Page 6 - Eagle Eye Spring 2021

Eagle’s Scheme
By SAC Daniel Nigh
Between 12-16 Oct, eight weary 1 ISR-ian travellers fully comprised of 1 and 2 ISR Sqns embarked upon the first Eagle scheme to be held since March’s lockdown. Kernow Eagle, hosted by RAF St Mawgan was met with mild controversy as to whether the benefits of the week of Adventure Training outweighed the risk of Covid transmission. It was made apparent all eyes on camp were on the group to remain professional and act in accordance with safe procedures, something any group of junior ranks are not famed for. The week’s emphasis on challenging personnel in an amphibious environment did just that, as activities included: coast steering, surfing and paddle boarding.
Coast steering
An immensely challenging activity saw the group: sea swimming, traversing and exploring the coast of Newquay. Unfortunately for the weaker swimmers, the swell was much larger than typical conditions making the activity far more nerve-racking and memorable.
Surfing
Home of the National Surf Championships; the group learnt to wipe-out at Cornwall’s
Watergate Bay. The day’s activity proved to be as enjoyable as it was difficult to master, with some spending more time underwater than above it. However, with excellent surfing tuition and a very patient instructor the basics were eventually witnessed.
Paddleboarding
A new activity to the group and becoming the majorities favourite, paddleboarding required the individual to master their board using a mixture of balance, brains and brawn. Everyone navigated and explored stretches of coastline whilst demonstrating various skills along the way.
Mental health
Newly Included inside the week’s curriculum was a focus on mental health, often group discussions were exercised, allowing individuals to talk about the stresses of a difficult year. HeadFit was also introduced, the new online platform launched to help defence personnel take a more proactive approach to their mental health: https://headfit.org/home/
The careful planning and the prioritisation of safety was paramount, gratefully coordinated between 22 Trg Group and RAF St Mawgan which ensured the week to be a success.
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