NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2009 33
● Drenched, blindfolded, ‘injured’ – and capable of tackling a vintage Wasp helicopter – students at HMS Sultan go through the engineering establishment’s version of Operational Sea Training
Wet weekend on dry land
HMS Sultan’s sea
training is a hit
IT MIGHT be a stone trainees to put classroom
frigate, but no reason why
theory into practice.
her ship’s company should
They can now carry
not enjoy the benefits of
forward their newly-acquired
operational sea training.
skills, helping to equip them for
their front-line duties.
Each term HMS Sultan
Small-scale activities
stages a weekend of
were tackled by individual
exercises which are
groups, while the large-
designed to give
scale exercises required
young engineers and
the entire cohort.
technicians an idea of
Activities included
what lies ahead.
dealing with a road traffic
And as it is training based
accident, receiving instruction
on operations at sea, the title
in search and rescue techniques
seemed obvious.
and the correct use of emergency
The fifth incarnation of Sultan
breathing apparatus, action messing,
Operational Sea Training (SOST) saw
giving presentations and, of course,
more than 400 Engineer Mechanic and
plenty of sport and PT.
Technician trainees and 50 members of
CPO Stu Kean said: “The trainees
staff take part in a hectic weekend of
showed lots of enthusiasm throughout
exercises, designed to give the sailors an
the event – even the early-morning PT
insight into what to expect on their first
sessions...
sea draft, and also to support crucial
“The weekend, with all its demands,
RN principles, including teamwork,
is a taste of what being a member of
leadership, fitness and grit.
the Navy can entail.”
Broken down into a series of
Feedback from participants has been
activities, each element of SOST positive, with many of the trainees from
involves physical activity and a degree ETICC and 764 Squadron saying how
of difficulty which fosters confidence much they enjoyed and benefited from
and encourages communication, while the experience.
allowing everyone to enjoy themselves. AET Daniel Brooks said: “It was a
A detailed schedule told participants long weekend, but we all enjoyed every
where they needed to be at any time, minute of it.”
which could be at a disaster relief Both Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral
exercise or on Ceremonial Divisions. Sir Alan Massey and Deputy Flag
The disaster exercise included skills Officer Sea Training Cdre Nick
such as rigging tents, application of Lambert dropped in on SOST stances,
first aid, providing care to casualties and were impressed by the enthusiasm
and restoring power supplies, allowing of staff and students alike.
Pictures: LA(Phot) Darby Allen
033_NN_Dec.indd 1 20/11/09 12:58:25
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