The Australian Defence Force Academy
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The Final Challenge: Leadership Challenge III
By Officer Cadet Lisa Tonkins
12 May 2008
270 third year ADFA Midshipmen and Officer Cadets (cadets) successfully completed Leadership Challenge III, held over two weeks at Jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales.
LCIII is the final practical leadership exercise that we are required to complete before graduation. It assesses our ability to plan and execute a task; lead a small team in a complex and challenging environment; and act as an effective team member.
For me, LCIII pieced together all the military and leadership skills I have learnt at ADFA. I saw how units can interact and support each other in an operational environment, and completed the exercise with a better understanding of the ‘big picture’ of tri-service operations.
The exercise was broken into three Forward Operating Bases (FOBs), representing the Navy, Army and Air Force. As an Air Force Officer Cadet I found the tasks we completed while reporting to Navy and Army FOBs particularly challenging. The Navy FOB saw us learning how to conduct boarding parties while dealing with troublesome locals (played by very convincing reservists), while in Army FOB I was exposed to an attempted ‘enemy bombing’ during a night-time VAP exercise. Travelling to the exercise area onboard HMAS Manoora was a fantastic experience, and added to the realism of the exercise.
One of the most exciting parts of the challenge was when as second in command during a wharf protection detail I was pulled aside and informed that police training divers had discovered an unexploded WWII mortar on the wharf. We were required to help control access to the wharf, before a precautionary evacuation. We also learned to deal with riots, conducted vehicle checkpoints and vital asset protection, acted as a quick response team reacting to incidents, setting up and running a first aid post, conducting beach surveys, rescuing pilots following an aircraft crash, and safely clearing mine fields.
We drew on skills including first aid, communication and negotiation skills (as most locals and enemy spoke only Pidgin English), RATEL skills, weapons skills, self defence techniques, coordinating and tactical skills, as well as leadership and follower-ship.
In nearly every mission, the situation changed continuously, forcing us to adapt, be resourceful, use our initiative and work together in our teams to make quick decisions.
Over the two week exercise my skills as a leader were truly tested. I developed my skills applying the theory we have learnt in a classroom, and found new confidence in myself and an increased conviction in my being a member of the ADF.
I felt a different kind of pressure – not to pass my assessment – but one that made me feel I had a real responsibility for everyone’s safety. It was a thrilling feeling, and one that I look forward to experiencing again when I graduate as an Officer in the RAAF.
