Cadet was uplifted around 1730.
Report By: 11 November 2004
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No. 9 (City of Wanganui) Squadron |
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