By
CPL Simone Liebelt
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Members
of the Joint Operations Intelligence Centre Australia
- Target Analysis Facility recently conducted adventure
training as a team-building exercise and a break from
their usual indoor job.
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LACW
Philippa Rostan rock climbs during JOICAUST-TAF’s
adventure training.
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Photo
by CPL Craig Eager
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ALTHOUGH
they usually work behind closed doors, members from the intelligence
organisation known as “the Barn” were able to work in
the great outdoors during recent adventure training.
More than 20 members from the Joint Operations Intelligence Centre
Australia - Target Analysis Facility, set up camp at HMAS Creswell
in Jervis Bay for three days of fun, fitness and relaxation.
The group of adventurers included geospatial imagery intelligence
analysts, intelligence officers, photographers and support staff
from the Barn, with two PTIs from Russell and a Naval PT from
Creswell instructing the adventure training.
Flight Lieutenant Gordon Keefe, 2IC at the Barn, said the training
gave unit members a break from the office, which was important
in their field of work.
“People get very focused on their jobs [at the Barn], so
you could be sitting behind a computer for literally 8 to 9 hours
a day, without getting away from it,” he said. “This
was a really good opportunity to get out of uniform, get to know
each other, relax and have a good time.”
After setting up tents, the group started off with rock climbing
and abseiling, which FLTLT Keefe said was both physically challenging
and entertaining for members.
“There were a few people who were really nervous because
they hadn’t done abseiling before, so it was quite funny
seeing some of the reactions as they were lowering down,”
he said. “No one was really going to back down in front of
everyone else, so there was a bit of trust there and a lot of
encouragement from the team with applauding and slaps on the back
when you did it.”
Torrential rain on the second day didn’t dampen their plans
to go sea kayaking, which proved to be the most popular activity
of the trip.
“We were going to get wet kayaking anyway, so we didn’t
care if it rained. We were just glad to be out of the office,”
he said. The sea kayaking was awesome because it really emphasised
teamwork and was a big winner with the group.”
To escape the downpour, they played ten pin bowls at the local
alley, after which the rain cleared for a bushwalk on the last
day.
FLTLT Keefe said the training was a great success in encouraging
teamwork, morale and fitness within the unit.
“Traditionally the intel community is fairly insular, so
the way new people were accepted into the group was excellent,”
he said.
“Getting out there and doing adventure training just reinforced
why we’re in the military and showed the younger members
that these are some of the benefits of being in the Air Force.
Everyone had a great time.”
