Page 48 - RADC Bulletin 2021

DEVELOPMENT
Corporal Army Leadership and Development Programme
Cpl L Vernon
The Cpl Army Leadership and Development Programme (ALDP) is completed in 3
parts. Part 1 and 2, ALDP Military Training (MT), is completed over 2 weeks. Part 1
is classroom based at DMS Whittington and part 2 is the exercise aspect. Part 3, ALDP Military Education (M)E e-learning, is completed online via DLE.
I completed my ALDP between 07 – 18 December 2020, I was the only Dental
Nurse on the course and if I’m honest that did make me nervous. Everyone else on
the course knew at least one other person from their cap badge and some were from the same unit. The course numbers were reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions, so there were only 3 sections in total. Sgt Hannah Willis was one of the instructors on the course and she had given me a heads up on what to expect over the two weeks prior to arriving and checked in on me during the arrival process on the Sunday night.
The first week in the classroom was
well informed on all subject areas such as Leadership, Appraisal & MS, Wellbeing and Health & Safety, with group work, sharing experiences and a lot of classroom discussions, so this was well within my comfort zone. The second week was the real challenge for me. Having re-joined
the Army in early 2017 it had been a while since I had been on exercise, doing sentry duties, running around the area, all without the luxury of sleep, warm food and running water. “Real soldier stuff”
I did find the exercise, for the most part, enjoyable. Refreshing my memory with
basic close combat skills, patrols, leading a section and planning section attacks. I was impressed with how much I remembered and was thankful for both the pre-course reading and physical training I had completed.
The main aspect of the exercise I disliked was the cold, rain and the sheep. There
were a lot of sheep. It rained for the entirety of the exercise at Caerwent training area in Wales which meant I remained cold, wet and muddy for 4 days, but in true Dental Nurse style I continued to smile through it.
We were located in a FOB for the exercise and covered 5 sentry points between the 3 sections. Individually, during the exercise, we were assessed on our delivery and receipt of orders, Combat Estimate, Command and Control and working within the section.
As a section, we went out on the area
to complete patrols and section attacks. Each member of the section was rotated through different roles within the section but were graded as a Section Commander and Section 2IC.
To get everyone through, we did patrols and attacks one after the other from first light until last, including night patrol and attacks. It was hard work with smaller sections due to the COVID-19 restrictions, but I had an amazing section and we all worked together to get each other through it, leaning on each other for shared skills and knowledge. The instructors were also
great, giving guidance and good feedback, proving the aim of the exercise was to encourage and grow individuals to be section commanders and not be used as a punishment.
I would advise anyone preparing for the Cpl ALDP to read up on all course material, prepare physically for the exercise, the tabbing and carrying weight can catch
you out. Ensure you have decent kit for the exercise, I begged, borrowed and stole from friends and I was grateful for it.
It’s likely you’ll be the only Dental Nurse on the course, share what you know,
learn from others and overall, enjoy it.
I found during the course that we are underestimated as a trade and as a Corps within the AMS and wider Army. Most cap badges think “Mental Dental” and we don’t know how to be green. Prove them wrong.
The course is well put together and I learnt a lot both in the classroom and on exercise. I enjoyed the experience and opportunity to push myself outside of my comfort zone both mentally and physically, I surprised myself and others during the course.
46 RADC BULLETIN 2021