O-Coy Gradex - "I love it when a plan comes together"

Chris during the day nav, a bit wet after one of the many showers of rain

The O-Coy Gradex was held last Saturday- the 5 participants and directing staff met up at HQ for a briefing and the written tests. At noon our driver Charles arrived to ship us off to the starting point of the Day Nav which was in Birzebugia close to Borg in-Nadur.

Alan during the pioneering check point at Torri tal-Wardija

Andrew tying a sheepshank

The sky did not hold up for the recruits who had to endure the on/off showers throughout the day nav. They trekked mostly on the southern coast passing by Torri tal-Wardija and ending up at Ghar Lapsi where we set up bivvies for the night. Some built lean-to bivvies while others set up camp in a cave and some creative fellow built a house out of doors and other furniture he found lying around. The sky had cleared up by 0100 when the Unit awoke to prepare for transit to the night nav starting point.

George asleep in his cave

The recruits took off their blindfolds somewhere along the Dingli Cliffs where very little was visible except the stars, sea and some lights in the distance. Some managed to discern Mtarfa and the Knisja tad-Dumnikani in Rabat and carryout back bearings; others worked out their location by comparing the roads and shape of the cliffs to the map.

Terrence and George having a much needed brew-up after the Day nav

The house that Andrew built

The night nav took our Recruits further north towards Mgarr and Zebbiegh, up to Hotba ta San Martin and ending at Dwejra.

Terrence navigating while Martin watches over him

The SAR & medevac was carried out at Dwejra with two casualties who had fallen unconcious amongst the trees and broken buildings. Both were saved in time and treated accordingly.

Action during the Medevac at Dwejra

Although the Directing Staff still have to calculate the walking times and incident points all the 5 recruits completed the Gradex so it's looking good for now.

On Tuesday we're going out for pizza to celebrate a job well done... and next week we're off to Gozo for a weekend of SVS mayhem!



Mo$es

Canoe Training Session

Cremona Paddling the seven seas

On Saturday 21st some of our members attended a one-day canoe training session with Clarke from Rugged Coast Adventure. The session include instruction and practice of several paddling and safety techniques. We played various training games and practiced capsizing and righting ourselves in record time.

Abela takin' it easy

The whole team righting their canoes in a canoe safety exercise

The activity was held at Mellieha Bay and the training was part of a programme which we've been carrying out all summer... in November we should be holding a two-night canoe expo which might involve going to Comino and exploring several sea caves!

Abela & Cremona working as a team

The following Tuesday meeting was the last meeting for Miguel, who has decided to leave the Group. Miguel has been active in the Unit since August 2007 and in the Group for many years. The Unit bids farewell to you Miguel!!

Stay tuned for the next post which will be about the O-Coy Gradex held last weekend.

Mo$es

Poxx Bar Gig & SVS Paintballing

Although Summer is technically over, it isn't officially over for the SVS yet!! The first three weeks of September were filled with various activities including a session of Paintballing, a Canoe Training Session in which members attained their One Star Award, a Gig organised by members of the Unit which raised funds for the Unit and various social activities. apart from that members of the Unit added the Troop and Pack Summer Camps as part of their Tour of Duty or just to lend a hand.

Luca, Sam and some of the other Ventures organised a gig at Poxx Bar which featured The Highway, Retrophytes, DJ BOB and others. The evening acted as a social activity with some brilliant entertainment.

On Saturday 20th the SVS RV'd at Rinella for a session of paintballing. We all left the field with some battle scars but the worst was Terrence who was executed by firing squad (see photo above).

Green team utilising one of the wooden huts to overpower the blues

The weather was great for paintballing, not too hot and no rain clouds in sight! The teams were evenly split with 7 recruits againts 7 ventures in the (blue team and green team respectively). The green team had some more experience in the sport since all the members had played at least one time before while the recruits had never been paintballing. This meant that in the first couple of games the green team overpowered the blues because of a clearer strategy.

Members of the blue team playing defensive

Later on in the morning the Blue team got used to the field and started getting back at the Greens even taking over their base in one of the games. Although the blues got on their feet towards the middle of the game the Green team still went home as the winners.

more news from the SVS coming soon!!

Mo$es