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A B M Í M O U N T A I N E E R )
ABMP
TO PROMOTE MILITARY PARACHUTING WITH ROUND AND SQUARE CANOPIES
THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH MILITARY PARACHUTISTS
JUMP 2003
CURRENTLY ORGANISING OUR 10TH ANNUAL P.ARACHUTING TRIP TO EUROPE
THE COURSES ARE OPEN TO NOVICE AND EXPERIENCED MIUTARY/EX-MIUTARY PERSONELL WORLDWIDE COURSES COMMENCE ON 27 APRIL 2003
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR “WINGS” COURSES CONTACT:
GRAEME TAYLOR ON 01575 582224 OR WRITE: PRESNERB. FOLDA, BLAIRGOWRIE. PERTHSHIRE, PH11 8QW
WE ACTIVELY SUPPORT THE BRITISH SPECIAL FORCES CHARITIES. AIRBORNE FORCES CHARITY, COMMANDO BENEVOLENT FUND AND N01 PTS MUSEUM RAF BRIZE NORTON
Are you ready for a real challenge?
Raleigh International is looking for Mountain Leaders S/W, Trekking and other experienced Outdoor Instructors, aged 25+, for 3-month volunteer posts on overseas expeditions. Qualifications are ideal but not essential for every expedition. Highly qualified and experienced senior outdoor profes sionals may be eligible for our Outdoor Bursary
Scheme
reality and frustration for AMA members is caused by the fact that most have to carry out their AT with novices at unit level and so need technical qualifications. It is the level of the participants that needs careful consideration.
What about the participants?
A key factor often over looked in my view is the participants them selves. Much AT by the nature of it's aims will involves soldiers with little real understanding of the activity and the risks involved, often they are not volunteers and they are under 18 which legally adds a significantly greater responsibility and duty of care onto the leaders. The alms should therefore be of an appropriate level and staff leading the training probably ought to be qualified. This In itself Is a challenge, as training with novices tends to be a platoon or troop level responsibility often with young and Inexperienced leaders. Good quality AT as part of junior officer and NCO training can help play a valuable part in managing this issue.
There is no easy solution to any of this, there have been a number of recent high profile debates about adventure and risk. The whole of society is struggling with it and the Services tend to mirror society. MOD have a duty to protect their employees, so followers who are young and those with little knowledge should be protected from over ambitious minimally qualified leaders. They are not there to provide opportunities for leaders to fill their logbooks. On the other hand members of a club are like-minded people, consenting to the inherent risks (and rewards). As with clubs and AALA it would be great if the AMA members could turn the clock back and be allowed to do their own thing under more relaxed guidelines yet crucially have it still approved as training. (Watch out for the platoon commander who gets his whole platoon to join the AMA In order to bypass the system, good for membership fees though).
Although perhaps there are two issues here, one of credibility and one of freedom to mountaineer, the profile of AT by the masses has not helped the case and the argument for technical qualifications is not the whole story.
Nigel Williams, Glenmore Lodge.
Pictures by kind permission of Dean MacDonald.
e-mail: staff@raleigh.org.uk
tel: 020 7371 8585 www.raleighinternational.org
Raleigh International Trust is a registered UK charity No. 1047653
BELIZE BORNEO CHILE COSTA RICA & NICARAGUA GHANA NAMIBIA
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