AOSB

I wanted to keep some kind of record of my AOSB experience, which will be useful for me when it comes to taking main board, but also might come in useful for other potential candidates.

** Planning Exercise **

The planning exercise was pretty much as expected. The mission in question was known as "Whiplash" and was styled around a country in the gulf named Namo. The real keys here were time management. You had to come up with three workable solutions and explore them all, as well as taking into account factors, deductions and aims.

In this mission you are traveling with a nurse named Sally Cartwright and have the sole objective of picking up a landrover from Bashir's Garage to the North of Namo. Your secondary aim is to be back in time for your boss to take the landrover to the company HQ for a conference.

On the way you find a crashed helicopter. The helicopter's pilot is unconcious and Sally tells you that he needs to get to a doctor right away. Eric is the copters passenger and he is shaken but unhurt. Eric is traveling in the copter because his landrover ran out of gas some miles away and he had been charged with getting some important documents to the conference. Aparently Eric is having a bad day because he has left those documents in the landrover, so they must now be recovered.

So the aims are now as follows (in this order):

1. Stabilise the pilot. Essential Aim
2. Get the pilot to a doctor as soon as possible. Essential Aim
3. Get the landrover back to your boss so he can travel to the conference. Desired Aim
4. Recover the notes from Eric's landrover and deliver them to the conference. Desired Aim
5. Pick up the landrover from Bashir's Garage. Desired Aim
6. Get Eric to the conference. Desired Aim

Some factors we must consider are:

Factor: Time - We must get the casualty to a doctor as soon as possible. We must have the landrover back at a certain time to allow your boss to travel to the conference.

Factor: Sally - Sally can drive (because she was going to drive the other landrover back).

Factor: Pilot - Needs to be monitored by Sally until he reaches a doctor. Is badly injured and unconcious, will need to be carried.

Some deductions are can make are:

Deduction: Doctor - That although there are three medical facilities in the region, only one is acceptable. One is a "health centre" which may just be an outposting without the proper equipment while the other is just a doctor stationed at a base, who again may only have limited access to equipmenet,

Deduction: Comms Down - We take this for granted as the copter was on fire and and onboard equipment has been damaged.

Worked Solution - Along with three plans of action and rejection / acceptance comments, we must work through the solution with details.

1. Sally, Eric, the pilot and you will travel to the hospital and deliver the pilot.
2. Sally and you will return to Bashir's Garage and pick up the landrover.
3. You will then have two landrovers.
4. Eric and Sally will travel to pick up Eric's documents.
5. Sally will drive because Eric may still be shaken.
6. You will travel back to base in time for your boss to travel to the conference.

Comments on Worked Solution - There is a zero-tolerence of error with this solution, any unexpected delays will mean that your boss is late. This is the most direct route to the hospital.

Again, time management is the real key here, following a logical order determining your aims, factors, deductions, then composing your plans will allow you to complete the planning in the prescribed time.

** Leaderless Tasks **

A small group of you will have to both plan and work a solution to an obstacle style problem. Making sure you are clear in your comments means that you can be marked accordingly. Thinking outside the box is important, sometimes stepping back and seeing the bigger picture.

Remember that you are being marked on both teamwork and leadship skills which is an unusual combination. Listen carefully to what is said and to what is not said. If something isn't prohibited consider it an option.

** Obstacle Course **

Be prepped here for a run of the mill obstacle course involving the following:

1. Hurdle Jumping: Do you have the technique right for hurdle jumping?
2. Long jumping: Again, technique, get a LONG run up.
3. Jumping with Burden: Balance is key, and of course upper body strength to carry the burden.
4. The Wall: Make sure your upper body strength is up to scratch. Find somewhere to practise and consider pull ups.
5. Swing Rope: Again, technique. Aim to grab on to the rope at eye level, and you should be able to swing effectively.

** Beep Test **

Make absolutely sure you are ready for this. Even if you are a runner or very fit, you may well not be prepped for the test. Running back and fourth is a challenge in itself. Practice! You need to score 10.8 on the test, at which time it will stop.

** Sit Ups / Press Ups **

You need to achieve 44 of each in 2 minutes; breaks are allowed, but your time will continue to elapse. Make sure you can do 75 in 2 minutes to account for any issues on the day. The technique needs to be right in order for the exercises to be counted.

** Conclusion **

For me, the fitness aspects were a real issue; due to technique more than anything else. Although I'm a pretty fit person, I struggled with the obstacle course and the beep test simply because I haven't tackled anything similar in years. Beep tests can be practiced at the local gym or using a CD / audio track, while obstacle courses might exist locally... maybe with scout groups, adventure training centres (airsoft/paintballing?).