Page 99 - Mercian Eagle 2012

toughened the spirit and determination of the Officer Cadets.
The last day of the exercise brought all the training companies together.
The senior company now had forty command positions across five separate platoons. A company deliberate attack, comprising five platoons made entirely of Officer Cadets, what could go wrong? After several O Groups and many models, all platoons were organised
and ready. This was the largest attack our Officer Cadets had experienced, requiring everyone to take a step up and shoulder new responsibilities. The six second lieutenants were given the responsibility of acting as DS to the newly formed platoons. This attack was to be the big final test of the exercise
so many spanners were thrown into
the works by the directing staff; most difficult of all casualties, including one platoon commander. After an awesome number of blank rounds were spent and pyrotechnics thrown, EMUOTC had finally defeated the enemy.
The exercise phase had proved to be challenging and enthralling; despite tired and aching bodies morale was maintained at a high level throughout. Dirty, pale and wet, the Officer Cadets clambered onto coaches after ENDEX and slept for the 250 miles to Altcar Training Camp.
The next few days allowed for
social time in the evenings; where the swapping of arduous war stories took place. The day activities included an inter-platoon military skills competition including drill, military knowledge and various teamwork orientated tasks. This felt like a welcome rest in comparison to the previous exercise and the upcoming challenge that was set for this year’s adventurous training phase of camp; cycling 215m coast to coast across the country along the Trans Pennine Way.
Starting on the beach at Southport 140 OCdts and 20 staff were to cycle over 200 miles along road, track, path and at times fields, across England to Hornsea, near Hull. Looking uniquely stylish in high visibility jackets and helmets, EMUOTC saddled up early on Tuesday 3 Jul and began the journey. Like any activity held in the UK this one experienced all elements of weather and highs and lows
of success. The first day
offered smooth riding on flat
Officer Cadets climbing Mt Chopicalqui in Peru
towpaths.
On the
second day
the climb to
the Woodhead
Pass, the highest
point on the Trans Pennine Trail, the Officer Cadets and staff learnt the meaning of the word
‘hill’ and really had to find their own inner reserves of strength and determination.
Like any activity held in the UK this one experienced all elements of weather and highs and low of success.
This annual camp had been one that offered difficult, fun and testing situations for the Officer Cadets and brought all involved some valuable experience. Beyond the camp EMUOTC
OCdt Rebecca Lee
It is a testament to
the dedication of the
staff, and third year
platoon and section
commanders, that
every platoon stood
with their bikes and
could look, relieved,
at the long downhill stretch ahead of them.
has excelled in offering even more adventurous and lifetime experience to its Officer Cadets through leadership development weekends, Familiarisation Visits to different Regiments and Corps and various Adventurous Training Exercises. This year Officer Cadets have organised and run expeditions: skydiving in California, sailing around the coast
of France and Germany, skiing, scuba diving in the Red Sea, mountaineering and trekking in Bolivia, and hill walking and rock climbing in Scotland. EMU continues to encourage its Officer Cadets to expand their horizons by supporting them in organising and leading their own adventurous training. We are also immensely proud of the many ex members of our OTC, now young (and not so young!) officers
in the regular army, who have used adventurous training qualifications gained here in support of AT for their soldiers.
Congratulations to our freshest batch of six Second Lieutenants who have just passed out from the TA Commissioning Course. For many of last year’s senior members, now graduates, the front doors of Sandhurst and the Regular Commissioning Course await. We wish
them the best of luck, and hope they look in from time to time on where
it all started for them. For the rest of us, another year of
studying and soldiering lies ahead!
It was not just the landscape and the weather that made the journey difficult but the failure of things manmade: our bikes. A small team of Officer Cadets and staff found themselves adding even more miles to their journey
going back and forth along the route, stopping and starting, as part of the small but crucial repairs team. Due to so many breaking bikes, what sounds like a simple, straightforward journey became one of hard work, strife and grit. However this only hardened the resolve and determination of all those on the journey to finish it and made the entire experience that much more rewarding. Finishing some days wet, muddy and tired did not deter EMUOTC. Morale boosting suppers, a burgers-bar-and- band night and good company made
all the difference. After four long days we arrived at the beach in Hornsea and once again touched the waters that surround the UK; some even finishing on foot due to a broken bike leaving no
option but to run it in to finish.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
97