Army exercise tested men of all ranks

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33065, 4 November 1972, Page 21

Army exercise tested men of all ranks

By

R. C. KINGSBURY)

The conclusion on Thursday of “Exercise Stamina,” a nontactical exercise at Little Malaya for members of the Ist Battalion Depot. Burnham Military Camp, brought to a close four days of intensive training and competitive teamwork.

Private soldiers were deprived of their usual leadership and thrown on their own resources. Their officers had to fend for themselves.

In the course of the exer-l rise, the soldiers traversed almost 50 miles of ground in the Armv training area of the Oxford State forest. Their compass routes took them from river and stream junctions to points up to 3750 ft in the beech forest and down again into its ravines. The competitive spirit of the soldiers — an important element in much of their training — was stimulated by the participiation of three groups from the Royal Fiji Military Forces and by the fact that groups of private soldiers were pitted against groups of lance-corporals, corporals, sergeants, and officers. NONE EXEMPT

No member of the battaBon, by virtue of rank or occupation, was exempt from the exercise. Field ambulance men, clerks, drivers, and storemen all joined groups of equivalent rank. Some had seen service in Singapore and Vietnam, while others were at an early stage in their training. Of the 350 men involved, 140 have completed their training and will leave for Singapore at the end of this month. Apart from the satisfaction and distinction of being able to cover the rugged course with the minimum of penalty points, there is no doubt that, unofficial side issues were also taken into account. The fate of an 18-gallon keg and contents seemed to figure prominently in the delibera-

tions of rival sergeants’ and officers’ teams. Similar but 'less voluminous quantities of refreshments, and the prospect of a day or two in extra leave, were an added incentive for other groups. The sergeants, however, ■ were assured of their prize when one of the officers broke a tooth on a piece of candy (Army ration-pack issue) and another became ill. Both had to withdraw, and consequently their group accumulated penalty points. AT THE READY Thirty-seven groups, each comprising about eight men, moved into the exercise area from fixed points on the perimeter at noon on Monday. Although it was a nontactical exercise, they were expected to observe the normal basic procedures of carrying weapons at the ready and maintaining equipment. Serious faults resulted in penalty points being awarded. Each group selected its own commander for all or part of the exercise.

Last Friday, each group was issued with a map on which was marked the 13 check points to be reached. Arrival at each point carried a certain number of points,

depending on the difficulty in reaching it, and the distance necessary to travel. Points ranged from 12 to 40. Lots were drawn for the first objective of each group, but thereafter the groups planned their own route in the light of topographical features, distance to be covered and time available, and their own skill in orienteering.

On reaching each check point, the arrival time of the group was radioed to the control base, together with the group’s next intended objective and the points it had gained. AIM OF EXERCISE Because of the large number of men taking part, and the large area covered, the soldiers were advised to exercise care when selecting routes, not to try to achieve the impossible, and to travel at the speed of the slowest person.

Special procedures were laid down for emergency or accident, or in the event of a person becoming lost. A helicopter was on standby at the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Wigram.

The battalion’s commanding officer (Lieutenant-Colo-nel R. I. Launder) said that the aim of the exercise had been to test members of the battalion and the Fiji forces in all aspects of navigation and physical fitness. Route planning, navigation by day, endurance, teamwork, and the competitive spirit had been tested. The exercise, he said, had been similar to one held earlier this year, but because of the increased hours of daylight more check points had been included. He had not expected that any of the groups would manage to complete the full course. WINNING GROUP

He had, however, underestimated the fitness of some of his own men and that of the Fijian soldiers. The winning group was the lance-corporals, who had reached their last check point at 7.20 a.m. on Thursday, almost eight hours within the finishing time. The sergeants were second, at 9 a.m., and the Fijian No. 2 group third, at mid-day.