Page 57 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

Exercise WATER WANDERER
OCdt Yalvac, Expedition Leader
AT for the OCdts of CC212 Sandhurst was an unlikely prospect this term, due to strict COVID-19 planning measures in place to keep the nation safe; however, we were all given the cautious green light to go ahead! A very exciting prospect which saw Ex WATER WAN- DERER born! Not only were we able to see the return of normality across the nation but also to plan our own AT trip. This is an absolutely funda- mental skill for a junior officer to learn. Planning AT should be a paramount goal for anyone who wishes to best round themselves whilst here; fortunately, there is more than enough adminis- tration to go around. The AT expeds break down into groups of 6, which to some may seem like quite a small group, especially when you make a lot of friends during your time at Sandhurst, but it is vital to maximise the opportunity for people to learn these crucial planning skills.
To overcome this, to maximise our group of friends, we planned our exped suspiciously close to another group. What a breath of fresh air this was! Intimately supported by the Sandhurst Trust and the AT department throughout, the process is completely designed to create freedoms not constraints. We decided to venture to Wales for a pleasant week of kayaking... in December. This was the first lesson learnt; Welsh water is very cold in the depths of the holiday season. Even more so when the first lesson you have to learn is what to do during a capsize. The second lesson we learnt was how to dance the funky chicken on the shore to get warm.
The trip itself was fantastic, not only because we were able to get out of the pearly gates as a group of friends and peers without the watchful eye of a press-up enthusiastic colour sergeant,
but also as it is really the first time you are truly, genuinely responsible for, well, everything. This should excite you as it did, and does, for me.
The trip, day to day, was travelling to differ- ent still water locations around Snowdonia National Park. We would unload and gear up with Sandhurst’s brand-new high-grade equipment. We were very pleasantly sur- prised. Then we would head on to the water, learn the foundations of kayaking and how to read open water. Most importantly, we learnt how to conduct fundamental water rescues. As we progressed in skill, the games began; water polo, tag, and my personal favourite, something I eloquently named “I am definitely going to fall in if you make me do this.” This involved walking along the front of a ramshackle raft of kayaks and back to your own. The name was apt because it is exactly what happened.
As the week progressed, you really began to feel the purpose for AT. I’m not the fondest of deep dark water but being able to partially overcome that by playing silly games, conducting important safety drills, and just increasing my exposure to it, has really illustrated the reasons for AT to me. The slow bit of decompression you get through- out the week is also so welcome. After Interme- diate Term, you have bonded with your platoon beyond belief, but because the term is busy you have had little chance to relax with your new friends. Going on AT is an amazing buffer for your mental state before just running home for leave.
I am so glad we were able to have our AT; it really does round off the Sandhurst experience, and teaches you A LOT about yourself.
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