Padres go adventuring

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 458, 20 October 1992, Page 5

Padres go adventuring

T h e Army Adventurous Training Centre (AATC) held a week-long course for Territorial Force (TF) padres last week. The course was a first for AATC, both in the clientele and because an Army psychologist was used on the course as a facilitator. Principal chaplain for the Army, Lt Col Ian Hanley, wanted a course which would put the TF padres under stress, so they could evaluate their own behaviour and then develop strategies to compensate. Army psychologist, Captain Quentin Fogg participated in each day's events and then led a debrief every evening. "We were able to materialise lessons from the day's activities," said Quentin Fogg. "The padres found the course extremely beneficial. We could talk about their experiences and emotions during the day and what they got out of it. They learnt a great deal about themselves and the benefits of working in a team." "AATC learnt about an additional dimension they could add to their courses. Instructors were so motivated because they were getting feedback all the time." Activities on the course included kayaking, abseiling, climbing, ra.fting and some leadership tasks. Each activity was selected because of the fear it would generate in a certain number of the group. The abseiling was on the second day, down the sheer drop of the MoAwhango Dam. In the debrief that night participants looked at the contrast of their emotions before going over the wall the first time compared to the second.

"We found that we make the stress for ourselves. We imagine it - we think of all the negative rather than the positive aspects. The hurdle is the psychological barrier of fear rather than the physical situation. This is the same with combat stress. All the symptoms of stress are the same, whether it be combat or family or financial problems that are the cause," said Capt Fogg. At times the course

generated more stress than anticipated. The MoAwhango Dam abseiling was one such occasion. AATC were also running a training course for Physical Training Instructors (PTIs). After their tuition from AATC staff it was the PTIs who taught the chaplains how to use the abseiling equipment and coached them over the wall. "We were their guinea pigs. One of the guys tied one of the knots the

wrong way and had to be corrected. On the demonstration of the descent things went slightly wrong for another of the PTIs. It didn't inspire confidence!" said Capt Fogg. Leadership was also an issue. The chaplain provides indirect or intangible leadership within their unit. A padre must be able to lead without showing stress. Chaplains usually work in isolation, especially those in the territorial forces. The

course highlighted the need to link them together for mutual support. "Even more today, Padres are dealing with lot of problems. Outside pressures make their role much more difficult. Who gives padres support?" said Capt Fogg.