MAJOR DARYL SOUTH
Chief of Staff
Army Recruitment Training

THE USE OF INFIELD BIO-FEEDBACK TOOLS TO ENHANCE STRESS MANAGEMENT TRAINING
Adventurous Training Wing (ATW) teach stress coping techniques/strategies as part of the Adventurous Training Leader courses.

In this context, Daryl is implementing the use of handheld and PC (laptop) tools that provide 'bio-feedback', and as such can assist a person develop stress coping strategies.

The tools measure Heart Rate Variability. Heart Rate Variability is linked to stress within the body - or the physiological responses to stress, and Daryl is confident the technology has a place in developing stress coping techniques, and can certainly enhance many outdoor education programs.

The direct feedback they give the user appears, anecdotally, to be a very effective method to assist people develop their stress coping techniques.

Armed with a number of handheld devices, laptops and other paraphaneilia, Daryl will "hook you up" to present a practical workshop to demonstrate the technology and associated techniques and outline it's application in training and in-field settings.

Major Daryl South is currently the Chief of Staff, Army Recruitment Training.

Born in Haslemere (Surrey), England, Major South enlisted in the British army as an apprentice printer in 1979 at the age of 16. He completed his apprenticeship and a further two years service before moving to Australia and enlisting in the Australian Army in January 1984. His military career has seen him employed as a Lithographic Printer in the Royal Australian Survey Corps (RASvy), a Geomatic Technician in the Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) and currently as an Officer in the RAE.

Major South started his ‘alternate’ career as an adventurous training leader and instructor in 1991, completing a white water kayaking and rafting Unit Adventurous Training Leaders course. He was employed as an instructor at the Army Adventurous Training Centre (later to become the Adventurous Training Wing) from 1993 to 1995. Major South has been actively involved in adventurous training since 1991. His adventurous training ‘skillsets’ include: white water kayaking and rafting, climbing, canyoning, caving and backcountry skiing.

Major South is a keen advocate of adventurous training as a medium for developing personal and group qualities; in particular preparing soldiers for the challenges of operational deployment overseas. His current focus is on the developing stress coping strategies through adventurous training, and the introduction of bio-feedback tools to assist this training.

Major South has a Bachelor of Vocational Education and Training, and is completing study for Master of Education through Charles Sturt University.