Location: Cyprus – Episkopi – Troodos & RAF Akrotiri
Following 18 months in the planning and preparation stage saw 47 cadets, 18 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers and 2 Cadet Training team members begin their expedition to Cyprus for a week of amazing opportunities and challenging activities, arriving at the UK airport with their cases to hand, leaving the UK on Saturday 22 October 2022 leaving behind all the miserable weather to wake up the next morning to a beautiful clear blue sky, ideal for the activities they face, all were ready for their first day of acclimatisation with visits to the cultural locations and explore Kolossi Castle and The Kourion Archaeological Site, able to experience the views over the sea, armed with their handbooks to capture the information.
The aim of the expedition was to provide the participants to have an opportunity to engage in activities unique to Cyprus, with the emphasis on outdoor pursuits and during the week the cadets and adult volunteers engaged in multi-activities and provided the staff and cadets opportunities to develop self-reliance, leadership and teamwork.
During the week, cadets and adults had the opportunity to participate in a Try-Dive Scuba Diving experience in the sea, which has been recorded using a GoPro camera, all have said it was a life changing experience and would love to do this activity again.
The expedition team had provisionally booked the Mountain Adventure Park, but on inspection found that is was not suitable for the age group of the cadets, however as an alternative the leadership team were able to book the Fosouri Waterpark, which at the end of the week proved to be a most welcome activity for all.
In the evening they were able to enjoy a visit to the Garrison Cinema and the Swimming pool, plus all had the opportunity to use the Go Karting experience.
The mountain biking was another huge success and during the week each group of cadets followed a medium to low level approved bike route, being able to ride through some amazing scenery, stopping at advantage points to take in the amazing views out to sea and over the cultural locations. At the end of the week a group of cadets that demonstrated they had the ability were able to complete the ultimate challenge of a 56 Km Summit to Sea route from Troodos Square to Tunnel Beach.
An amazing time was had by all in the Episkopi Garrison Swimming Pool, other activities included a well organised experience at the Garrison Water Sports Centre located at Tunnel Beach, including paddle boarding, boat trips and beach sports, followed by a beach BBQ.
The RAF and Resident Infantry Battalion based in Cyprus engaged with the Cadets, spending a day being shown around their equipment and discussions about their role in the region, huge thanks to both teams for an amazing experience.
One opportunity was to visit the war cemetery and lay a wreath, a solemn moment for all.
The end of the week gave an opportunity for all to visit Pathos, to carry out a bit of shopping, visit the area and get to know some of the locals and their food.
Upon returning to the UK, a closed group Microsoft survey was completed and nothing below 3.72 out of 5, with the Scuba Dive and Summit to Sea reaching 5/5. Neither of which could be experienced to this level in October anywhere else.
Clearly the photos and video demonstrate the benefit of this expedition and that we achieved our aim as part of the return to after the COVID pandemic lockdowns, but more importantly the cadets were able to enjoy the experience of completing adventurous and challenging experience that they would not normally have the opportunity to carry out in the UK, the added bonus as an outcome, the cadets passed their 2 star Adventure Training in their Army Cadet Syllabus, just as important many of the cadets and adults have made enquiries if they can do it again and maybe advance with the Scuba Dive and MTB experience.
Some of the senior cadets asked the soldiers serving in Cyprus that were engaging with Derbyshire Army Cadet Force if when they join up do they get these opportunities, please say they do.
Derbyshire ACF were also very fortunate to be invited to discuss the expedition content on BFBS Cyprus radio station, another experience for some of the adults and cadets that attended.
John Pickering
Major
Special Projects Advisor
7th Light Mechanised Brigade & HQ East
Extracts from some of the cadets that attended
Cadets Motivation to attend the Expedition:
- I wanted a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to go away with cadets and learn things that I wouldn’t on a Normal camp
- To experience and see new things, I wouldn’t have been able to without the help of cadets. I have enjoyed every annual camp because we always do new and exciting things so I knew they would off gone above and beyond to make this trip amazing.
Survey Quotes Ref Scuba Diving:
- Definitely, it was an amazing chance to attempt something new and exciting that not everyone is able to do outside of the exercise
- I never thought I would have the opportunity to scuba dive outside of cadets but after having the pleasure of being able to experience it for the first time, I would definitely make the effort to do it again.
Mountain Bike Low Level Route:
- I enjoyed the mountain biking, which led me to do each level of it. I do not do mountain biking outside of cadets, but I do canal cycling. I would 100% do it again
- I loved every minute of the mountain biking! it was such an amazing and gorgeous thing to experience and I couldn’t have been happier to do it. Mountain biking on Cyprus has definitely inspired me to do it again outside of the cadets, I loved it! 🙂
Summit to sea Mountain Bike
- Yeah, since the summit to sea, it really opened my eyes on how much potential all of the other people had in mountain biking, including myself. The determination and dedication from everyone there were immense!
- I was extremely interested, happy and excited to do the Summit to Sea. The experience was one of a kind and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it
Cultural Visits
- The trips to Kurion and Kolossi Castle were enjoyable as it was relaxing and just something different from ACF and the military. The visit to the cemetery was also interesting and I did like the small service
Overall view
- The adventurous training activities were amazing and I do not see how they could have been improved.
- The activities really pushed me out of my comfort zone and I would have never done them without going on this exercise.
- I think other cadets should definitely go on an exercise like this, it’s an experience cadets and adults need to her involved in, it’s a life time of an adventure
- I was looking forward to it for many years since it was highly regarded by ex-cadets from my detachment but I would like to say thank you to everyone who made it a memorable experience and I would like to say thank you.
