Six of our team took on the Altcar Army Training Day Challenge in Liverpool, experiencing first hand some of the training that reservists undertake
Seras are proud to be a gold Armed Forces Covenant holder. Last month six of our team took on the Altcar Army Training Day challenge in Liverpool experiencing first hand some of the training that army cadets and reservists undertake.
The day proved to be an excellent team building day and our group thoroughly enjoyed the experience and opportunity to take part in this day.
On arrival, the commander split all the participating companies into mixed groups, and our team was split across two groups. There were six stands, each operated by a different battalion and the teams worked their way around each stand over the course of the day.
Activities included the following:
1. Concealment – What’s the Time Mr Wolf – A good excuse to practice using camouflage to conceal yourself in a forest and creep up on the battalion team. Our team enjoyed this exercise with one of our lead business analysts being so good at hiding in foliage that he actually crept past the battalion team!
Key learning – This task relied on stealth, patience, observation skills and the ability to deal with nettle stings!
The team fully committed to this event and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, which the army team appreciated. Our team showed great commitment, they wore camouflage paint and even stuck twigs and branches in their shoes!
2. Defending a town – The team were in pairs for this with airsoft pistols and target practice along the way. This involved advance and cover fire for the other person they were partnered with.
Key learning – Teamwork skills develop during a physical activity.
3. Tyre challenge – 5 rings placed on one cone, the team had to get them to the other end without putting a larger number of tyres on top of the smaller number. Key learning – Leadership, communication and team work were important.
4. Medics – For this the team learned how to “treat” a wound by having to stab an orange and pack it with a bandage.
Key learning – Not for those who don’t like the sight of blood! This task developed the precision and focus that medics require.
5. Massive operation game – A large scale version of the classic game (about half the size of one of our meeting room tables) using magnets to remove body parts and practicing applying tourniquets.
Key learning – This task developed the precision, focus and ability to work under pressure that medics require.
6. Target practice – with the artillery regiment and a rifle.
Key learning – Speed and skill hitting a target. Apparently claiming you’re good at Call of Duty isn’t the flex that you might think it is!
Feedback from the team attending the Altcar Army Training Day
To quote some of our team on the day:
“The army are our unsung heroes. They said the army are the 4th emergency service and they’re right. When Covid came we clapped for the nurses, but we didn’t clap for the army and the reservists sent in to support the nurses because they simply couldn’t cope.
This day gives a good insight into what they do. Anyone who has the chance should do it. You are pushed out of your comfort zone and your physical limits, as well as intellectually, and your observation skills are fully tested. You learn about yourself as well as the reservists and everything they do for civilians that we simply don’t know about.”
Tony Ashley, from our Transport team.
“When the firefighters went off on strike the army had to step in, because you can’t strike in the army.”
Dan Kitson, from our Continuous Improvement team.
“It was a really good day to be out of work and still be in work; being able to understand working as a team, doing different activities that literally take you out of your comfort zone. Some of the activities were things that would make you think outside of the box and being able to bring that back into your day-to-day life is priceless.”
Rasheed Banire, from our HSQE team.
Big thank you to all who took part in this day and to Marianne Thomson, our Learning and Development Manager for organising this. We’re delighted our team found it so helpful as they take those skills back into their roles, along with increased respect for all that our armed forces do for this country.
