Page 57 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

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