Restricted food, sleep and limited feedback are what staff cadets from Royal Military College - Duntroon (RMC-D) experienced on Exercise Shaggy Ridge.
The exercise comprised 17 different scenarios during which trainees faced ethical dilemmas, physically arduous tasks and cognitive decision-making challenges.
Run over 96 hours, it is a key milestone in most general service officers' careers. It helps them develop and understand their strengths and weaknesses as leaders under stress and fatigue.
Senior Instructor Major Sam O'Neal said the trainees developed their teamwork, followership and built their resilience, while pushing their limits and realising that they can continue.
"The cadets are put under pressure through a lack of sleep, a lack of food, and almost constant activities. They're performing up to 17 different stands, both cognitive and physical, and pack marching between stands," Major O'Neal said.
'You're pushed to your limits throughout the whole activity, though I'm really proud that I finished the entire Shaggy Ridge, which was full of quite gruelling activities.'
"It is a pivotal activity for the staff cadets during their time at RMC-D and it also enhances their cultural awareness. This is further reinforced by the presence of international cadets and instructional staff."
Staff Cadet Natasha Fitzpatrick started her career as a medical technician in Army before the challenge of commissioning to officer interested her.
She said she was able to find out a lot about herself on the exercise, especially how far she can go on a lack of sleep and nutrition.
"You're pushed to your limits throughout the whole activity, though I'm really proud that I finished the entire Shaggy Ridge, which was full of quite gruelling activities," Staff Cadet Fitzpatrick said.
"You do multiple tasks throughout the actual exercise, and there were different times when one person would probably feel the lowest, while one other person would be at their highest, and you really had to use each other to bounce off that motivation and that morale to pass it on, to get each person through."
Some of the tasks included moving sandbags or jerry cans from one point to another, interacting with role players, medical evacuations and prodding for mines.
"You really do depend on each other through those times. Especially in the early hours of the morning, when you're pack marching at night, or doing heavy lifting tasks," she said.
"It's definitely good to have someone within the team that's got that really high morale that quietens the negative thoughts."
RMC-D is a state-of-the-art training facility that teaches all aspects of Army command, including leadership, military tactics, decision-making and the management of personnel.
