Reservists learn to be adaptable under pressure

Attending a junior leadership development training weekend in Whanganui recently had Lance Corporal Avana Pohe working in a small team with varying levels of leadership experience, learning skills on quick decision making under demanding situations, then adapting those decisions when under pressure.

“The diversity of leadership levels that attended the training meant we had quite a few different experiences to draw on under demanding situations,” says the mother of two from Palmerston North.

The aim of the training was to have junior personnel from 5/7 Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, pushed outside their comfort zones, and to encourage quick decision making when situations changed.

“We had different activities to complete within a group. For example, we created a raft with things we might find either on the ground or in our field kit like an E-Tool or hoochie cord then we had to raft across the lake in our creation.

“At the end of every scenario we were debriefed and given other options we could consider. It was a really great learning experience.

“I think one of the stand out things that I learnt over the training weekend was making a decision and sticking to it. If this decision needed adjusting along the way, I needed to think clearly and quickly to make a conscious decision with the safety of my team mates at the forefront.

“This type of decision making directly affects my civilian job and has given me confidence in accessing a situation then acting on it confidently with my team.”

It was the mountain biking phase that had Lance Corporal Pohe sitting on the edge of her seat feeling nervous though.

“The track was points based and increased in difficulty as you went along. I’d never done mountain biking before so I really felt challenged. What was cool was how everyone encouraged each other.

“One of the activities, creating a pulley system to get a stretcher across a lake, was something that was used during Cyclone Gabrielle when 5/7 Battalion soldiers and Regular Force engineers transported food and medical supplies across rivers to isolated communities. So that was really relatable too.”