A Legacy Lives on...

As I write this post a batch of our eager members are packing their gear, shining their boots, checking and re-checking their kits, and preparing themselves both physically and mentally for the journey ahead as many have done before them throughout the years.

Tonight these lucky members will be embarking on the first episode of an EPiC and prosperous adventure, one which will take great personal effort yet in the end will be something they'll remember for the rest of their lives... For those veterans reading this I think you already know what I'm going on about, but for all the folks at home it's the Basic Training.

I won't stay going into details for now, but I'll shed some light on the Basic Training programme a bit later on...

I'll leave you with some food for thought, a quote which I think pretty much sums up this EPiC journey...

"When you see an impossible-looking job before you, go at it, 'grin and tackle it', as the Scout motto tells you, and ten to one you will come out triumphant in the end, and all the more happy because it was difficult."

-The Scout 1st June 1918

Mo$es

SVS XMAS BASH 2009

And what a bash it was!

We also decided to invite some ex members of the Unit who've left us recently, the more the merrier!

Like last year's xmas party, the Unit decided to stick close to home and have the party at HQ with the prospect of hitting the town later on. Unlike last year where everyone got a dish and we all mixed and matched, the catering this year fell under the capable hands of Chris (a.k.a. Il-Griz), who whipped up a bitchin' Fenkata for around 13 guys which included pasta with rabbit sauce, then a saucy plate of rabbit pieces (no onions or garlic).

Kieth munching away..and away...

While we let the rabbit and spaghetti brew in our stomachs, we set about clearing up the table in preparation for the night to come...

After which we enjoyed some light-hearted games, accompanied by some red-bull which Zack gladly provided and not to mention some "Gulepp" that Chris whipped up at home!

Cremona n Llama laughing it up during the festivities...

Then, as per tradition, Debono delivered the prestigious VSL's Xmas speech in which he went through the highs n lows of 2009 and his thought's on 2010 and beyond.

Me n Debono during the Xmas Speech

New this year was the addition of the unofficial SVS Awards. This year Debono decided it was appropriate to give some kudos to those guys that gave it their all this year, the awards included;

Most Aryan: Zack "Midjanator"

Most Relaxed (No Hassles): Keith "Klitorious"

Best Buzz to be around: Terrance "Terrantus Tantus"

Best Leadership Qualities (Leads by example): Chris "Griz/Topher"

Best Venture (from what's expected of him): Tom "Saidon/Azamat"

Ex VS Martin receiving the Best Venture award in Tom's name...

We then continued with the festivities in true SVS fashion...games, jokes, survival techniques, kings, queens and more! After which we decided to pack it in for the night and save up energy for the upcoming Christmas festivities.

As far as posts go...this one's pretty much done!

Keep tuned in! Next time we'll be hitting the front lines and dealing with some serious mines...

Mo$es

Abseil with the Troop

On Sunday 13th December we joined up with the Troop for the last day of their annual Leapfrog activity to take them abseiling. We decided to go to Wied Ix-Xaqqa since it’s probably one of the easier abseil locations around the island. Over twenty Scouts were present and all got to abseil around 25 metres!

After each Scout had had his turn, we had some time to abseil ourselves. CXO Zack and AVSL Ian tried their hands at a forward rappel, along with ASL Simon. Zack also practiced lowering an abseiler from Bottom Safety position.

All in all it was a great Sunday morning and afternoon, which I’m sure the Scouts really enjoyed and will be telling their friends all about all week at school!

As for us, the year hasn’t finished yet, with our next activity being a well deserved Christmas Party, and then a pioneering activity with the AFM!

What a year 2009 has been!

Over and out.

Mo$es

Survival Weekend

Bear Grills would be proud!

And we’re back in the field! This weekend was survival weekend for the SVS, which meant the Ventures (and leaders!) could only take the bare necessities- basically some water, survival bag, penknife and first aid kit- otherwise, the world around them was their oyster!

Good ol' flint!

After a kit inspection by the VSL and AVSL (where it was found that some funny Ventures thought they could take luxuries like coffee and sugar!), we made our way to Ghar il-Kbir, which would serve as the main base for the weekend. That night we made a fire and kept it going the whole night, while running a Stag Duty system. VS Chris also decided it would be nice to make carob syrup, or “Gulepp” in Maltese (sometimes confused with Gillette by some of us). Some of us didn’t go anywhere near it, other braver folk drank it all night long!

Helping Griz with the "Gulepp"

As soon as we got up the next day we got straight to work. Two of us carried out reconnaissance within the immediate surroundings, whilst the others kept the fire going for lunch. The area around Ghar il-Kbir is quite unforgiving with regards to food collection, but nonetheless the SVS managed to make a soup out of what they found. With the help of an OXO cube, we made a fennel, Saghtar and rocket soup.

Fennel soup coming to a boil in a handy survival tin...

After lunch two of us collected Baghjtar tax-xewk to help keep us going, and then it was time for more reconnaissance. That night we made another survival soup, this time with some rather more interesting and nutritious ingredients than those we found earlier.

Teeeerrance keepin the fire nice n warm..

With the fire going all night and warm soup to keep the night watch awake, Sunday morning was a rather slow one. By around eleven o’clock we were out of the cave and went for a well deserved Fenkata along with Cremona who met us in Rabat to join in on the pig-out.

"SVS Habitat"

The next week the Unit prepared an abseiling session with the troop, more on that in the next post!

Mo$es

Of Mines and Men...

Day with the Engineers of the AFM's 3rd Regiment

Our post begins way back in October when Abela, Cremona and Corrieri bumped into Ex-Sliema VSL Capt. Stroud of the AFM's 3rd Regiment at the AFM's Open Day.

Needless to say one thing lead to another, and by the end of the conversation the Unit (along with Corrieri haha) were invited to join the Engineers of the 3rd Regiment for a day at their barracks.

Gunner Hili, Cremona, Corrieri, and a variety of dummy mines and mine-wear...

The day finally came, and the Unit showed up in full force (not to mention full SVS fashion wear).

The first part of the day consisted of a presentation, which mostly involved mine technology, mine laying, mine breaching, the equipment they use, and lots of other bits and bobs.

SVS Picnic...

After a typical Maltese picnic with galletti, gbejniet, salami and twistees, the Engineers lead us to a "mine field" which they laid out for us to put the theory we learnt into practice. While Abela and Corrieri went first to try their hand at mine breaching, the rest of the Unit went on to try out the rest of the gear which they prepared for us.

Corrieri and Abela geared up...

As the day moved on, and everyone put their de-mining skills to test, we moved onto building a quick aerial rope-way, which they would use to transport equipment and if necessary personnel over an obstacle.

Zack donning the anti-shrapnel suit...

Terrance giving Zack a hand with some pretty big shoes..

As dusk started to set in we decided to start packing it in. After a group photo in front of the AFM's emblem, we discussed with the Engineers the prospect of having some joint activities. I won't give anything away, but we already have some plans in the pipeline for 2010.

Group Photo

Mo$es & Chalie