An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir April 2014 www.dfmagazine.ie 18 | O n Wednesday 19 Feb, 33 personnel from DFhQ, McKee bks Coy, DFhQ CIS Coy and students of the Physical Training Instructors Course jumped off a bridge into the cold waters of blessington Lake. The jump was the culmination of a days training with educational aims and not just merely about getting wet. organised by Comdt Neil Taylor, Training and Education branch, J7, the day began with water survival training in the DFPES pool, where Sgt Larry Chambers (27 bn) showed the basics of surviving in a cold and hostile sea. The lessons were centred around conservation of body heat and energy but also involved improvised flotation devices, made using clothing. The all important height factor was gradually built up to during the day, with a number of progressively higher jumps, the highest of which was only a couple of metres shorter than the eight metre bridge the participants would jump from. Sgt Alan O'Reilly(27 Bn) coached on the finer points of high level water entry with an emphasis on safe water entry. Poor tech- nique at lower heights increases the potential risk of injury when bigger jumps are undertaken. Technique is everything! Military confidence training is an invaluable addition to formal military training, enhancing the individual's ability to withstand the rigors of opera- tions and rapid deployment. This controlled exposure to danger and fear is an experience troops can take with them overseas and enhances their ca- pacity to lead, communicate and perform the task at hand, often in hostile areas. Performed at recruit level, confidence training is something that must be consistent throughout a career in order for it to be effective. That's why this particular day was planned, although it involved as much team building and co-operation as confidence building. For the afternoon in Blessington, the keyword was safety. There was a comprehensive set of safety briefs from the confidence training instructor on site and members of the Army Dive Group, who were providing invalu- able support on the day. The weather on the day meant the water tempera- ture was a chilly 4 degrees, so the rope set up from the point of entry to shore was well used. In all, the day was enjoyable, it brought together members of the DFHQ who would not normally be in contact, but throughout the whole day the objectives of learning and experience were never lost. Comdt Neil Taylor said of the day: "Confidence training is a key tool in developing the charac- ter, skills and physical robustness of DF personnel. Some of the personnel who jumped in Blessington were neither comfortable at height nor in water. With training, support and a controlled but challenging task environment all personnel suc- cessfully jumped. Some were vis- ibly enthused and rewarded by the experience. A fol- low on Confidence Training Day will take place for DFHQ personnel in mid 2014. We are looking for new victims to meet the chal- lenge" by CPL PAUL MILLAR WAterCONFIDENCETraining One of the first participants to make the leap. Comdt Neil Taylor, organiser of the day, also went off the bridge. There was a steady stream of jumpers throughout the afternoon, all controlled by the CTI's on the bridge. The moment of impact. The shock of the cold water was as much a part of the experience as the jump itself. Sgt Larry Chambers instructing the students in how to turn items of uniform into flotation devices.

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