Wagga School Leaders Program - Module 6

The 2022 Wagga School Leaders group were formally welcomed to Kapooka by the Commandant, Colonel Andrew Deacon who spoke about his experiences in the Army and passed on advice about differing forms of effective leadership. Each student valued the opportunity and asked a number of insightful questions relating to the key messages offered by the Colonel.

Wagga School Leaders feeling motivated after a physically and mentally challenging day at Kapooka

The students were introduced to their Officer in Command, Major James van Strijp, who in turn introduced the Sergeant Alex Walker, Warrant Officer Class 2 Chris Forestier and Corporal Allan Cottrell. The students were given army fatigues to change into before the days challenging activities commenced.

The students spilt into groups and were lead through a series of exercises to develop trust and teamwork before moving on to the technical skills needed to be safe and confident on the Tower.

The activities provided both physical and mental challenges to the students who improved their ability to work collaboratively and operate under pressure. Every student embraced the challenges and participated in each activity, including climbing and abseiling the 15 metre tower. This tests their ability to handle pressure and work both individually and as a team to overcome challenges.

The leadership skills displayed across the entire range of Army ranks was not overlooked by the students. The students were debriefed by Corporal Allan Cottrell before leaving the Barracks with each student reflecting on the relationships forming, their resilience, their courage and social awareness.

The students are now turning their attention to Module 7 and Graduation to be held on Friday 24 June, 2022.