Army Outreach Team visit Cleethorpes Academy for teambuilding workshop

The Elite Skills Academy visited Cleethorpes Academy to encourage students in team building activities.

Rear L-R: LCPL Sloan, Mason Stevenson, Jack Read, TPR Corpe. Front L-R: Lexus Nicholson, Macauley Wigglesworth, Casey Hubbard, and Izzy Forsyth.

The British Army Jobs workshop gives students a taste of Army teamwork and problem solving, with a wide range of hands on and confidence building activities. The Elite Skills Academy is full of challenging tasks that develop mental and physical attributes.

One challenge included having to stay around the edge of the circle and use the ropes and equipment provided to retrieve a water canister and bottle from the centre of the circle. They were given items such as a helmet and a hook to help them get the items out of the circle without them touching the ground or any of their team entering the circle.

Another group were asked to get across to each mat using only tyres and their own balance. The team had to get to each platform without touching the floor and ensuring all their teammates crossed together, all tyres were collected at the end and all canisters were retrieved on their way.

Their instructor said: “The groups have all dealt with this challenge in different ways. Some have got so far and realised that they have to go back or start again. It’s all a learning curve and they have to be aware of their other teammates and make sure everyone is managing to get across. They’ve all tackled this really well so far and it doesn’t take them long to get the hang of it once they start.”

They had to work on their strength, balance, problem solving and teamwork to complete this challenge. Whilst some groups were focused on speed, others took it slower to ensure that weaker members made it across. Each team completed the course slightly differently, showcasing how different minds work together to create the same outcome but with very different methods.

The Army Outreach Team from Elite Skills Academy spend their time visiting various secondary schools and generally get a mixed bag when it comes to uptake from the students. LCPL Sloan said: “The engagement is always very different from the students, but generally it’s a positive atmosphere. We travel all over doing these workshops and it’s always great to see the different ways that they work together and develop their team building skills.”

The teams also took part in Hazard Survival which involved sorting through different puzzle and create a clear path on the map. They were allowed help with the first puzzle and followed a guide, but the second required them using their teamwork to memorise and work out the map together without visual aids.

They were also able to find out about the kind of kit provided to the army. Tobias Emslie (Y10) was nominated to wear the gear which consisted of vests, bags, water bottles, helmet and more. The instructor talked through what each part of the kit was for and what you would have to carry with you at all times.

Tobias said: “My favourite challenge was the tyres. We got all the way across and used great teamwork to make sure we completed it quickly and correctly. I enjoyed trying on all of the gear as well. It’s surprising how heavy it is and he said that’s nowhere near the weight you actually have to carry!”

Tia Welsh (Y10) said: “We had to use teamwork for all of the challenges and I think they key thing was having a good strategy. The rope work took a lot of thought but we managed it well I think.”