Table for 5 please...

Fire & Cooking and Climb (20-21 April)

(Left) Mosta Valley, (Right) Wied ix-Xaqqa

Last Saturday the Unit met up for another night in the field, though this time the objective wasn't so much training based as the last couple of activities. This time the Unit prepared a 4 course meal deep in Mosta Valley. The menu consisted of bruschetta, followed by lasagne, cube roll steak with roast potatoes, and finally a carrot, orange and walnut cake.

(Left) Tom and Cremona preparing the salsa for the lasagne, (Right) Tom layering the lasagne

The members constructed two fires; a mud oven for the bruschetta, lasagne, potatoes and cake, and a simple open fire on which they grilled the steaks and cooked up the sauce for the lasagne. By the end of the night (or actually early morning) you can imagine the guys were pretty stuffed and knackered - I wouldn't have minded another bite of cake but that's just me! After putting out the fires and clearing the site we moved on to construct our bivouacs for the night and got a well deserved couple of hours of rest before the climb in the morning.

(Left) The Unit with the mudoven, (Right) The carrot, orange and walnut cake

A chilly night and a couple of snooze buttons later, the Unit woke up to the picturesque view of the lush valley, though there wasn't much time to sit about. By 0830 the bivouacs where struck, the site was swept and all the ventures and their equipment were at the top of the valley ready to rendez-vous with Debono.

(Left) One of the bivouacs, (Right) Unit photo at the top of the valley

During the climb the members got the chance to start testing out their climbing abilities, since in the future we're going to be doing a lot (...and I do mean A LOT) of climbing with the completion of our indoor climbing wall. Unfortunately towards the end of the morning we were joined by some unruly abseilers who got a bit in the way, so we decided to call it a day and head to Rabat for La Classica (post-climb refreshments) to close off the activity.

(Left) Zack belaying during the climb, (Right) Abela making his way up to 'The Problem'

Next on the SVS calender is a climb with the rest of the leaders of the group this Saturday, then NAVEX III on the 12th. Untill then, just want to give a shout out to Abela who finished the Malta Half Marathon this morning - kudos man.

(Left) Cremona taking his new shoes for a spin, (Right) Chris almost at the top

Mo$es

"When the going gets tough...

...the tough get going"

Training Camp & NAVEX II (5th-6th Feb)

This year, with the basic training being held in winter, the recruits are coming up against some pretty interesting weather as they found out during the first night nav 3 weeks ago. Though luckily for the recruits, the weather let out last weekend while they were in the field once again. The objective this time was intensive training on basic skills such as knotting, bivvy building and bandages & slings, while also incorporating other skills such as field cooking & nutrition, stoves and some drill.

Keith & Tom during the Bandages & slings session...

Recruits & Directing Staff during morning PT...

On the 2nd day, after a session on bandages & slings, the recruits readied themselves for their 2nd navigation exersize - though this time the recruits will be navigating during the day and on their own, putting their individual skills to the test. The 16km route took the recruits from the cliffs of Imtahleb, through Rabat and down into Ghar il-Kbir where they carried out a casualty evacuation.

All smiles with some good ol' SVS hot chocolate...

Tom during one of the knotting excersizes...

Next weekend the Unit will be back in the field for some fire & cooking and a climb on Saturday. To close off the post I just want to give a shout out to Keith and Tom for successfully completing the Training Camp & Navex II and also a big thank you to GSL David and ASL Simon for helping out during the weekend!

I'll leave you with a couple more pics from the weekend...

(right)Keith & Tom during one of the command tasks and (left) Unit photo on the steps of "Château SVS"

(Right) Tom & Cremona surveying the landscape and (left) "Unit Band Photo" on the steps of the Château

Mo$es

A baptism of Fire...

NAVEX I

As anyone who went through the Basic Training can tell you, the first night nav is no easy feat. Though last Saturday morning at approx 6am, the recruits laid down their packs at the finish point after a night of icy wind, pouring rain, and anything else mother nature could throw at them!

Keith and Tom all strapped in and ready to go..

The route took them over several hills, through semi-flooded tracks, alongside a 19th century moat, and not to mention some pretty nice views. These elements gave the recruits the perfect opportunity to put their navigation theory to the test, and to practice some new techniques such as aiming off, boxing and back-bearings.

View from Bingemma Chapel

After a short break in one of the tombs and a quick snack, the recruits strapped on their kits for the last time to run a Casualty Evacuation scenario in which they practised several lifts and transporting a casualty.

Zack checking Tom's route...

Me n Cremona enjoying a light moment in the puddle...

In the meantime, Debono and Abela had arrived on the scene to give a helping hand while Chris (a.k.a. Griz) cooked up a well-deserved plate of penne pesto for the DS before we headed for home.

"mmm I remember I put the X somewhere here..."

Keep tuned lads n lasses as this weekend is another one in the field for the Unit as the recruits take on Training camp and the second night nav!

Mo$es