By
SBLT Rachael Browning
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Members
of the Junior Officers’ Leadership Course at HMAS Creswell
spent two days in the bush as part of Exercise Black Horse.
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A
25km hike and a 21km canoe trip in frosty temperatures over two
days formed part of Exercise Black Horse, an expedition organised
and conducted by
the members of the Junior Officers’ Leadership Course (JOLC) at
HMAS Creswell.
The expedition was the pivotal point of the five weeks of JOLC
05/04, with the aim to consolidate leadership and administrative
skills practiced throughout the course.
Eighteen students from HMAS Albatross and HMAS Watson took up
the challenge and organised equipment, personnel, transport, fresh
food and all the facets of planning and administration, including
a hazard risk assessment.
All components were covered in JOLC before the trek and it was
an opportunity to put newfound skills work. Conducted in Morton
National Park and on the Clyde River, NSW, the expedition luckily
experienced clear, but cold weather.
The 25km hike began at Blue Gum Flats and peaked at the top of
Pigeon House Mountain. The alternate route back to the campsite
was a great test of navigational skills and patience, although
it was doubtful whether there were any prospective navigators
within the seaman officer component of this particular course.
The 21km canoe trip from Shallow Crossing Nelligen was a great
display of zig-zag manoeuvring and how not to disembark from a
canoe.
The training objectives were well achieved. Students increased
their proficiency in administrative duties and procedures, both
before and after the expedition.
As well as leadership refinement, the planning and execution of
adventure training ensured all JOLCs were out of their comfort
zones, through the arduous walk, ability with an oar, or the series
of vertical ladders at the peak of Pigeon House.
The Huw Paffard Shield for leadership and teamwork throughout
the course was awarded to SBLT Daniel Lewin.
