Blog 1 : mobilisation

Written by TAF friend of Che.

Teaching in college is a tough job.

All college tutors are subject specialists each has devoted years of their life gaining experience and qualifications which allow them to teach.

Some learner's see the teacher as the enemy, when in fact the enemy is the exam board or the employment interview panel. It is a strange irony that this view is not dissimilar to thoughts and observations of new recruits who are being prepared by service staff for life within a Uniformed Public Service.

For those who agree with the above statement, will hopefully see that their teacher is their trainer. The teacher prepares each student for their daily task or mission. The teacher provides each of their apprentice’s with intelligence information which includes the enemy’s battle plans, dates and attack and defence strategies. The teacher then transforms this information into individual training and support plans for each apprentice.

The teacher’s plans include battle winning methodology, techniques and counter measures. The teaching task is to ensure that each apprentice receives training and his fully prepared for their College exams or assessment in readiness for their eventual place in a uniformed service.

Che Bruce a Tutor/Teacher at Chesterfield College teaching on The Uniformed Public Service Course received a mobilization call at 23.15 14th January 2010 from ERTSAR an organisation in which he is an active member holding the position of Emergency Rescue Paramedic.

Che is preparing to leave for Haiti to assist with the rescue and emergency relief effort. The Red Cross estimates 45,000-50,000 people have died in Haiti's recent devastating earthquake.

Without doubt the situation that Che and the ERTSAR team are to face will be dangerous and traumatic. It is my intention (with Che’s kind permission) to track and document both Che’s and the Rescue Teams efforts through what ever communication the situation allows.

The knowledge and learning experiences that Che will gain from the ERTSAR Rescue Mission will become invaluable assets for his apprentices on the Uniformed Public Service Course at Chesterfield College.

I am sure you will all join me in wishing Che and the ERTSAR team a successful mission and a safe return.

For the record I would like to add that Che had agreed to buy my breakfast today. I am astounded at the length Che Bruce will go, to avoid spending a few quid.

David Hargreaves (1997) Wrote to learn a job through an apprenticeship is not just to learn a skill or to earn a living: it is to join a community, to acquire a culture, to demonstrate a competence and to forge an identity. It is, in short, to achieve significance, dignity and self-esteem as a person.

TAF 12.54 15 December 2010