When the exercise was designed, Neill created a buddy system based on similarity of soldiers’ backgrounds (rank, unit, age, fitness, skills level). The first group out of the jungle was assigned buddies and one other: two lance corporals and one corporal from the same unit (regular army), ages 24–26 with good fitness levels, all top roping and abseiling (TR&A) instructors. The second group out was assigned buddies: a sergeant and a lance corporal from the same unit (elite regular army), ages 25 and 37, good fitness levels, both with Commando Brigade skills. The group left in the cave split into:

a lieutenant colonel and a major (buddies), one from the regular army and one from the part time territorial army, ages 46 and 54, fair fitness level, one TR&A and one ski instructor. The second faction was the three from the Hong Kong unit—a lance corporal and two privates, ages 24–32, fair to good fitness levels, one with jungle training and two novices. Would you have set up the buddy system Neill did? Why or why not, and if not, what would you have changed? LO9-3