Article written by Royal Navy, HMS Collingwood Press & Public Relations Office
HMS Collingwood recently played host to Cadets from Merchant Taylors’ School and St Helen’s Combined Cadet Force, who took advantage of some of the excellent facilities at the Leadership Training Group.
The activities were designed to teach positive communication and the ability to both fit into and lead a successful team. The cadets took part in a range of challenges on the Low Ropes Course, including the rope swing, the wire crossing and the wall obstacle.
The challenges required cadets to work together effectively, supporting one another to ensure every team member successfully completed each task and reached the finish point.
Regarding the teamwork element of the leadership challenges, a St Helen’s pupil said, “The rope swing was the best for testing how well we could work as a team, as ordinarily this would be okay to accomplish for just one person.”
She added, “that was what made the activities so enjoyable, assessing how we could do this successfully, as a team, and not just on your own.”
Nischal V. (L6ths) said similarly that ‘as an individual it would be easy to complete, however, coming together and tackling the challenges as a team was the real obstacle. We had to learn to do it the right way as a collective, not just thinking for ourselves.’
Lt Cdr Firestone, the Contingent Commander, explicated: “As a partnership contingent with St Helen’s School, it is incredibly important that our boys and girls have opportunities to come together and take part in exercises such as these. Not only do they encourage cadets to step outside their comfort zones, but they also foster teamwork, communication and mutual support. Completing these challenges within a naval establishment allows them to apply the skills and values developed through their training in an authentic environment, further enhancing their personal development and confidence.”
Instructors were on hand to ensure safety and provide guidance where required, but the cadets were encouraged to navigate the course independently, taking responsibility for leading and supporting one another while putting into practice the leadership principles and teamwork skills.
Photos courtesy of Keith Woodland, Crown Copyright
