Page 23 - WishStream Year of 2023

From Tuesday 30th May to Saturday 3rd June, the Junior Term OCdts at RMAS endeavoured on perhaps the most testing, dangerous, and
punishing mission they will face in their careers or perhaps even their lives... Ex SELF RELIANCE. They faced an array of practical activities and stimulating lessons, both tactical and administra- tive. Moreover, the exercise allowed them to climb the steep learning curve concerning how a platoon properly functions alongside how to operate within the field environment, with the majority of OCdts getting their first taste of soldiering and the new lifestyle they will be living in various training areas and woodblocks across the country.
The OCdts spent one night hugging the edge of camp before patrolling onto Barossa the follow- ing day. Once the harbours were established, they spent the next few days in the field enjoying varied training serials; fundamental lessons such as fire control orders, arcs, target indication, and building model pits were diligently conducted. The stand- ard of facilities at the Academy and the calibre of instructors was really brought home by their own application of drills and stories of their personal experiences which truly enhanced the learning environment.
This was particularly pertinent on the fire and manoeuvre exercises, in which many OCdts had their first experience firing a weapon. These drills have surely never been conducted in a more aggressive manner.
The two night navigations were particularly enjoy- able, with plenty of opportunity to follow bearings across testing terrain. The excitement of creeping up to a location in the dark after following a small jumpy needle and seeing a glowing cyalume did not get old. All of these activities honed a lot of the theory that the OCdts had practised running up to the exercise, but the introduction to autonomy was one of the main take-aways.
The OCdts quickly transitioned from being under the full control of the instructors and got to grips with the structure and roles within a platoon. Many, on their first appointment from general-bod to the dizzying heights of Platoon Commander, had the revelation of how decisions were made and how
OCdt Shankland
ideas are actioned. By the end of the exercise, we were leading our own timings, patrols, and routes (sometimes more successfully than others). It cer- tainly raised the excitement for future command appointments and lessons were being learnt in swathes.
The novelty of sleeping outside under a plastic sheet may not be entirely alien to many; however, learning that sleep is not measured in hours but minutes, and that the trousers that you put on in the morning should be wet rather than dry are adjustments, to say the least. The need to dig shell scrapes and to stand-to at ungodly hours, does not discriminate against your prospective cap badge or how comfy your doss-bag is. It was an undeni- ably unifying experience for all platoons - and even across the intake when all the OCdts were present for a moving field service outside the FOB.
Speaking for myself it was humbling to see how individuals applied themselves to these new chal- lenges, alongside the grit and attitude which shone through. All in all, the exercise was a huge success framed in bright sunshine throughout. It yanked the OCdts out of the initial sphere of followership, developing them into more autonomous and func- tional platoons with a better understanding of the field and more honed skills to boot.
Exercise SELF RELIANCE
SANDHURST 21