// Wet and Wild
- Air Force Challenge 2009
By FLTLT Brett Tourell
Water survival activity
The annual Air Force Challenge, organised by RNZAF Auckland Recruiting, took place over the week of 6—10 July. Forty keen North Island Year 12 and 13 secondary school students descended on RNZAF Base Whenuapai to get a taste of what Air Force life is really like.
Day One
The Physical Training Instructors had an early influence, taking the newly formed teams of ‘Boeing’, ‘Orion’, ‘Iroquois’ and ‘Hercules’ though some ice-breaking activities. It was here that the competition began, with the trophy being a flight for the winning team in a Seasprite at the end of the week.
Day Two
Group photo
After a brief introduction to military drill and hospital corners, the challengers got an opportunity to learn the latest in CPR, courtesy of our medics. They also got the chance to try out the latest toys our Safety and Surface team have at their fingertips—both in and out of the pool. It was then the armourers’ turn to show their stuff, and they sure made an impact with a superb recruiting effort!
Day Three
The teams were taken to No. 5 Squadron where they:
- climbed inside a section of a wing
- practised their riveting skills in the skin bay, and
- discovered (in avionics) that you really can see in the dark.
Lady Blake and SQNLDR Munro
The afternoon brought on the infamous ‘Mud Run’ which proved, yet again, to bring the teams together as a unit. The night navigation exercise was followed by a survivor style fire lighting exercise, with the first team to burn through the overhanging rope taking out another closely fought challenge.
Day Four
More drill practice prior to the final drill competition judged by the resident Air Security experts, with the ‘flare’ part of the competition proving to lubricate the team spirit further. Then the teams got to cut the roof off a vehicle, navigate a smoke filled area with the base fire team, and practise their construction skills with the Communication Information Systems unit. The day ended with a flight over Auckland city, courtesy of No. 40 Squadron. All the teams got to ‘walk the ramp’, with smiles all round.
Day Five
Air Force Challenge 2009
Prize giving was followed by the teams getting the ‘Gen’ on No. 6 Squadron. The winning ‘Boeing’ team were taken on a low level trip out to Muriwai, courtesy of the Seasprite crew. Again, all involved were very impressed.
The Auckland Recruiting Office would like to pass on its thanks to all of the base units who contributed to this event. Once again, your enthusiasm reaffirmed to us that, even in these tough times, it is our people who make the difference. As a testament to this, one week after the event we had a number of them booked in for recruiting testing!