RO77,
You're not the first and certainly won't be the last and now is certainly not the time to make any hasty decisions that you may later regret. As has already been said, sit on your hands for a few marching paces and then sort out the next step.
You've seen the AIB now, so a second attempt would be far less daunting. You will be able to better prepare yourself and would obviously demonstrate your determination by having another 'go'.
The good thing is PLTs can be practiced. Now you've seen what they want it is very easy to get things organised in your mind and that's more than half of the problem solved. You can practice the brief:
1. What is it you need to achieve and in what timeframe
2. What equipment do you have
3. Ask for suggestions
4. Decide your course of action and brief the group
5. Allocate tasks
6. Check understanding and any questions
7. Crack on
8. Review, review, review (and change the plan if required)
9. Debrief and see how you could have done it better
Many people think they need to come up with a plan themselves but this is not the case. You may well have an idea of what you're going to do but it is important that you to listen to the suggestions from the others in your group before no.4 and implement the good bits into your plan.
During the task it is important to remember that you're there to manage, not necessarily lead. You should not be first across the shark-infested custard but in the middle of the group, that way you can manage the trail blazers in your plan and then just supervise the rear party because they've already seen what's got to be done.
I'm sure you've heard it all before but I would say that almost always, simple is better. When I did the AIB, ahem, some time ago one of the guys in our group was determined to use every bit of rope in our kit list to lash bits of wood together. He was adamant his plan was the best and that was the way he wanted it done. Fair enough, so we all gave it our best shot but the whole thing was so convoluted that we ran out of time and never got anywhere near achieving his aim. Mine was a similar task but instead of bits of string everywhere I just used cantilevers (using group members to balance the one walking the plank) and instead of constructing complicated pulleys etc to shift barrels I just had the biggest lad in the group carry them. The task was over very quickly and with no fuss. I'm not trumpet-blowing but just trying to demonstrate that simple is good when it comes to these exercise.
Finally, it is important to remember that it is not necessarily what you do but how you do it. It doesn't really matter that much if you complete the task. It's great if you can but they are looking at how you conducted the brief, formulated the plan and, very importantly, how you managed the task whilst it was being carried out. Leadership is certainly not about knowing all the answers and being Superman and doing everything yourself. It is about recognising the strengths available to you in the different group members, using those resources to the best effect and, often forgotten, cajouling the 'weaker' ones to ensure (a)they are not left out and (b)contribute to the group's effort.
If RN Officer is what you really want then you'll find yourself back at the AIB soon. Use the time in the interim to get the basics of briefing etc weighed off and show them that you have learned from your previous attempt and improved as a result of it.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
PS: the cocktail parties were (are) an excellent source of 'entertainment' for the duration of the ship's stay
