Page 8 - 2008 AMA Summer

The Base Camp Manac, on SHISHAPANGMA, F educator and outdoor i
A RISKY
With the number of servicemen deployed on operations
at an all time high, the importance of Adventure
Training (AT) to the individual and the unit is greater
than ever. The value of AT as an arena for operational decom­
pression has also long been recognised. In the current climate of J1 paucity, the opportunity to focus on skill acquisition is unparalleled.
The objectives of AT are to offer realistic and demanding train­ ing through outdoor activities, creating opportunities for both personal development and growth in operational capability. A challenge indeed in today’s litigious society, where the risks are too often considered to outweigh the positive benefits. In this article we shall attempt to reset the balance by offering a reinterpretation of the concept of 'risk', in particular its possi­ ble benefits. It is intended to be generic and can be applied to all Adventurous Training activities.
AT presents a number of opportunities for students to be chal­ lenged and stimulated by the outdoor environment. Contrary to most training, lessons and exercises which tend to educate only the quickest in the group; AT presents problems that are posed directly to the individual and yet, for the most part, demand co-operative activity for their solution. Unlike con­ ventional training which prepares us for possible future sce­ narios, a great deal of the educational value of AT lies in its immediacy. Skills learnt are put to use and tested as they are taught. Whether it is basic instruction or advanced skills train­ ing, the effects are the same, the participant is entirely respon­ sible for his/her actions and the consequences of these are often instantly apparent. Scotty cannot beam you up past the crux move of the climb, you simply have to climb it. This degree of physical and mental commitment is almost impos­ sible to simulate outside of the operational environment; here­ in lays its greatest potential.