Ex AMA 60 was a Pan Army, Army Mountaineering Association (AMA), High Risk and Remote, mountaineering & trekking expedition to the remote Dolpa region of Western Nepal. It was open to all AMA members, and the team consisted of both Regulars and Reserves. It was conceived to celebrate 60 years of the formation of the […]
The trip really started for me at the Heathrow Hotel with the issue of the Jungle Monkey tops, a last repacking of kit before the flight and a team beer at the bar. On arrival despite the travel exhaustion we all congregated at the hotel rooftop pool to rest and acclimatise to the heat. A
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As most of the school community were enjoying a first lie-in of the October holiday, twelve Morrison’s Academy cadets and two officers were already heading to the Cairngorms. The plan was straightforward. Two days of mountain biking in Rothiemurchus were to be followed by three days of mountain walking in the Cairngorms. We would be
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On the 19th October 2017, 10 reservists and 1 regular soldier boarded a flight to Malta in order to begin Exercise Tiger Rifles Azure; the annual 6 RIFLES scuba diving expedition. The aims of the exercise were to qualify divers ranging from Ocean Diver to Dive Leader, develop the skills and experience of divers, and
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September 2017 saw 12 individuals from 159 Regiment RLC embark on a weeks Scuba diving in sunny Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Ideally located just off the North African coast, it offered the chance to explore further afield while still being in Europe. Diving commenced from the dive centre located in the picturesque cove of
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In December 2015, Major J W Swanson and Corporal T McWhirter from the Northern Ireland Garrison Support Unit (NIGSU) began the extensive planning process for their first overseas Adventure Training expedition to Nepal. The culmination of this planning was Expedition Finn Himalaya, which took place from 15th September 2017 to 7th October 2017. Adventure training
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Soldiers from 6 Rifles recently embarked on a mountaineering expedition to Georgia with the goal of increasing the Battalion’s mountaineering capability. While spending five days in the Southern Caucasus the team covered the Summer mountain foundation syllabus, engaged with the local population and hiked over 80km with 2,800m of elevation. The hike began in Mestia
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Bristol ACF conducted Exercise Bristolian Zeus during the back end of October 2017, with the main aim of cycling some of the varied technical and challenging off road routes of Cyprus. From the stunning views along the Cyprus coastlines showing off the deep blue and emerald sea of the Mediterranean, to the craggy and muddy
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Personnel were from across the RNRM service, including: CTCRM, 30 Cdo RM, HM Surface Ships, HM Submarines and the Fleet Air Arm. From 2 – 17 July 16 Commando Training Centre Royal Marines led Adventurous Training (AT) in three phases on the mainland and cayes of Belize. The aim of phase 1 and 3 was
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As the cadets first set their eyes on the 72’ Ocean Youth Trust Scotland Ketch, Alba Venturer, which was to be their home and workplace for the next 7 days, there were mixed comments and expressions of apprehension. None of the selected Air Cadets had ever taken part in an activity like this and it
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For cadets from Budmouth College the adventure started a little early as the American Airlines Boeing pushed back at Miami after the catering was struck by lightning. As the aircraft taxied to the runway the most violent of thunderstorms erupted over the airfield. There the plane sat for three hours whilst thunder, lightning and accompanying
Trans Andes Expedition 2017 Read More »
On 16th July 11 cadets and three Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from TS Stirling Sea Cadets in Birmingham set off for the adventure of a life time in the USA. They were off to join 300 American cadets from 19 high schools in New England that are part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Army League
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In August 2017, 5 members of staff and 14 cadets from Chester le Street Sea Cadets spent 10 days in Nova Scotia, Canada hosted by Llewellyn SCC. The assistance from the Ulysses Trust enabled the cadets and staff to participate in a training programme that included both land and water based activities at HMCS Arcadia,
Canada Summer School Waterborne Training and Survival Skills 2017 Read More »
Ex COCKNEY BARBARIAN was a Summer Mountaineering Expedition organised by PJHQ J2 Division to the Supramonte Region of Sardinia. Coming from PJHQ, the group was very diverse, incorporating regulars and reserves from across the tri-service community. As a rare opportunity to conduct Adventurous Training in a busy operational Headquarters, the expedition was heavily oversubscribed, and
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On 19 April 2017 a team of 21 regular and reserve soldiers left London for Nepal to take part in Exercise Diamond Peak; a month long high altitude trekking and climbing expedition to the Himalayas. The expedition was planned as part of the Army Air Corps (AAC) Diamond Jubilee Celebrations to mark sixty years since
Headquarters Northwest Cadet Training Team has not completed any AT for a number of years as a team. Some of the team have served in Germany and never had the opportunity to visit Bavaria. The initial uptake was great, however due to the courses programmes and other changes we set off with 8 in total.
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Leg 1 summited Denali; not one but 6 of the team made it to the summit (photo 1), an awesome feat in anyone’s book as the mountain is a weather and snow condition challenge at the best of times. Supported by the RAF Charitable Trust, Flt Lt Andy England and his Leg 1 team, part
RAF REGIMENT Ex DIAMOND ROCK – 2 LEGS COMPLETE & A LONG WAY DOWN & AROUND TO GO! Read More »
It was to the beat of Welsh drums that the RNLI Lifeboat led Ajax and 13 other boats out of the harbour to the start line of the Three Peaks Yacht Race, while several hundred spectators watched the spectacle from across the broad Barmouth sands. The Three Peaks is the original adventure race, and 17
Yeoman Amphibian 2017 – Royal Yeomanry & Queen’s Own Yeomanry Read More »
La Thiule – Mountain biking. After a fantastic two weeks of military training in Germany for Annual Camp, 20 officer cadets and training staff embarked on a one-week adrenaline filled training expedition mountain biking in La Thiule located in the Italian alps. The expedition aim was to bring potential officers out of their comfort zones;
Ex Northern Enduro – Northumbria UOTC Read More »
Exercise Baltic Pelican was the Summer Sailing Expedition for Ardingly College Combined Cadet Force (CCF) undertaken between the 16th and 22nd of July 2017. The Expedition sailed across the Baltic (hence the expedition name) from Stockholm in Sweden to Turku in Finland. There are no Pelicans in the Baltic but it is the emblem of
Baltic Pelican – Ardingly College CCF Read More »
In late May 2017, after a 6 month build up period, 20 members of 154 Regiment set out from Scotland bound for Granada in Southern Spain and a week-long Mountain-biking expedition. The membership of this group represented the Regiment’s Reserve make-up in almost perfect microcosm; 6 Girls and 14 Guys; every rank from Private to
Northern Sierra – 154 (Scottish) Transport Regiment RLC Read More »
‘On 16th May at 0650 we made it to the top of the world, Mt Everest, and I was so happy I can’t express what I was feeling.’ LCpl Umesh Gurung, 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles The Gurkha Everest Expedition has given a unique opportunity to 22 members of the Army, and through its
Gurkha Everest Expedition 2017 – HQBG Read More »
In May and June of 2017, several members of staff and senior cadets from Plymouth & Cornwall and Dorset & Wiltshire Wings, Royal Air Force Air Cadets , spent 8 days in the Cairngorm National Park, residing at Feshiebridge Lodge, Aviemore. With assistance from the Ulysses Trust, the aim of the week was for all
Scotland Staff AT Development – Plymouth & Cornwall Wing ATC Read More »
On the 21st May 2017 a fifteen-strong crew, led by Maj Terry Hackett of London UOTC, began a two-week Adventure Training exercise onboard Yacht ‘Adventure’, one of the Army’s two Challenger 72’ Ocean going sail training yachts. The aim of Ex Artic Express was to challenge participants in a demanding environment and to develop their
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Plymouth and Cornwall Wing of the RAF Air Cadets spreads from Okehampton and Kingsbridge in the East to Hayle in the West and covers some of the more deprived wards in the country. The Wing has always prided itself in making activities available to all cadets regardless of their family circumstances. This is particularly so
Ten Tors Challenge 2017 – Plymouth & Cornwall Wing ATC Read More »
As a CCF Adventurous Training Officer, and Winter Mountain Leader I felt privileged to be able to organise, and take a group of Cadets from the Oldham Hulme Combined Cadet Force on their expedition to NE Lapland in Arctic Sweden. The expedition was the culmination of 18 months hard work by the 11 Cadets and
Arctic Tundra Venture 2017 – Oldham Hulme Grammar School CCF Read More »
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever” – Jacques Yves Cousteau 27 soldiers from 71 Royal Engineer Regiment have completed a two week multi activity expedition to Belize. Meeting in Heathrow on Easter Monday 2017 after travelling from Northern Ireland and Scotland, 12 divers and 15 canoers
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An air of excited anticipation hung over the expedition party as we assembled in Nottingham to begin our long journey to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. The group comprised of twelve students and two instructors from Northumbrian and East Midlands Officer Training Corps. Our aim was to summit Jebel Toubkal in winter conditions. At a
Dragon Atlas EMU – East Midlands UOTC Read More »
On the 22nd March 2017, Cambridge University Officers’ Training Corps (CUOTC) departed for a trekking expedition in the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco. The aim was to summit Jbel Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa. Our secondary aims included empowering officer cadets (OCdts) to embrace leadership roles and to give potential officers a taste of
Ex Dragon Toubkal 2017 – Cambridge University Officers’ Training Corps Read More »
26th March 2017, 14 regular and reserve personnel from 104Bn REME embarked on an expedition to Machu Picchu in Peru. The following 14 days were an odyssey of lost boarding cards, inexplicable bag searches, contraband tent pegs, a naked man in the airport and mountains. Lots of mountains. The journey to Peru began in Northampton,
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The aim of the Exercise was to take Shropshire Army Cadets to Bavaria for a progressive Adventurous Training programme using the medium of Alpine skiing. It was planned to undertake the UKCC Snow Sports Snow Life Awards course as the basis for the weeks training. This was supported with elements of snow/mountain survival lectures including
Ex Dragon Venturer Snow Cub – Shropshire ACF Read More »
The original concept for the trip to climb Mount Kenya was sown mid-way round our Mini Tour of Mont Blanc in the summer of 2015, for which the Ulysses Trust kindly provided a grant. The FANY links with Kenya started in 1931 with the establishment of a Section of 16 members, which had risen to
Mount Kenya Expedition – FANY (PRVC) Read More »
Exercise ICE MAIDEN, the first all-female military transantarctic crossing planned for November 2017, is the vision of expedition leaders Major Nicola Wetherill and Major Natalie Taylor. The two adventurous Army doctors hope that the expedition will inspire others, particularly women, to seek adventure and to engage in arduous outdoor activity. In addition, regardless of who
Ex Ice Diamond 2017 – RAMC, HAC, 32 Sigs Read More »
Departing February 12th at midday from Pate’s, the CCF ski trip encompassed a wide range of Cadets from 13 to 17 as well as adult staff and instructors. Flying from Birmingham meant the time spent travelling was relatively short, arriving in Stuttgart at around 19:30 and at the lodge just a little later at 21:30.
Olaf Ski Challenge 2017 Read More »
5 years ago, ‘someone’ suggested it would be a fantastic idea to take Calday Grange CCF Cadets to Norway for a ‘bit of Adventure Training’, 2 years later it happened, and who could have predicted how successful it would have been? Certainly the constant questions from cadets about whether there’d be another trip meant it
Ex Norwegian Troll 2 Caldeian Adventure – Calday Grange CCF Read More »
Between the 17th and the 25th February 2017, 45 cadets and 12 Adults from Northumbria ACF travelled to Crans Montana in the Swiss Alps to undertake a week of Alpine Skiing. The Exercise was designed to give the group which consisted of mainly Novice skiers the opportunity to learn to ski or for those with
Ex Northumbria Swiss 2017 – Northumbria ACF Read More »
Over February half-term, sixth former Jemima, a CCF cadet, attended one of the courses being offered by the Cadet Centre for Adventure Training (CCAT), which is designed to teach students the basics of Nordic Skiing on high-level terrain. The trip included an overnight ski tour and was based in a particular area of Norway, made
Ex Dragon Venturer Cadet Norski – Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training Read More »
On the evening of 26 February 17, 11 members of Air Cadet Organisation’s volunteer staff gathered at the Inchree lodges in Onich in the Western Highlands of Scotland with the objective of furthering their knowledge and experience of the British mountain environment. Two members of the team would be undertaking a Joint Services Winter Climbing
Western Winter – HQ Air Cadets Read More »
Ex DRAGON POLAR PILGRIM (also referred to as SPEAR17, South Pole Expedition Army Reserves 2017) first came into being over two years ago in November 2014. The original plan was for a team of Army Reserves to ski 730 miles from the coastline of Antarctica to the geographic South Pole. This was to be an
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Exercise Khumbu Commando was the only authorised Royal Navy / Royal Marines expedition to the Himalayas in 2017. The plan was for 14 Bootnecks to travel to the Everest (Khumbu) region of Nepal to trek for 23 continuous days (total yomp distance circa 350 km) over the region’s three highest alpine passes (Renjo La, Cho
Ex Khumbu Commando – Royal Marines Reserve Merseyside Read More »
One of the more nuanced elements of military training to explain to the civilian employers of the officers and soldiers of 3 Military Intelligence Battalion (3 MI Bn), is the notion of “adventurous training”. This is particularly the case when this involves skiing! What may seem on the surface to be entirely recreational by the
Cockney Skadi – 3 Military Intelligence Battalion Read More »
Thirty three year ten cadets from the Canford School CCF consumed with excitement and anticipation, together with three teaching staff and seven instructors converged on Hovden at the southern end of the Norwegian mountains on a cold clear and starry evening in February to be met by the chief instructor from GoAdventure1 on the eve
Ex Canford Norwegian Venturer Tiger – Canford School CCF Read More »
“Its 10pm now”, said the first mate, “what time do you want lights-out?” “10.30” came the response from the crew of senior cadets taking part in the annual Headquarters Air Cadets ‘West Coast Challenge’ offshore sailing expedition. Proof that the week on-board the Ocean Youth Trust Scotland ketch, Alba Venturer, had been demanding and exhausting,
OYT Scotland West Coast Challenge – HQ Air Cadets Read More »
The 2016 Scot-Paddle with the Sea Cadets aimed to Open Canoe the reverse route taken by Bonnie Prince Charlie on his return to Scotland in the year 1745, by journeying from Glenfinnan to the sea. The objective was to take a group of cadets and let them work as a team to develop self-sufficient expedition
Ex Loch Shiel Wilderness Open Canoe – Marine Society and Sea Cadets Read More »
During the last week of October 2016 65 Air Cadets and 23 members of staff from Norfolk & Suffolk Wing Air Training Corps mounted an Adventure Training expedition to Rothiemurchas Lodge, Aviemore in the heart of the Cairngorm Mountains overlooking Loch Morlich. The expedition provided life enhancing opportunities for young men and women from various
Ex Golden Eagle One – 29 Norfolk & Suffolk Wing ATC Sqns Read More »
Steam billowing up from under snow bridges, sideways jaw-freezing hail turning your woolly hat white, sunburned noses, soggy tents and dust storms. Lush mossy landscapes set against black volcanic ash tinged by red and green, and dark verdant canyons filled with thundering waterfalls. The Laugavegur trail is considered to be one of the most beautiful
Ex Tiger Midnight Sun – 77th Brigade Read More »
On the 4th June 2016 11 divers set off for the small Island of Gozo. The expedition was made up of various ranks from Private to Captain, all of whom were looking forward to progressing their diver training, refresh their skills or just get back in the water. My participation on the expedition came about
Ex Dragon Gozo Eagle – various British Army units Read More »
Completion of Leg 13, sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia into Gosport, Hampshire saw the conclusion of the round-the-world joint service Exercise Transglobe expedition in mid-August 2016. With the voyage having set out from the south coast of England in June 2015 it was with a great deal of pride and enthusiasm that air cadets CWO
Ex Transglobe 2016 – Headquarters Air Cadets Read More »
‘The mountains are calling and I must go’ John Muir (1838-1914) EXERCISE COCKNEY DESERT SCORPION (EX CDS) 14 June – 8 July 2016 John Muir was a Scottish- American naturalist and member of the Sierra Club, a conservation organisation which founded the U.S. National Parks – in particular Yosemite and Sequoia National Park both of
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This year’s Sherborne CCF Summer Camp involving 12 personnel was a trip to the breath-taking scenery of the Setesdal Valley in Southern Norway to undertake the Viking Trail which comprised hiking and canoeing phases. The aim was to enable the cadets to experience an expedition that would enhance their self-reliance and teambuilding skills using adventure
Ex Viking Trail – Sherborne Combined Cadet Force Read More »
Exercise COCKNEY PADDLER 16 saw 14 personnel from 135 Geographic Squadron, 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic), deploy to Canada to kayak the Rideau Canal. The aims of this adventurous training expedition were to introduce squadron personnel to kayaking and refresh previous kayaking skills leading to the award of the K2F qualification in order to prepare personnel
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After months in the planning, the fortunate few to pass the dive medical gathered to depart for Gibraltar on Ex Yeoman Nautilus 5-14 Jun 16. Capt C Tate 6 Regt AAC Having recently qualified as an Open water recreational diver, I thought nothing could be easier than getting a few guys away on a military
Ex Yeoman Nautilus – 6 Army Air Corps Read More »
On Sat 28th May 2016, 42 members of Essex Army Cadet Force met at Chelmsford Army Reserve Centre to embark on the celebratory twenty first Exercise Itchyfoot. From an idea born by Lt. Col. I. Coffin, this seven day Adventurous Training exercise has grown and developed into a leading event in the Essex ACF calendar.
Ex Itchy Foot 2016 – Essex Army Cadet Force Read More »
It was a crisp October morning as we headed down to Netheravon to meet the rest of the exped participants and collect our parachuting equipment. This would be the first time we would all meet as the exped comprised of both Regulars and Reservists from 3, 14, 16, 37 & 71 Sig Regts. It was
Ex Cockney Phoenix Fall – British Army Reserves Read More »
This ambitious, adventurous and demanding expedition is one of the most successful mounted by the Army Cadet movement following two years of planning. It comprised of two independent groups sub-divided into the three AT activity teams – the Tugela River descent and the Drackensberg and Zulu Trail treks. The ethos of each activity was that
Ex KwaZulu-Natal Venturer – ACF and CCF (Army) Read More »
Between the 10th and 25th August 2016 eight cadets and four staff embarked on a Sussex Air Cadets led expedition deep into the Yukon Territory of Canada. The main thrust of the trip was a 369km self-sufficient paddle in Open Canoes from the maintenance camp on Quiet Lake to a get out in Carmacks near
Ex Yukon Adventure – Sussex Wing ATC Read More »
Between 21 and 28 October 2016, nineteen Royal Navy CCF cadets (10 male and 9 female) and three staff members from Calday Grange Grammar School (Wirral, Merseyside) travelled to Gibraltar for an adventure training expedition. The expedition name comes from the MOD requirements that cadet expeds should include the word Venturer. The original name for
Operation Venturer Tarik – Calday Grange CCF (RN Section) Read More »
Eight Army Reservists from the NW of England, part of 156 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, recently trekked the classic ‘Evolution Loop’ of the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada, California. The high altitude trek required two acclimation days before completing the loop with a grand total of 77 miles covered in 8 days. Expedition
Ex Northern High Sierra – 156 Regt RLC Read More »
16 days, 174 miles, 2,758 flights of stairs, 18 pieces of the best apple pie in the world and a lot of dal bhat power. Exercise COCKNEY KALA PATTHAR took 10 Reservists from 151 Regiment RLC and 3 Regulars from 10 QOGLR on a 3 week trek to the Himalayas. The objective; for the team
Cockney Kala Patthar 2016 Read More »
Exercise Ubique Finn (ID 02005) took place in the mountain regions north of Malaga between 14th-21st May 2016. Taking part in the exercise where 17 reserve troops from 71 Engineer Regiment comprising of personal from 102 (Paisley), 124 (Edinburgh) and 591 (Bangor) Squadrons. The pasty white Celtic troops travelled from Northern Ireland and Scotland with
Ex Ubique Finn 2016 – 71 Engineer Regiment Read More »
With a buzz of excitement the expedition team for Exercise Dhaulagiri Serpent arrived at 201 Field Hospital on Sunday 24th April; eager for the start of the high altitude medical research expedition. The expedition focus was on high altitude and its effects on the human body. As such, the trek not only comprised some arduous
Ex Dhaulagiri Serpent – 201 Field Hospital Read More »
Exercise ICE MAIDEN, the first all-female military transantarctic crossing planned for November 2017, is the vision of expedition leaders Major Nicola Wetherill and Major Natalie Taylor. The two adventurous Army doctors hope that the expedition will inspire others, particularly women, to seek adventure and to engage in arduous outdoor activity. In addition, regardless of who
Ex Ice Ready – British Army Reservists Read More »
The 29th March 2016 saw twelve Officer Cadets (OCdts) and two members of staff from Bristol University Officer Training Corps (BrUOTC) embark on Exercise CABOT TELEMARK, a twelve day Nordic Skiing Expedition to Norway. The aim of which was for the group to become competent Nordic Skiers and gain either a Nordic Foundation 1 or
Ex Cabot Telemark – Bristol University Officer Training Corps Read More »
Between the 1st and the 10th April, 44 cadets and 9 Adults from Northumbria ACF travelled to La Plange in the French Alps for 7 days fantastic Skiing. This was our second venture of this size to be undertaken by Northumbria ACF into the Alps to conduct skiing of this type. The Exercise was designed
Northern Alpine Adventure – Northumbria ACF Read More »
Thirty cadets from Dorset & Wiltshire Wing of the Air Training Corps participated in the Dartmoor Ten Tors Challenge on the weekend of 8th and 9th May 2016. The Ten Tors is a challenge for teams of 6 young people aged between 13 and 19 to walk between ten checkpoints on ten tors over a
Ten Tors Challenge 2016 – Dorset & Wiltshire Wing ATC Read More »
Following the 2016 Easter period, 106 Regiment Royal Artillery travelled to sunny Malta to commence Exercise Cockney Abyss, a SCUBA diving expedition aimed at developing competency and confidence in the sub aqua discipline. Nine troops enjoyed a challenging and rewarding endeavour in which they were able to develop their diving skills and achieve gradual depth
Ex Cockney Abyss – 106 Regt RA Read More »
For most of us Exercise Northern Plunge started back in August 2016 when the fourteen intrepid explorers of 37 Signal Regiment were despatched to Army Medical Centres to undergo fitness to dive medicals. Certified fit (and for the most part human) we were all keen for November to come while Sgt Chris Woolerton continued in
Ex Northern Plunge – 37 Sig Regt, 1 JSSU + 208 Field Hospital Read More »
Potential candidates were warned from the start that Ex BACKCOUNTRY SAPPER 16 was to be an Adventurous Training expedition unlike any other. ‘This will not be a jolly.’ the email read and whilst that may have been enough to put many others off, it only appealed to me further. Headed up by Lt Tom Brunstrom,
Ex Northern Backcountry Sapper – 39 Engineer Regiment + 71 Engineer Regiment Read More »
Day 1 saw a total of 8 members of Cambridge University Air Squadron (CUAS), travel to Malta for Exercise Maltese Mission after meeting at Cambridge Headquarters at an early time of 03:30 before heading to Luton Airport for the flight to Malta. After about an hour’s delay due to fog we landed in Malta around
Ex Maltese Mission – Cambridge University Air Squadron Read More »
‘No, there really is climbing on the Costa Blanca, I’ve been. It’s really rather good.’ The OC Major Kennon raised a quizzical brow and I crossed my fingers… Fast forward some months and after a late night brief, and even later night packing kit and travelling, we arrived bleary eyed in Alicante airport on the
Ex Northern Iberian Duke – 4 Lancs Read More »
This was going to be my first trip away with the CCF. I have only recently joined the CCF and jumped at the opportunity to go on the canoe /kayak expedition to the South of France. All the cadets gathered at school on the 8th and said their goodbyes to parents. The journey was fairly
Ex Dragon Ventura Allier – Ratcliffe College CCF Read More »
Cadets on the Norway Cross Country Ski Expedition experienced the full range of winter weather conditions during their week skiing over the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. Despite the stormy conditions our group of 6 boys and girls made quick progress acquiring the necessary ski skills to complete a demanding Hut to Hut Expedition. Norway has an
Ex Bradfield Venturer Tiger 2016 – Bradfield College CCF + Berkhamstead School CCF Read More »
Excited – the majority feelings among cadets prior to travelling, mixed with a healthy quantity of being curious, motivated, adventurous, anticipating something new, keen to get started, yet there was the inevitable sense of being apprehensive and nervous……. why? Because, for all of those chosen to join the Venture to Gibraltar, as one cadet summarized
Ex Dragon Venturer Jerboa Rock – Derbyshire Army Cadet Force Read More »
In October 2016 The Queen’s Own Yeomanry and a selection from other Reservist units, deployed on Exercise Northern Blue Juice to Fuerteventura. The aim of the expedition was to conduct diver training and to qualify all participants in either the BSAC Ocean Diver or Sports Diver. We were also extremely fortunate to participate in a
Ex Northern Blue Juice – The Queen’s Own Yeomanry Read More »
The Atlas mountains are, at first look, forbidding and hostile. The weather conditions are changeable and the environment inhospitable to people, animals and vegetation. Over the duration of the two-week expedition the team got to know the people, the terrain and learned much about the Berber culture and rural way of life in the remote
Tiger Toubkal – Royal Signals Read More »
Towards the end of July, 5 senior cadets and 3 staff from RGS Guildford CCF departed from school, bound for the Tirol region of Austria, to take part in a mountaineering expedition. The programme was to include part of the Stubai Hohenweg hut-to-hut, general glacial training, a technical ascent of a peak and an introduction
Summer Explorer 4 (Tiger) 2016 Read More »
Exercise Northern Gozo was an extremely successful level 3 Adventure Training exercise to the beautiful island of Malta, for 14 Officers and soldiers from 32 Signal Regiment. The aim of the exercise was to undertake two one week foundation level courses in Rock Climbing and Sub Aqua Diving, to continue to build up the amount
Ex Northern Gozo – 32 Signal Regiment Read More »
The aim of our Moonlands venture was to foster leadership skills in our senior cadets through a programme of adventurous training for five weeks in the Ladakh region of the Tibetan Plateau. This is a unique area, long isolated by the high peaks, which still forbid land access for eight months of the year. It
Moonlands 2016 – Budmouth College CCF Read More »
Monday 27th June 2016 saw ten eager sailors from Selly Oak Trust School Birmingham, which is one of the largest for young people with special educational needs in Europe, depart for Portsmouth to take part in a Tall Ships Expedition. The group consisted of six 6th Form students and four students from year 10 accompanied
Tall Ships Challenger 2016 – Selly Oak Trust School CCF Read More »
On the 6 September 2016 Northumbrian University Officer Training Corps undertook a level 3 Summer Mountaineering expedition to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. 23 Officer cadets, subalterns and army mountaineering instructors participated in the exercise, with 11 of the participants gaining the Summer Mountaineering Foundation (SMF) qualification and the remainder
Northern Bear 2016 Read More »
Exercise Ice Maiden, the first all-female military trans-Antarctic crossing planned for November 2017, is the brain child of expedition leaders Captain Nicola Wetherill and Major Natalie Taylor. The two adventurous Army doctors hope that the expedition will inspire others, particularly women, to seek adventure and to engage in arduous outdoor activity. In addition, regardless of
Ex Ice Bambi 2016 – British Army Read More »
“Adventurous Training in the south of France? Come on, you are just off on a jolly!” These were the parting words from EMUOTC’s Adjutant to the group of six Officer Cadets about to embark on a ten-day 3* kayaking expedition on the Ardeche river. It may not have been a “Jolly” but it was a
Ex Dragon Floating EMU – East Midlands UOTC Read More »
Report written by Lt NJW Richmond C Coy 2 R IRISH The aim of Joint Service Adventurous Training is set out as follows; “to promote, through the conduct of arduous outdoor activities with exposure to hardship and danger, the Army’s core values, leadership, teamwork and other qualities necessary to enhance the Operational effectiveness of all
Ex Shamrock Glacier – 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment Read More »
Aims and Objectives The aims and objectives are to expose Officer Cadets to the challenges of adventurous training and taking part in the organisation and execution of a major expedition. This expedition will provide the opportunity for LUAS students to undertake mountain biking, and mountaineering in an arduous, wild and ever-changing environment. The expedition members
Ex Bike Hike 2016 – Liverpool University Air Squadron Read More »
If you look up the GR20 online you will see it described as “the toughest long distance trail in Europe”. Spanning 300 miles and crossing Corsica from Calenzana in the north to Conca in the south the GR20 crosses some of the most spectacular mountain terrain in Europe and is coupled with an incredible Mediterranean
Ex Dragon Steel Corsica – 3rd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment Read More »
A 6-day journey of discovery by a mixed team of nine Senior Cadets and Cadet Adult instructors who were all Nordic skiing novices out on the snow making memories. A long journey from UK to Sandefjord Airport in Norway followed by a 3-hour drive culminated in our arrival on a snowy plateau 1200mts above the
Ex Dragon Venturer Cadet Norski – HQ CCAT Read More »
I’d never dived the Maldives before so I thought it might be wise to find out what was needed. I wasn’t entirely sure what I expected the manager of the dive boat to say, perhaps he would advise about the thickness of wetsuit or what factor sunscreen we would need but when he said “a
Ex Neptune Serpent – 2nd Medical Brigade Read More »
Ex Red Wyvern was an overseas Exped to the Red Sea in Egypt, operating on a dive liveaboard vessel that not only acted as a diving platform, but provided us all our accommodation and real life support needs. The Exped was mainly comprised of Reserve and Regular Soldiers from 165 and 17 Port and Maritime
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Report by Officer Cadet Rebecca Seal Ex JAVELIN KUTSERO was a Tri Service Type 3 Adventurous Training expedition conducted over the period 12 Feb‐8 Mar 16. The expedition involved scuba diving activities focussed on the WW2 Japanese wrecks of Coron in the Philippines. Diving was conducted in two groups; this report focuses on the first
Ex Javelin Kutsero – Wales University Officers Training Corps Read More »
Four seasons in one week maintained the ambitions of Ex Northern Jacobite Venturer (Ex NJV). Blue sky and delightful spring weather for the first few days gave way to snow and wind by the end of the expedition. Our now annual Scottish exploit is in its 9th year and is successfully delivering all four phases
Northern Jacobite Venturer – Giggleswick School CCF Read More »
On 27th March 2016, six Officer Cadets from Oxford University Officer Training Corps set out on an ambitious six-day hut-to-hut ski tour across the Italian Dolomites. For five of the six members, the expedition was especially challenging as it was their first experience of hut-to-hut touring. In spite of this and many additional challenges encountered
Ex Blue Tour Dolomite – Oxford University Officer Training Corps Read More »
The aim of the Exercise was to take Army Cadets from Shropshire to Bavaria for a progressive Adventure Training programme using the medium of Alpine Skiing. It was planned to the UKCC Snow Sports Snow Life Awards Course as the basis for the weeks training. This was supported with elements of snow/mountain survival lectures including
Ex Dragon Venturer Snow Cub – Shropshire Army Cadet Force Read More »
Departing Heathrow bound for Delhi in India, 15 cadets and 5 staff members from 282 (East Ham) Squadron Air Cadets couldn’t contain their excitement for the adventure that lay ahead. This was an adventure that would change the lives of the cadets forever! It was no easy task; the climate difficulties along with being out
Thar Horizon 3 – 282 (East Ham) Squadron Air Training Corps Read More »
Royal Belfast Academical Institution CCF deployed 9 Senior Cadets and 2 Officers for a rock climbing exercise in Tenerife on 16 – 23 February 2016. This exercise had been months in planning and everyone was delighted to finally receive full clearance. It would mark the first ever overseas AT Exercise for the Contingent and one
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Preamble The Canford School CCF has been venturing to Norway for some twenty years now; a significant number of them generously supported by the Ulysses Trust and the expedition has become somewhat of an institution with many cadets over the years describing it as the best thing they did at Canford. It was no surprise
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Loretto CCF undertook a cross country ski expedition to Norway in February 2016 following in the footsteps of Norwegian saboteurs who had a mission in WW2 to destroy a heavy water plant in Rjukan, S Norway to prevent Hitler from building the atom bomb. The aim of the expedition was for the cadets to complete
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Ex Calo Biralo 2016, which saw 19 Members of 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (EOD) and their instructors travel to the Himalayas of central Nepal and trek the much revered Annapurna Circuit. Its aim; to test the group both physically and mentally in an arduous environment culminating in the Tharong La pass (5416m), whilst
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Six days of challenge and adventure by a mixed team of four Senior Cadets and two Cadet Adult instructors. Arrived safe and well in Rjukan after a very long day travelling. Lower Gorge My first step into ice climbing on steep ground today was awesome, it really took my climbing back to basics and made
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From 03 – 10 January 2016 the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY) kicked off their adventurous training year by taking part in Exercise (ALPINE) SNOW FOX XXI in Val D’Isère, France. Ex Snow Fox is the pan-Yeomanry Alpine Skiing Championship which aims to promote fitness, physical agility, teamwork and leadership. This year we had 14
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“Amazing, Fantastic, Brilliant” It may have been 07.30 am when the group of 36 cadets and 7 adults left Glasgow but there was not a thing that could have dampened their excitement for the ski trip to Salzburger Sportwelt in Austria, not even the thought of 30 hours of travel. “Amazing, fantastic, brilliant” and “the
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From the 23rd to the 29th December 2015, 28 Sea Cadets and 5 adult volunteers joined the crew of the TS Lord Nelson to spend their Christmas in the port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. This was on board a square rigged training ship designed to give the chance to sail on the open
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After a busy year of fundraising, fitness training, paperwork, kit research, trips to the vaccination clinic and briefing weekends my adventure finally began. On the 21st of July 2015 I travelled to India with the Royal Geographical Society and the British Exploring Society. The team consisted of twelve Trainee Leaders, fifty ‘young explorers’ between the ages of 16-25 . As
Himalaya Expedition – Bury Grammar School CCF Read More »
Exercise GEORGIAN BUGLE was 6 RIFLES and the British Military’s first adventure training expedition to Georgia. This came about as 6 RIFLES have been given the Defence Engagement role for the South Caucasus’s which include Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. As the Expedition Leader I went out to Georgia in May 15 and carried out a
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Bristol University Air Squadron deployed to Iceland on EX MIDNIGHT SUN to carry out a cycling and walking tour of the Golden Circle. The initial plan was to fly out to Iceland to then cycle a route starting from Reykjavik, travelling into the Landmannalaugar National Park. We would then return via a different route and
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Exercise Rocky Blue began with the excellent book ‘Undaunted Courage’ by Stephen E Ambrose which provides a fascinating study of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804-1806. Inspired by the adventures of those pioneering gentlemen, Cambridge University Officer Training Corps planned and organised an expedition to re-trace part of their route along the Missouri River.
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On 05 September 2015 a team from 201 Field Hospital embarked on Exercise Northern Brighella. Adventurous Training (AT) is an integral part of Military Training and greatly valued at 201 Field Hospital. The definition of AT is ‘Challenging outdoor training for Service Personnel in specified adventurous activities that incorporates controlled exposure to risk, in order
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Staffordshire and West Midlands North Sector conducted Ex Corsican Dragon Venturer over the period 16-30 Aug 15. The aim of the expedition was to complete the northern section of the GR20. The GR20 is a long distance high altitude technical mountain trail that crosses the Mediterranean Island of Corsica. The route takes ten days to
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In August 2015, 9 members of Birmingham University Royal Naval Unit (BURNU) conducted a major Adventurous Training Expedition to Ascension Island (ASI). Exercise BURNU Dive ASI as it was known had all the ingredients of a classic AT exped from the start, with the experienced diving supervisory team of a Royal Marine Colour Sergeant and
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This summer, ten officer cadets from Oxford University Officer Training Corps set off to attempt to trek 500 kilometres, unsupported, from the north to the south of Iceland over the course of three weeks. Our leader, Junior Under Officer Graves, had selected a team of nine Officer Cadets from the universities of Oxford, Oxford Brookes,
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When the opportunity arose to hike the Northern section of the twentieth Grande Randonnée over the period 05-16 August, Officer Cadets at UOTC Birmingham leapt at the opportunity to further their mountaineering experience and prepared to embark on an eleven day route that has a reputation of being one of the toughest long distance trails
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Introduction Maj Andy Gooch Exercise TIGER THULO TRAVERSE (Ex TTT) set out to trek the 1600km length of the Nepalese Himalayas along a route called the Great Himalaya Trail (GHT). It was to follow in the footsteps of ex-Sapper Captain Doc McKerr who became the first person to trek the route solo, unsupported in 2013
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Expedition Romanian Dragon took cadets from Wales into the heart of Romania. 3 groups enjoyed a 5 day trek in the stunning high Transylvanian Alps, and 2 days on an inspirational Roma community building project. Each group also managed to fit in a visit to Dracula’s castle, some medieval sword fighting, together with a remote
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On the 16th July 2015, 12 Officer Cadets embarked on their most adventurous expedition to date. The group was made up of students from Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron (UGSAS) and East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron (ESUAS). Along with their two staff members, the two sister squadrons travelled to Vancouver Island, off
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Exercise Dragon Mongolian Odyssey was a mountaineering expedition undertaken by 10 members of 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) to the Tavan Bogd Mountain Range on the Mongolia, China, Russian border, with the intention of qualifying junior soldiers with various mountain foundation qualifications, knowledge and experience. The location of the expedition was in the western most point
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On 1 July 2015, 10 members of Trojan Squadron – part of the Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme – and 2 Summer Mountaineering instructors set out on Ex Aventura Peruana, a three week mountaineering exercise to Peru. The south of Peru is home to the Andes, a challenging mountain range that offers some of the most
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