Steward I
- 5,937
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Bogan
- Member #
-
8750
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- WRJC877
Asset management can be defined as the proper utilization of assets. When applied to Overlanding one of the greatest assets is the people in your group, on your team. Each of them have skills and talents which would benefit the group and the journey. The trick is to use these assets to their fullest potential for the benefit of the team.
Some of you are already saying that you prefer to travel alone and if that is your preference, so be it. This article however is not about going solo. This article is about traveling in convoy and working together to accomplish the agreed upon task.
Planning is important for the success of any undertaking. I’m sure you’ve heard the adage “Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail.” This is where I’m coming from. You can of course wing it and just let the chips fall where they may. I am only offering a different option that, if you keep an open mind, might work for you some time in the future.
A little bit of planning goes a long way to avoid any pitfalls and insure your success. The first asset to designate should be a team leader. The group can either elect a leader or he can step up when others are reluctant. It’s best to encourage this process to occur organically. The leader should be rotated on different trips and is actually more of a guide to keep things on track and moving smoothly down the trail.
The leader will poll participants to draw out their strengths and then assign duties accordingly. Roles to be filled are Navigation, Communications, Recovery, Mechanical and cook. When a group begins to work together Individuals with the most relevant experience and knowledge should fill these rolls. They then share and teach their skills to other participants so that those team members can feel comfortable when the time comes for them to apply the skills learned. While Life is a learning experience it is also a teaching experience.
Navigation in and of itself requires preparation so I wouldn’t recommend assigning the Navigator at the trail head. It’s preferable the Navigator has run the route before leading a group. Once everyone is ready to embark on the ride the Navigator can take a few minutes to give an overview of the route and any difficulties he may have previously encountered. The Navigator can also take a moment to explain his choice in navigation aids i.e., GPS, Navigation apps and or even maps used. This allows the other participants an opportunity to explore a tool they may not have used or heard of.
Communications is important for obvious reasons, but the trip is more enjoyable if everyone can communicate with each other. It is his job to find out what participants have as far as radios or cell phones and devise a plan so that everyone is on the same page. One example could be that half of your group has CB’s and the other half has short wave handhelds. In a case like this there may be one or two vehicles that have both and they can act as a relay. Communications should also include hand signals and a brief demonstration so that everyone understands what is happening.
Designating a Recovery team member is necessary because not everyone has recovery equipment or recovery experience. Recovery is something most Overlanders need to know and can always learn more of. For this reason, Recovery is a great topic for discussion and education during trail breaks or whenever convenient. In the event of actually having to winch someone out of or over an obstacle; utilize your assets, give everyone something to do and do not pass up on the opportunity to turn it into a learning experience.
Medical is the person you hope never to need but if you ever do need medical attention first aid can be the difference between life and death. We are fortunate to have among our trail buddy’s a Navy Corpsman who served with Fleet Marines and then went on to become a Trauma Nurse. He was an obvious choice for Medical. It is important that you have someone with at least a basic knowledge of First Aid, preferably CPR certified. It is also important that everyone carry their own first aid kit and be familiar with its contents. I hope you never need it.
Cook is something that is traditionally done individually. However, if you have an individual or individuals that have exceptional culinary skills, and they are willing, it might be enjoyable to share a special meal after a long day of Overlanding. The details of this can be worked out amongst your group.
Last but not least is Sweep or Tail Gunner. Especially necessary in large groups but equally important in smaller groups. His job is to communicate with the lead vehicle during the trip. This is to keep the convoy intact and not to spread out. He or she also will stay with any vehicle that has stopped or broken down. No One should be left to fend for themselves.
None of this is written in stone and the variations of these positions are infinite. You will adapt to your specific situation and the assets you have to work with. But if everyone is included in one way or another you will have succeeded in building a team capable of handling anything thrown at them.
The point of all of this is multilayered. You will get to know everyone a little better. You will utilize their talents while developing needed skills of other participants. You will work together and the journey will be all that much more enjoyable and fulfilling.
Some of you are already saying that you prefer to travel alone and if that is your preference, so be it. This article however is not about going solo. This article is about traveling in convoy and working together to accomplish the agreed upon task.
Planning is important for the success of any undertaking. I’m sure you’ve heard the adage “Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail.” This is where I’m coming from. You can of course wing it and just let the chips fall where they may. I am only offering a different option that, if you keep an open mind, might work for you some time in the future.
A little bit of planning goes a long way to avoid any pitfalls and insure your success. The first asset to designate should be a team leader. The group can either elect a leader or he can step up when others are reluctant. It’s best to encourage this process to occur organically. The leader should be rotated on different trips and is actually more of a guide to keep things on track and moving smoothly down the trail.
The leader will poll participants to draw out their strengths and then assign duties accordingly. Roles to be filled are Navigation, Communications, Recovery, Mechanical and cook. When a group begins to work together Individuals with the most relevant experience and knowledge should fill these rolls. They then share and teach their skills to other participants so that those team members can feel comfortable when the time comes for them to apply the skills learned. While Life is a learning experience it is also a teaching experience.
Navigation in and of itself requires preparation so I wouldn’t recommend assigning the Navigator at the trail head. It’s preferable the Navigator has run the route before leading a group. Once everyone is ready to embark on the ride the Navigator can take a few minutes to give an overview of the route and any difficulties he may have previously encountered. The Navigator can also take a moment to explain his choice in navigation aids i.e., GPS, Navigation apps and or even maps used. This allows the other participants an opportunity to explore a tool they may not have used or heard of.
Communications is important for obvious reasons, but the trip is more enjoyable if everyone can communicate with each other. It is his job to find out what participants have as far as radios or cell phones and devise a plan so that everyone is on the same page. One example could be that half of your group has CB’s and the other half has short wave handhelds. In a case like this there may be one or two vehicles that have both and they can act as a relay. Communications should also include hand signals and a brief demonstration so that everyone understands what is happening.
Designating a Recovery team member is necessary because not everyone has recovery equipment or recovery experience. Recovery is something most Overlanders need to know and can always learn more of. For this reason, Recovery is a great topic for discussion and education during trail breaks or whenever convenient. In the event of actually having to winch someone out of or over an obstacle; utilize your assets, give everyone something to do and do not pass up on the opportunity to turn it into a learning experience.
Medical is the person you hope never to need but if you ever do need medical attention first aid can be the difference between life and death. We are fortunate to have among our trail buddy’s a Navy Corpsman who served with Fleet Marines and then went on to become a Trauma Nurse. He was an obvious choice for Medical. It is important that you have someone with at least a basic knowledge of First Aid, preferably CPR certified. It is also important that everyone carry their own first aid kit and be familiar with its contents. I hope you never need it.
Cook is something that is traditionally done individually. However, if you have an individual or individuals that have exceptional culinary skills, and they are willing, it might be enjoyable to share a special meal after a long day of Overlanding. The details of this can be worked out amongst your group.
Last but not least is Sweep or Tail Gunner. Especially necessary in large groups but equally important in smaller groups. His job is to communicate with the lead vehicle during the trip. This is to keep the convoy intact and not to spread out. He or she also will stay with any vehicle that has stopped or broken down. No One should be left to fend for themselves.
None of this is written in stone and the variations of these positions are infinite. You will adapt to your specific situation and the assets you have to work with. But if everyone is included in one way or another you will have succeeded in building a team capable of handling anything thrown at them.
The point of all of this is multilayered. You will get to know everyone a little better. You will utilize their talents while developing needed skills of other participants. You will work together and the journey will be all that much more enjoyable and fulfilling.
