Expedition member's report

from outgoing Expedition Member, Carl J.

The proposal to run an Ex Sierra Nevada type adventurous training exercise in California this year has been knocked back by HQ TC-A.

Despite the very low level of real risk associated with Ex Sierra Nevada 06 (much lower than HQ TC-A's Ex Kingsbury Challenge run in PNG), HQ TC-A insisted that overseas AT could only resume once all the AT Board of Inquiry recommendations had been addressed and the main AT policy documents rewritten.

Fair enough, but the implementation of most those recommendations is now three and half years overdue.

HQ TC-A is directly responsible for actioning many of those recommendations and, as the lead on AT policy within Army, is responsible for driving the agencies responsible for implementing the others.

We've seen some action on this matter by HQ
TC-A and DETD this year. Let's hope we see some solid results next year.

Ex Aoraki, the AAA's basic mountaineering course run by Mountain Recreation in NZ, is on again this year. Visit www.mountainrec.co.nz for details.

I am transferring into the Standby Reserve in Jan 07, but have offered to continue to serve on the Committee in a minor capacity next year to look after the membership side of things.

As I prepare to leave the full-time Army after 27 years of service (including 27 years membership of the AAA), I'd like to acknowledge my debt to the AAA. The teamwork, leadership, courage and determination of my fellow expeditioneers kept me safe on a dozen different mountainsides over the years.

The AAA provided me with many of the most memorable and valuable experiences of my life – not to mention my wife!

For my part, the AAA will always be the finest embodiment of the modern Army's ethos and the
ANZAC tradition.