EX Colditz
13 May 2008
“Adventure Training? … sounds more like a Nemesis to me!” was the common response from people when details of 3 Log Bn, 3 Distribution Coy’s (3 Dist Coy) Escape and Evasion style adventure training were first disseminated.
Ex COLDITZ was conducted twice over in February, in two five- day blocks. This enabled 3 Dist Coy to still maintain its work output in camp as well as conduct adventure training. The morning of Feb 18th saw the first four eager sections (made up of Transport and Supply PTEs) deploy near Berwick Forest south of Dunedin to begin the exercise, the aim being to develop team work and leadership in a dynamic and challenging environment.
The participants, dressed in sand coloured overalls and carrying only a sack containing survival items and navigation stores, acted as independent four person sections operating behind ‘enemy lines’. Sections were tasked with navigating to a series of stands in order to get back to their extraction point without being caught by roving Hunter Forces. The forces were made up of eight 2/1st Bn personnel with pride to maintain and food in their bellies, and numerous extremely eager NZ Police and Search and Rescue personnel, who hunted both day and night, armed with dogs barking hot on the trails of the escapees.
On arrival at the stands, the sections faced a battery of either psychological or physical tests. If successful in accomplishing the task within the specified timing, sections were granted a reward in the form of a 24hr ration pack. However, this reward was only ever given during one two hour block per day. At the completion of the task section members were then required to put their navigation skills into practice and, using the next grid reference provided by the Stand IC, make an appropriate route selection and navigate their way to the next location. With a total of six stands, the sections were required to complete a minimum of four stands during the Escape and Evasion phase.
Suffering from fatigue, sleep and food deprivation, not only did the participants have to elude the Hunter Force teams, but additionally, sections in the second week had a further ‘force to consider’, that being the OC Dist Coy, Major Dave Neal! Taking the opportunity to get in amongst the action with the troops, Major Neal went to ground on arrival into the AO, and on establishing his own OP managed to surprise and intercept his own fair share of startled escapees.
Despite the discomfort of blisters, lack of sleep, empty bellies and particularly foul weather in the second week, sections appeared to be in good spirits and still managed to complete the exercise with an Adventure Race. This phase consisted of a 10km kayak across Lake Mahinerangi and a 45km mountain bike through Berwick Forest. To maintain the tempo, sections continued to be pursued by the Hunter Force all the way to Wesleydale Youth Camp. At the conclusion of Ex COLDITZ teams were treated to a hot shower, BBQ and prize giving followed by the customary telling of tall stories.
