It wasn’t always like this. When Capt Mervyn Jones, Platoon Commander, Rossett Platoon, Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force first took his Cadets to the Somme in 2006 he could never have envisaged becoming involved in vital site clearance work. The Lochnagar Crater was an obvious site for the Cadets to parade. The Crater is […]
1434 – ‘Lochnagar Crater II’ – Somme, France Read More »
In June 2013 all eight climbers of an Army Mountaineering Association team successfully summited Denali via the West Buttress route. The team comprised four regulars and four reservists who had been selected from an army-wide trawl and subsequent training weeks in JSMTC Ballachulish, Scotland, and an exercise rehearsal in Saas Fee, Switzerland. This trawl looked
1436 – ‘Ama Denali’ – USA, Alaska Range Read More »
For the cadets and student PIs of Gloucestershire College’s Army Cadet Force Company, the end of May is the highlight of the year. Over the past 5 years, this has become the time for the traditional year-ending expedition to the Pyrenees in the south of France. This is a 12-day expedition providing the culmination of
1441 – ‘Tiger Ventura Nowshera’ – France – Ariege, Midi Pyrenees Read More »
On the 25th May 2013, 15 Ulstermen and women set off from Belfast City to Malaga to partake in Exercise Green Finn. Some of us had just finished our Recruits course or returned from Afghanistan. The activities consisted of a combination of hill walking and mountain biking. We didn’t really know what to expect, just
1451 – ‘Green Finn’ – Spain Read More »
Local cadets from South East London had the exceptional opportunity to partake in a week-long adventure training camp in Wales, during the May school holiday. The cadets moved into Capel Curig Training Camp, nestled in the heart of Snowdonia, to push themselves with rewarding, challenging and exciting activities that many of them would never have
1461 – ‘Cockney Ventura Invicta’ – Snowdonia Read More »
During 8-15 April 2013, Cambridge University Air Squadron deployed to the Island of Gozo, Malta, to undertake an intensive 1-week course of British Sub Aqua Club dive training. 13 students, accompanied by 3 instructors participated in the Exercise, with the bulk of the planning and logistics undertaken by the students. Student responsibilities ranged from co-ordination
1404 – ‘Aquatic Endeavour’ – Island Of Gozo, Malta Read More »
When you see people cross country skiing you think you’d have to have experience to be good at it but it is quite easy to pick up the basics. We were fortunate enough to have the best weather conditions ever seen by our instructors after four previous trips. Some of us were worried about the
1363 – ‘Viking Ski Trek’ – Hardangervidda, Norway Read More »
Over the Easter holidays a team of eight staff and students, from Wycliffe College CCF, went on an arduous cross-country skiing expedition to the Hardangervidda mountain range in Norway. The aim of the venture was to introduce a fairly novice group of cadets to cross-country skiing in what is classed as one on the great
1412 – ‘Nordic Challenge’ – Norway Read More »
In April 2013, 24 Cadets and Staff from 82 (Wandsworth) Squadron and several other Squadrons in London Wing ATC, travelled to the Elan Valley in Wales, to undertake the Expedition Section of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Two teams completed their Expeditions and a group of younger cadets completed a Multi activity week. Also
1423 – ‘Welsh Dragon – Gold’ – Elan Valley, Mid Wales Read More »
Saturday 30th March marked the start of the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon for members of Southampton UOTC. Unknown to the crew, it would be the coldest, most gruelling conditions ever seen in DW history. The DW race involves kayaking 125 miles from the quaint town of Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster Bridge, London and
1435 – ‘Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon’ – Wiltshire, London Read More »
The Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training (CCAT) once again based its annual ice climbing course in Rjukan, Norway during the period 9-16 March 2013. The eight students on the course were a mixed bunch consisting of four complete novices (one male Cadet, one female PI and two Cadet Adult Instructors) and four intermediate Cadet Adult
1414 – ‘Cadet Ice’ – Rjukan, Telemark, Norway Read More »
Late in March this year, the North West Officer Training Regiment embarked on what has become an annual week-long expedition to the French Alps – this year in Les Contamines – to undertake Alpine ski and Ski touring training at 3 levels: Ski foundation (SF) 1, 2 and 3. The aims and objectives of such
1413 – ‘Northern Alpine Snow’ – Les Contimines, France Read More »
During the Easter break a group of five UVI Form pupils and one CCF Officer from Bradfield College CCF travelled to the Pyrenees to participate in an introductory week of alpine ski touring. The aim of the trip was to build upon skills learnt on a Nordic Ski Expedition to Norway 12 months previous and
1408 – ‘Spanish Snow (Tiger) Venturer’ – Pyrenees, Spain Read More »
On 23rd March 18 cadets and 3 members of staff from Repton School CCF departed a cold and snow bound UK to fly to Malta. The purpose of the expedition was to introduce the 18 cadets to the adventurous activity of rock climbing and to allow them to experience the fellowship and team-building opportunities of
1391 – ‘Dragon Malta’ – Malta & Gozo Read More »
High winds, high plateaus, high adventure (but low water and creative instruction) maintained the ambitions of Ex Northern Jacobite Venturer (Ex NJV). Our now annual Scottish exploit is in it’s 6th year and is successfully delivering all five phases of a cadet’s five year development plan. Exercise Northern Jacobite Venturer is a multi activity week
1383 – ‘Northern Jacobite Venturer’ – Scotland, Mammores Read More »
A group from 100 Regt RA(V) consisting of reservists took part in “Ex White Centurion” a Novice Skiing and Touring Expedition to the Mittersill area of Austria. This was a change from our planned location of Zell am Ziller due to circumstances beyond our control. The Exped was based in Mittersill which enabled us to
1355 – ‘White Centurion’ – Austria, Mittersill Read More »
Three officers from the Royal Yeomanry took part in the February 2013 Caribbean 600 offshore yacht race as part of a Royal Armoured Corps crew of eleven. The event comprised 50 boats navigating a non-stop 600-mile course from Antigua around the islands of the western Caribbean. Unlike the other crews who were almost universally experienced
1428 – ‘Caribbean 600 Campaign’ – Antigua, Caribbean Read More »
On the 22nd February 2013 four Lordswood Boys’ CCF Royal Navy and Royal Marine cadets and two staff travelled to Saint Martin in the Caribbean to undertake a Discover Scuba Diving course. This would be an exciting new challenge for the cadets as this was their first time in the water as scuba divers. On
1406 – ‘Caribbean Comenius Venturer’ – St Martin, Caribbean Read More »
