Intro “You build a connection like no other when you jump out of a plane together” Cadet Liam Pollitt On 15 April 2022 Norfolk ACF completed their expedition to Skydive Hibaldstow returning home after more than 500 skydives in total with 9 cadets as newly licenced skydivers and 7 more cadets and CFAVs hoping to […]
NACF Skydive Seville 2022 Read More »
Post Exercise Report EXERCISE CANFORD SCOTTISH WINTER SKILLS 18 – 24 Feb 2022 General Canford CCF conducted a L3 Adventurous Training expedition to the Cairngorms, training Cadet NCOs in the necessary skills to benefit from the challenges and rewards of the Scottish mountains in winter. This PXR summarises the expedition and gives key recommendations for
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Ex FINN SKI CADET EXIGENT Val Thorens, France 19 – 26 Mar 22 26 OCdts, 4 staff and 5 instructors conducted an overseas ski Exped following easing of COVID restrictions. I was part of the planning over a number of months and with all overseas exercises cancelled over the past few years, it was a
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PXR For Ex Northern Jacobite Venturer 2022, UT ID 2830. Preamble: Our now annual Scottish exploit is in it’s 14th year but due to COVID has had to reset its ambitions to year 1 of a four year development programme. Our long serving local instructors now have an expectation of great training weather and this
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Ulysses Trust ID 2842 Ex SNOWBOARD SAPPER 22, Austria, 12 – 24 March 22 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (EOD&S) Exercise Snowboard Sapper 22 was the Corps of Royal Engineers Snowboard Championships for 2022 and for a long while it looked like it wasn’t going to happen… luckily Covid-19 restrictions in Europe lifted just
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Ulysses’ Trust ID 2805 Exercise Shamrock Neige 12-19th March, Argentiere, France 253 (NI) Medical Regiment From 12-19th March 2022, 253(NI) Medical Regiment took a group of 15 Soldiers and Officers, including 2 instructors to Argentiere, France. The group was made up of personnel from different Squadrons and Detachments of 253 from various locations in NI
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Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School Combined Cadet Force Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition 24th – 28th February 2022 Ulysses Trust Expedition Grant Number 2847 Authors: Captain Graham Naismith & Lance Corporal Layana Joshy The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition is the highlight of the arduous Duke of Edinburgh Gold Programme. It requires participants to immerse
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Headquarters Home Command EXERCISE MONTY MERGER 26 Feb – 5 Mar 22 Exercise Monty Merger is Headquarters Home Commands’ annual skiing expedition to Mayrhofen, Austria. This year, thirty personnel participated in both alpine and ski touring. With varying abilities and skiing experience, the exercise accommodated Ski Foundation One (SF1) for beginners, Ski Foundation Two (SF2)
CADET CENTRE FOR ADVENTUROUS TRAINING (CCAT) EXERCISE CADETROCK VENTURER 2022 Major Kevin Edwards OC CCAT A group of Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) assembled at Manchester Airport to fly to Spain in search of winter sun and dry rock. The aim of the CCAT rock climbing concentration course is to provide the opportunity to further
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DRAGON CALPE BLUE Cambridge UOTC Ulysses Trust Grant Id 02835 On the 13th February 2022, Officer Cadets from Cambridge University Officer Training Corps returned to Cambridge from a field exercise in Thetford. Tired from the weekend’s activity we were now sat in the mess awaiting a brief on the week that was to come. Once
“The Shackleton Commemoration Expedition – Antarctic Quest 21” – Written by Lt Cdr Paul Hart RNR It’s never easy to organise an Antarctic expedition, especially when that expedition is going to travel well away from the commercial routes, operated by Polar Tourism companies and, thereby, well away from their Search & Rescue services. While it
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On the afternoon of 29th January staff from the Army Staff Leadership School departed Pirbright in Surrey for Tignes in the French Alpes, a total of 15 staff (1 Lt Colonel, 1 Major, 2 Warrant Officers, 10 Staff/Colour Sergeants & 1 Lance Corporal (3 of whom were reservists) along with 3 instructors. The aim of
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On the 5th of January 2022, East Midlands University Officer Training Corps and one member from Birmingham Officer Training Corps set off for the Scottish mountains, with 21 Army Officer Cadets, 2 Army Reserve Officers, 4 Instructors and 2 Trainee Instructors. Once we arrived in Kinlochleven, Glencoe, we were allocated to our instructors, issued a
Dragon Highland EMU 22 2022 Read More »
Being a part of the maritime forces, taking part in Adventurous Training (AT) in the form of sailing is particularly pertinent. As such, sailors from HMS WILDFIRE decided to organise another National Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) Sailing Exercise (SAILEX) after the inaugural exercise in 2019 was such a success. The principal objective of the exercise
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On the 15th Of October 2021, a small band of maritime reservists from HMS Dalriada made their way from their Unit in Glasgow, through the dark and winding country roads of Royal Deeside, towards their weekend adventures in the Scottish Mountains. Arriving in the crisp autumnal air and pitch black, carrying their bergans and armed with
Braemar Expedition 21 2021 Read More »
“No plan survives contact with the enemy” or “The best made of mice and men ” were two maxims that sprung to mind when the exercise leader developed a trapped nerve in his neck 72 hours prior to the expedition starting. The immediate issue was how to safely staff the activities and allow the cadets
Autumn Wanderer 2021 Read More »
Exercise Phoenix Adrenaline was a 579 Fd Sqn (EOD&S) led adventurous training event in Jersey for 2021. The team combined members from 101 Engr Regt (EOD&S) comprising personnel from 579, 350, 217 and 221 Sqns. The advance party travelled across on the ferry taking all the kit and luggage a couple of days before the
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TRAILRIDER 2021 In late September a group of 9 adult volunteers from Central and East Region Royal Air Force Air Cadets deployed to North Wales to undertake some much-needed staff development training. As the country slowly returns to state where face to face cadet activity could resume it was recognised that having a team of
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of planned overseas expeditions had been put on hold due to the uncertainty around international travel. Advice from the Air Cadets was to consider UK-based expeditions for 2021, so a concept was drawn up for a UK based sea-kayaking expedition for Cadet Force Adult Volunteers. Within the Royal Air
On the 3rd of September 2021, 3 2nd Lieutenants, 25 Officer Cadets (OCdts) and one Permanent Staff instructor (PSI) from Sheffield and Leeds UOTC of the Yorkshire Officer Training Regiment travelled up to the Lake District for a week of Adventure Training, delivered by 6 coaches from both inside and outside of the regiment, and supported by
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The Exercise was oversubscribed from the start and the senior officer cadet had the unenviable task of getting the right mix of experience and enthusiasm within the crew. With three novices, one qualified competent crew and an ex sea cadet plus the skipper we met our Joint Services Adventure Sail Training Vessel ‘Placuna’ and embarked
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In August 2021, 9 enthusiastic Officer Cadets from the University of London Officers’ Training Corps voyaged from Gosport to the Isles of Scilly and back. With many of the Crew it was their first time on board, so it was a quick process to build their skills up to competent crew level. This proved very
Cockney Sailor XXV 2021 Read More »
After 18 months of very little or no adventure training, Expedition ‘Summit Adventure’ couldn’t have come any sooner! Aimed to provide cadets with an opportunity to undertake adventurous activities and push themselves out of their comfort zone, cadets had the opportunity to undertake the following activities: Abseiling and Rockclimbing. Set in an historic slate mine,
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EX DRAGON DEVIL was a 13-day trip involving 13 young OCdt’s in the Scottish Highlands. It not only allowed its participants to develop their outdoor experience, but also allowed them to gain their Summer Mountain Foundation qualification while creating lifelong friendships. Participants were challenged daily by covering distances of up to 30km per day, while
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After so long stuck in lockdown, with hardly any in-person training, and having had most of last year’s Adventure Training expeditions and all Easter training cancelled, the Officer Cadets were very keen to get going. Exercise Dragon Gold 21 took two groups of six Officer Cadets, two instructors and two support crew from Horton-in-Ribblesdale to
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Dartmouth Regatta is steeped in history, the earliest recorded regatta in Dartmouth was in 1822. There were three sailing races and one six-oared gig race. A military band was recorded as playing out at Dartmouth Castle and a ball took place with 120 in attendance. In 1834 the Dartmouth Regatta was officially formed, when the
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12 London wing RAFAC cadets finally got the chance to swap their computer terminals and urban streets for the good outdoor fresh air of the lake district. Having spent most of 2020 online it was great to see cadets from all round the London Wing, including East Ham, Romford and Balham area get out and
Lakes Adventure 2021 Read More »
In January 2021 the call went out to the Royal Engineers (RE), “Who wants to take part in the RORC Fastnet campaign?” The RE had entered a yacht since the race’s inception in 1925, so it was a fixture on the Sapper’s calendar. The campaign was open to Regular and Reserve. From the initial call,
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Essex army cadet force adventure training Exercise annual camp 2021 23rd July – 4th Aug 2021 During COVID 19, the ACF had become a virtual world, and Adventure training had been put on hold Exercise Annual Camp 2021 has given us the chance to re-launch Adventure training, and with the support of the Ulysses Trust
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Longbenton Air Cadets happily swapped their parade shoes for walking boots to trek as they embarked on their expedition season; leaving their estates behind for the beautiful Northumberland Coastline and striking Cleveland Hills. The 34 cadets were split into eight teams (“bubbles”) as they successfully trekked their way through the parks, forests, moors and beaches;
Artemis MMXXI 2021 Read More »
On the evening of the 26th of February 2020, 5 personnel from HMS King Alfred, the Royal Naval Reserve Unit in Portsmouth set off to the Cairngorms – a mountain range in Scotland. After a long drive and a stopover at Faslane (HMS Clyde), we arrived at the Rothiemurchus Lodge on the 27th February. Health
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
Belizean Adventure Read More »
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
OYT Scotland West Coast Challenge Read More »
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
Stirling Venturer 2017 Read More »
The latest edition of our newsletter is out now. This edition contains: + An introduction to our new Vice Patron, Viscount Chelsea and ambassadors Levison Wood and Tania Noakes + Expedition reports + The Prince of Wales’s Expeditionary Awards 2016 + Our 25th Anniversary Appeal + An update on SPEAR17 Click the Ulysses Trust Newsletter –
Winter Newsletter 2017 Read More »
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.
Ex Northern Bavarian Trek Read More »
In July 2017, 11 cadets and 3 Cadet Force Adult Volunteers from TS Stirling Sea Cadets in Birmingham set off for the adventure of a lifetime in the USA – Exercise Stirling Venturer 2017. The group consisted of six senior cadets from the community side of TS Stirling and five, newly enrolled cadets from Tile Cross Academy.
Birmingham Cadets Visit the USA for the Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge Read More »
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 »
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 »
