Auckland Air Force Challenge
A more intensive way of steering school leavers into Air Force careers is via the very ‘hands on’ Air Force Challenge. FLTLT Rachel James, ARRO explains.
Mud Run.
After months of preparation and detailed planning, the annual Auckland Air Force Challenge kicked off in fine style.
This year’s 40 challengers were selected from nearly 200 applicants throughout the northern recruiting region. They converged on Base Whenuapai for the July school holidays and a week of fun.
Day one we eased into the event by sending the challengers for a wee run - 3km uphill in Riverhead Forest in true PTI fashion, joined by a rope to ensure it was a joint effort. This was a true test of team spirit and it sorted out the fitness junkies from the rest. CPL Jack Xiong led his team to victory, but it was a close fought battle. There were a few weary folk that night, so, after introductions and supper, most hit the sack.
Day two started with a barrack inspection, which gave the kids a chance to experience recruit course standards! If we had had bed-packs, many of them would have ended up going out the window. After breakfast, the drill practice began. Each team would be competing in a drill competition at the end of the week, which involved not only official military manoeuvres, but also an element of flair. Plenty of goons came to the party, but the kids seemed to enjoy it anyway. Various units were visited throughout the week in order to give the challengers an insight into potential careers on offer within the Air Force. Much to the delight of the kids, Air Security conducted a mock terrorist attack, which involved thunder flashes and blank firing.The medics taught the challengers how to lift injured parties, then stood back and watched while the kids tried to put them into practice during a relay race. One of the highlights had to be the mud run. Some teams were in and out in less than twenty minutes – go Hercules and Boeing. One team decided it would be fun to make their FLTLT team leader stay in the mud for a solid hour and then some! Oh well – what didn’t kill us, definitely made us stronger – go Iroquois. Then it was into the pool for a wet drill activity before we let the kids hang up their boots at the end of another hard day and retire for some shut eye.
Day three dawned and the challengers were starting to wane. After the morning drill session it was off to see the aircraft at No. 40 Squadron and No.5 Squadron. In between these visits, the challengers headed off to Supply to pack some eggs and then Skin Bay to punch in a rivet. After lunch, the Armourers came to the party with an impressive array of personal weapons and ‘things that go bang’. Another crowd favourite.
Another highlight was the night navigation exercise around Hobsonville. The kids were given a map and a compass and had to make their way around the Base completing activities at each check point. Everyone made it back, a sure sign of success – and this year the ropes burnt – way to go Andy! Thursday involved a visit to the CIS unit and a ride in a Pinzgauer; a visit to the Fire Station to manhandle the hoses; and the much anticipated drill competition. Team Iroquois finally managed to win something – due in no small part to the direction of CPL Reece Tamariki. Excessive flair was shown by every team which made the event interesting for the spectators! Some fun and games in the gym followed by yet another competition – quiz night took us to the end of another day.
The final day began with the announcement of the winning team – Team Hercules by a mere five points over Team Boeing. So off to No. 6 Squadron we trekked in order for our ten winners to have a flight in the mighty Seasprite. Thanks to the efforts of the No. 6 Squadron maintainers, we managed to get an aircraft. The kids had a blast. Seeing the Sky Tower close up and personal would have been the highlight of their week for sure.
Everyone went their separate ways at midday – some off on a bus, some to the airport, leaving the ARRO staff to retire to the Malthouse Conference Centre for a well deserved ‘debrief’. The week was a great success and should result in at least 50 percent of our Air Force Challengers joining up over the next two years.
Thanks must be extended from the ARRO staff to all personnel involved in making the Air Force Challenge such a success. Your efforts in promoting Air Force careers to these enthusiastic kids paid off, as they all had a fantastic adventure.