Page 19 - The Light Blue Volunteer Journal 2022

Leadership Training
This year CUOTC commenced running its Leadership and Personal Development weekends. The aim of these weekends was to teach and practice key personal skills that would be ‘life skills’ for use should the OCdt go to AOSB selection, but also equally of use in the civilian world.
On each day OCdts from the unit and external PO’s from units across the Brigade AOR, mustered at Coldham’s Lane. After a quick brief they commenced the days with a Soldier Conditioning Review (SCR) with focus on key AOSB related activities to allow all to check their physical prowess.
From here they were split into groups of novices, some experience and experienced in the art of Planning Exercise s(PLANEX). For all guidance was given on how to sift information and come up with courses of action, before settling on their cunning plan – only to then have to back brief staff and answer questions accordingly.
After lunch it was a round robin of presentations, discussions on seasonal topics of the day and interviews.
The presentation were given on a subjects pulled from the candidates
CV (something they should know well and could talk about for some time - you would have thought!). For many this was the first time ‘standing up in front of people,’ but far better to do that with a friendly audience than a hostile one for your first attempt. Naturally they received feedback on how they could do things differently next time, especially how to keep the audience engaged.
The discussions always are the cause of great debate – not unsurprising was how passionate the average OCdt can get when you ask the right question
or if someone disagrees with them. In many cases there was food for thought and an understanding to appreciate the other opinion (you do not have
to agree but you should be able to acknowledge the opposing view!).
The interviews are always interesting and the OCdts receive a complete debrief on their CV’s, their interview style given some very pointed
and probing questions. Most now appreciate the interview starts with the submitted CV and that they can use this to help guide the conversation, just by what they add to their CV
and how. Some found this fun, most found it intense, and all found it useful reference for the future (most only ever having conducted one interview for their university entry). Interviewing is
a key skill but like any skills it can fade and so preparation is key!
The days were wrapped up with
a fireside chat by OCdts who had completed the AOSB selection. There is no better voice of experience – than those who have done it recently. All found this useful to calm the nerves and gain insight into what it takes to pass. It’s not impossible to pass many have, but let’s face it AOSB are looking for a certain something and you will have to tick some boxes.
As always, the days go to soon and there is never enough time – but on these weekends everyone goes away having learnt something either about themselves or a new skill to practice (and some were lucky enough to get both).
Of course if anyone asks did your unit prepare you for AOSB, everyone can say ‘No, but they taught me some really useful personal life skills!’
Mountain Leader Training Course
The course kicked off on Monday morning with introductions: “Hi, I’m Cpl Dennis. I’ll be your instructor for this week but in a previous life I was the head PTI at Hereford”, “Pvt O’ Connor, 42 Commando”, “LCpl Owen, 1 Para, using this as training for selection”, “Sgt Bull, 45 Commando, just got back from six weeks in Norway” – this was going to be a full on week!
Mon – Kit issue. Sign out as many warm and waterproof layers as possible. Scribble down grid references. Fold map. Bus out to the Mournes. Micro-nav through the rain.
Tue – Big day, fast pace. Rotating leg leads. More nav through the rain; bearings, resections, aspect of slope, boxing, pacing, timing.
Wed – Security on steep ground. Classroom morning, crag afternoon. Confidence roping, body belaying, natural anchors, abseils.
Thu – Expedition and assessment day one. Rotating leg leads. First leg: micro- nav. Second leg: roped gully climb. Third leg: night-nav. Set up tents. Boil in the bag. Sleep.
Fri – Expedition and assessment day two. Pack up tents. Walk off hill to meet minibus. Drive to river. River crossings. Course complete – back to base for bacon rolls and a debrief!
Despite the weather being poor and the group average fitness level being three times my own it was a thoroughly enjoyable week. The structured nature
of the course meant that all relevant techniques were covered thoroughly and as a result I noticed both my personal and leadership skills developing. By the end of the week I felt confident in my ability to effectively lead groups out in the mountains.
However, the best thing about instructor courses are the remits they give you. On passing the course I flew back to the mainland to join CUOTC on Ex Dragon Blue in North Wales. As a newly qualified MLT I was able to
participate in the exercise planning, lead a group up Snowdon, and conduct a micro-nav session in and around the ring contours and pubs of Snowdonia.
For any OCdts reading I would highly recommend getting stuck into the world of Army AT, in particular working towards instructor level qualifications. For info on how to get involved have a look on defence gateway https://jive. defencegateway.mod.uk/docs/DOC- 400811.
JUO McDermott
THE LIGHT BLUE VOLUNTEER 19