Expedition Reports

The Reserve Forces and Cadets Association for Yorkshire and The Humber organises a bi-annual expedition to the Himalayas for the cadet forces of all three Services. The expeditions are sponsored and supported by the Yorkshire Cadet Trust, in particular for fund raising. In 2012, the expedition was a repeat of the expedition of 2008, a […]

Viking Challenge proved to be a fantastic training opportunity for all cadets attending. Despite the long 43-hour journey, we threw ourselves straight into the water on the day we arrived. The first four days were spent advancing white-water kayak techniques based out of Troll Aktiv Centre in the Setesdal valley. We can now all competently

On the 1st of July 2012 eight intrepid Air Cadets from Kent Wing, supported by two members of Adult Staff boarded the aircraft to take them on an experience of a lifetime – Exercise Venture Alaska 2012 had begun. The expedition was the latest in a series of ventures worldwide aimed at providing senior air

The Hautes-Alpes region of the Southern French Alps is a paradise and perfect playground for canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts of all levels of ability. Influenced by the warmer Mediterranean climate, an incredible backdrop of mountain scenery and a huge variety of white-water rivers that can be run from May-September it is no wonder that it

In June this year 48 soldiers from 72 Engineer Regiment (V) headed off to the Lake District to conduct our annual adventure training exercise. Coniston was chosen as the base as it provided easy access to some of the best areas for the activities we had planned which included Walking, Canoeing, Mountain Biking and a

A group from 105 Regiment RA (V) took part in Ex KANANASKIS FINN – a ten day exercise in the Canadian Rockies. The aim was to deliver a basic mountaineering package and a foundation level open canoeing course to individuals who had never taken part in these before. The training was designed to be physically

This year’s two-week annual training camp took place in June 2012 and was the first year in which Liverpool UOTC and Manchester and Salford UOTC joined forces. They sent almost 200 officer cadets from the North West to RAF St Mawgan, near Newquay, Cornwall, where they spent the first week ‘in greens’, carrying out pre-deployment

A Sqn RWxY spent 3 days in Gibraltar in June 2012, with the aim of conducting adventurous training activities as well as competing in the Gibraltar Rock Run, a grueling 4 mile run from sea level to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar. Flying from Luton Airport, we arrived to find our accommodation at

Day 1 Calenzana (275m) to Refuge d’Ortu di Piobbu (1520m) and Refuge Bonifatu The first day of the GR20 can be a shock to the system; leaving Calenzana, with your world on back, in weather that you should really enjoy whilst sitting with a cocktail at the side the pool, with the added question mark

The last two weeks of June must have seemed like the perfect time of year for WO2 Andy Anderson of 155 Transport Regiment when he booked the sailing trip for his unit. The weather should be perfect – warm, sunny, just windy. Little did he know that June would be the wettest month on record

Following on from a successful leadership challenge in 2011, Lordswood CCF was once again invited to participate in the JROTC’s Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge (JCLC) held at Fort Devens, an active US military base, over the period of 18 – 22 June 2012. These dates coincided with the annual Bunker Hill parade in Charlestown –

Exercise Northern Emulous llI was a multi activity expedition conducted in the Ardeche, an area of outstanding beauty in Southern France, for eleven Officer Cadets, three instructors and four administrative staff (One of whom took part in all the activities). The aim of the exercise was to increase the skills and qualifications of those undertaking

Exercise Bolivian Venture was a Defence Medical Services Expedition with combined AT and research goals held in June 2012. Two Tri Service teams of 25 ranging from experienced mountaineer to complete novice were selected from trial weekends throughout 2011-2012. Training in essential mountaineering skills took place in Scotland, Snowdonia and Chilwell prior to departure. The

Exercise Brittany Wyvern 2012 was a Royal Wessex Yeomanry off-shore sailing expedition that took place on HM Sail Training Craft Sabre, a Nicholson 55 yawl. It started in Brest, France on 10 June 2012, finishing in Gosport on 24 June 2012. The Skipper and Mate stayed aboard for both weeks but crew members changed on

After 2 years of study, the culmination of the Extended Diploma in Public Services course is a 12 day trip to the Pyrenees in the south of France. For all of the students, who are also either cadets or PIs with Gloucestershire ACF, this is an opportunity for them to complete their final assessments in

From 4th to 20th May 2012 eleven members of D (Rifles) Company, 5RRF and OCdt Tim Bird from Yorkshire OTR went on an expedition to Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. The first night the group stayed with the Light Horse Regiment, about half an hour from OR Tambo airport. Early the next day we headed off

SHERWOOD SAILORS DO THE HIGHLAND FLING The twelve Reservists from HMS Sherwood planned and organised Exercise Highland Fling themselves, with funding from the Ulysses Trust, to develop their leadership and team-working skills and resilience. “We took part in a variety of challenging outdoor activities and everyone learnt new skills,” said Lieutenant Kathryn Jacques from Long

Capt Mervyn Jones, of Rossett Platoon, Clwyd and Gwynedd Army Cadet Force, for the last seven years, has taken cadets to the Somme, France for the 1st July commemorations marking the start of the famous WW1 battle. Glorious patriotic, altruistic endeavour or the futile waste of a generation? The truth, as ever, lies somewhere in