The team had the opportunity to train and practice our field skills on 27 April. Bruce Bumstead, our training officer , designed a course in the Brandon Hills where we had to navigate to a start point for a search using only map and compass to improve these skills. We were broken into two teams ( A and B)a nd commenced to our individual start points

Once in the proper location, we then commenced a search for clues that Bruce had placed previously.

Team B started in the North-West corner of the Search area and Team A started at the South West Corner of the search area.

Both teams had to practice Navigation, in maintaining East to West patterns to ensure coverage, while also ensuring that we maintained proper spacing to cover the required area. While searching, we had to observe the area in front, above and behind as we walked.

On completion of the exercise, Bruce was able to plot, using our GPS tracks, the area covered to confirm what areas were covered and areas that might have been missed. This ensures that we cover the required area . The outside members on each team had the GPSs, so the area in between was covered by the remainder of the Teams.

Once again thanks to Bruce for setting up the training and to all the members who were available to take the training.