NAVY NEWS, NOVEMBER 2008 23
Challenge
and what we in the Navy should
be doing.”
Cdre Stephen Thorne,
Commodore Maritime Reserves,
said: “It is great that Second Sea
Lord is going to take some ideas
away and introduce them to the
regulars – we have been doing this
for ages.”
He said the question was how
could reservists be tested under
pressure after the ships were
withdrawn in the mid-1990s, and
events such as the Crowborough
Challenge developed to fill the
gap.
“There is no rank here,” he
added.
“Everyone is equal, so you can
● Prince Michael of Kent with (left) Lt Greg Young and Lt Cdr Ant
Chapman of HMS President
see people as they are and assess
potential. If someone has got an
had to create a three-minute PR Commanding Officer, Cdr Angie
idea, he or she is equal in the
video promoting the role of the Hancock.
team ethos.
RN to sceptical locals. And when the Challenge itself
“It is fundamental to the way
HMS Wildfire concentrated on was over there was still Lt Katie
people think.
stereotypes; a helmeted policeman Kendrick’s Sunday programme,
“In the first half-hour or so
sported a floral garland, and in the featuring the RN Fitness Test
they are all looking at rank, but at
key scene an RN officer hands a on a no-risk basis (it was non-
the end of the day they are a team.
cup of tea to a smiling islander. compulsory, so those who failed
After a couple of stances they are
Then came the self-assessment. knew what they had to work on,
starting to act like a team.
“Any problems?” asked while those who passed could sign
“Also, in some teams at the
directing staff. off their chit), play team sports,
beginning it’s like Sgt Wilson from
“Ham acting!” came the swift meet the chaplains and try out the
Dad’s Army – after you, awfully
response. assault course.
nice.
And talking of ham acting, S/Lt But it was the wider gain which
“By the end, it’s ‘You do this,
Charlie Krasun (HMS President) delighted organisers – and gave at
you do that,’ and people take
was in Oscar-winning form as the least one VIP food for thought.
command. That is the outcome we
errant warlord with a penchant for Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral
are looking for.”
Swedish pop music. Alan Massey said: “I think the
Lt Cdr Ant Chapman, the
The scenario was far-
value of this is enormous.
man charged with staging
fetched and caused much
“I have seen three or four
the event for his CO, said
merriment, but Charlie – an
syndicates and they are grinning
that the training delivered
Arabic interpreter – said
from ear to ear and they are getting
to reservists “tries to match
there was method (acting?)
an enormous amount out of it.”
as closely as possible the
behind the madness.
Admiral Massey said one of his
training the regular Service
key objectives was to drive forward
“It is almost the opposite of
gets,” as well as being
improvements in leadership
a standard leadership task,” said training, and Crowborough was
cost-effective.
Charlie. proving useful. “For example, on the media
“This is all about human “As you go round you see stance, it is the same as they would
interaction, empathy and wonderful examples,” he said. find at FOST, and the medical
maintaining a personal contact as “We need more consistency and stance is exactly the same,” he
opposed to solving the task. open minds to best practice – said.
“Teams have to decide whether inviting people to do things that He added: “The whole event is
a leader can negotiate and lead, or they would not normally do. about Command, Leadership and
does the leader rely on someone “There are some very good Management (CLM).
else negotiating and take a strategic things here, and I will try to “The RN ethos is teamwork
had fun, they have worked hard
position. get more of our people out at and team-building while giving
and they have learned.
“It is important that they get all weekends – pause for a sharp them the skills they will need for
“Everyone is going to get
the information to keep on top of intake of breath…” those who are deploying.”
something different out of it and
the situation – it is very easy to get The admiral also noted that Lt Cdr Chapman also paid
have learned different techniques
divided.” under Cdre Thorne the Maritime tribute to the dedication of
and everyone has learned CLM
HMS King Alfred began in Reserve was making good progress organisers and participants.
– one of Second Sea Lord’s key
pedestrian fashion, the warlord towards closer integration with the “Lt Young has done all the
initiatives.”
decreed, but pulled it together regular service, much as the RM work, and it has been absolutely
Prince Michael said the weekend
to make an excellent team effort, Reserve has achieved. superb,” he said.
had given reservists the chance to
making a crucial decision at the “The goal is the day when a “There is no one here who
demonstrate their leadership, and
right time. reservist can take his or her place was not at work at 5pm yesterday
noted that the key elements had
For the record, a team in a front-line unit and be there afternoon.
not changed much since he joined
representing HMS Vivid were not just as part of a team but “Yet from people running
the Army 40 years ago.
the winners of the challenge, leading the team,” he said. things to manning stands, we have
One stand of particular interest
greatly pleasing the unit’s new “Well done; this is excellent, produced this event.
to the Prince was media training.
“That’s why I think Second Sea
Reservist media specialists
Lord has gone away a happy man.”
listened to a presentation by
● Clockwise from left: the President team fi ght a losing battle with
the bosun’s chair; AB Ian Miller of Tawe Division prepares for a dip Lt Greg Young said: “As far as
sailors, then questioned the team
in the lake; ‘smoke-blinded’ ‘firemen’ are ready to be guided to I am concerned the Challenge is a
in such a way as to illustrate
the seat of a ‘blaze’ (that’s enough apostrophes – Ed); another fantastic success.
potential pitfalls.
victim of the bosun’s chair; HMS King Alfred jogs between stances; “The staff have worked really
“Whatever tricks you try to
Members of the Caroline/Dalriada/Scotia team take to the lake; hard to produce a fantastic event.
play on reservists at this stage,
yet another dunking in the chair; the impassive Abba-loving “It could not work successfully they have the comfort of knowing
warlord blanks a negotiator from HMS King Alfred; our hero – HMS unless everyone gives 100 per cent they are not going to be quoted,
President’s Mike Godman rescues the baby (all right then, plastic – and they’ve put in 110 per cent. and they will be tremendously
bottle) from the blazing building (er, forest clearing…); the Tawe “If you talk to any of the groups better off later as a result of those
Division swimmers communicate with their (dry) leader onshore I am sure they will say they have lessons,” said Prince Michael.
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