Page 5 - 2003 AMA Summer

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rom Capt Edwards’ use of the term “inflated qualifications”, I deduce that at least some of his letter'
relates to an article Iwrote in ATDN #17. I write in response.
I disagree fundamentally with his sug­ gestion that “we are in fact providing a scheme to develop competent and effective JS A T Leaders / Instructors.” We are not. “The aim of adventurous training is to develop, through chal­ lenging pursuits and within the outdoor environment, leadership and the qualities necessary to enhance
the performance of military personnel during peace and war.”2 In other words, I should be able to task a junior commander with planning and conduct­ ing an Adventurous Training exercise for his soldiers, which he then leads, just as he would on operations. AT develops the physical and moral components of fighting power: it is a J7 and not a J1 function.
The problem is that a commander is often indispensable to be spared for expeditions by the time he (or she) is a Sergeant / Major (say 10-12 years?). To progress beyond entry level, most AT pursuits require some rank (3 years?), after which the soldier will have to complete at least two long career courses (with no opportunity for AT in those 2 years?). This leaves 5-7 years
in which to complete all the log-book experience and courses up to a useful supervisory level. This may seem a long time, but for OTP, ITDs, RAAT, course availability, family, etc, etc. Thus while
Adv Trg proficiency should be compli­ mentary to military competence for commanders, it has become almost mutually exclusive.
During summer leave, I climbed Mt Ras Dashen in Ethiopia. The planning and preparation took 1 week. To have climbed a comparable peak militarily would have required a JSMEL(W) and 2 months’ notice. Too few units have either the instructors or the time. The net result is a decrease in Level 3 expe­ ditions, and in currency of qualification.
I concur with Capt Edwards’ point about
NGB^, but vary on 2 points. NGB candidate supervisors have neither undergone demanding leadership cadres, nor are their supervisees trained and disciplined personnel. Servicemen take part in military exercises the nature of which is beyond the comprehension of many civilians: much is relevant, none is admissible.
Whilst I am a member of the AMA, I disagree strongly with the suggestion that discussion of the failings of the JSAT scheme should be restricted to
“the relevant Army Association”: much of the problem with AT is the Closed Shop! If AT is to flourish, non-AMA etc commanders must understand the military benefits of AT.
The ATDN article following mine stated that P S B C does not “teach you to navigate across the Ben Nevis summit plateau at night in winter having climbed Tower Ridge". It does not (quite).
PSBC does, however, teach a soldier to keep functioning as a leader of men
(and to navigate) when cold, wet, tired and hungry. But just think how much more capable a leader that PSBC- qualified soldier would be, if he did have the benefit of the soft skills that came from being able to climb Tower Ridge....
1Army Mountaineer Winter 2002 2AGAIs Vol I Ch 11, para. 11.0003
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