Page 34 - Chiron Issue 2 2014

Prelims
The CLM programme provides generic training and education (T&E) for all soldiers on promotion to Lance Corporal. The aim of CLM T&E is to: develop NCOs capable of executing effective command; leadership and management in all conditions; to be role models for their subordinates; and contribute to team ethos and operational effectiveness. The CLM T&E programme is progressive and incremental.
Situation
This is now the ninth PNCO course to be run in Germany, subsequently the course has developed over the years, and is now run over a three week period compared to other AMS Cadres that run over 8 – 10 day. The longer course allows us to conduct a
longer exercise phase giving every student a fair chance at command appointments, and allowing time in the programme to conduct an ISP (individual skills phase). The ISP is a four day exercise that builds on basic field skills, and enhances a student’s capability to function as a Section 2IC and section commander on the final exercise.
Task Org
As well as the Regimental Training Wing assisting in the running and delivery of the course. We also have a considerable number of guest speakers from within the Regiment to deliver the mandated CLM package. This year an extra training team was brought in from a number of locations including Tp Comd - Lt Harvey, Sect Comd - Cpl Hewitt, Cpl Kirby, Cpl Woolfe, and LCpl Durkin BCCS Support. Finally
Sgt Gould acting as the Tp Sgt Sgt.
D-Day
The day finally arrived and twenty- one budding students arrived, and once placed into their accommodation (20 man rooms) they received their first brief on block standards, hot and cold injuries, and were briefed that they would be required to complete a PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) the next morning. At this stage all the students’ administration is completed and reviewed. Already one student had no medical risk assessment as per his appendix 9 and faced RTU (Returned to Unit) in the morning.
During the PFA there were four failures these failures had to retake the assessment over the remainder of the course until passed. Each student turned up with MATTs fully signed of by their respective Units. The students then faced four days of classroom instruction, and a myriad of evening work from block preparation, kit inspections, mess function preparation and working on their fifteen minute presentations. Over this period the students also enjoyed daily section fitness which consisted of a log race, a stretcher race and a shell carry. These fitness periods allow us to assess not just fitness, but mental robustness and leadership ability.
We then deployed out to FOB 3 (Forward Operating Base), and conducted the Individual Skills Phase which consisted of basic fieldcraft revision, and plenty of time to teach and practice the orders process. The four days culminates with the BCCS (basic close combat skills) assessment; one of the courses critical Training Objectives. Each student is tested on their ability to command a fire team in a section attack. The students really worked hard, and produced some good results. One student of particular mention is Pte Hodge who on his command appointment not only wanted to assault his position, but also 1 section’s position 600m away behind his own section at the same time.
1st Military Working Dog Regiment Potential NCO Cadre 141 (09 - 27 Jun 14)
By Sgt Andy Marsh, Trg Sgt 1st MWD Regt
34 Chiron Calling