Exercise Drakensberg Duke 2 saw 4 LANCS returning to South Africa for a second year, keen to test itself once again on some of the challenging trails of the Drakensberg Mountains in Kwa-Zulu Natal province, a World Heritage location. The expedition was led by me, Major Nick Kennon, with WO2 Richard Shipton as JSMEL and …
Exercise Northern Drakensberg Duke 2 – 4 Lancs Read More »
This 6-day mountain walking expedition took place in the Tatra mountains of Poland with 9 members of the Army Reserve unit, 208 Field Hospital which is based in Liverpool. The aims and benefits of this type of expedition is to develop individual courage and leadership skills through controlled exposure to risk in a challenging outdoor environment, …
Ex Northern Tatra Serpent – 208 Field Hospital Read More »
The aim of adventure training was to develop through authorised challenging pursuits and within an outdoor environment, leadership and the qualities necessary to enhance the performance of military personnel during peace and war. Our expedition was to take us, a group of twelve novice mountaineers and two instructors of the Royal Yeomanry, from Port de …
Ex Cockney Yeoman Solero – Royal Yeomanry Read More »
It was nothing like I had ever seen before. The poverty, the way of life, it was like I had stepped into a film set, yet it was so surreal. There were children running around the streets, dogs lying in the roads and don’t even get me started on the traffic. It was so incredibly …
Kalokath’s Cadet Venture 2014 – Oldham Hulme Grammar School CCF Read More »
On the 1st of September 2014, 5MI deployed to Morocco for a two week trekking expedition into the Atlas Mountains in conjunction with the Moroccan Army. Although originally this trip was intended for 5MI and the Int Corps Reserves only, it was opened up to the wider Corps. The 14 participants were Lt Col Bavin, …
Ex Northern Phoenix Atlas – 5 MI Bn Read More »
Leeds University Officers’ Training Corps conducted an adventurous training expedition consisting of rock climbing and trekking in the Dolomites in Northern Italy. OCdt Victoria Carbutt takes up the story… Our first full day in Cortina d’Ampezzo consisted of an acclimatisation trek to Tonde de Cianderou from Camping Olympia (SH 1711m), which was to be our …
Ex Northern Dolomites – Leeds University Officers’ Training Corps Read More »
12 cadets and staff from 461 (Chichester) and 2530 (Uckfield) Sqn’s ATC have just returned from a 12 expedition to Switzerland, made possible from a year’s hard fund raising and planning, including lots of generous donations notably the Ulysses Trust and RAF Charitable Trust. The group took the decision to travel by train rather than …
Ex Swiss Adventure 2014 – 2530 (Uckfield) Sqn & 461 (Chichester) Sqn ATC Read More »
This expedition must rank as one of the most successful ever mounted by the Army Cadet Movement. 57 out of 58 participants, in two independent groups and 8 adults and 20 cadets, summited Point Lenana (4,985m) on Mt Kenya. Also a local primary school was given a brand new classroom that was built from scratch. …
Ex Northern Kenyan Venturer – Army Cadet Force & Combined Cadet Force (Army) Read More »
During July 2014, 8 staff and 13 cadets headed for British Columbia, Canada for a 26 day RFCA expedition, supported throughout by the Yorkshire Cadet Trust. It commenced almost 18 months ago with 60+ cadets vying to gain a place on the team. The selection process took place over Easter 2013 (North York Moors) and …
Exercise Northern Rocky Mountain Venturer – Yorkshire ACF and ATC Cadets Read More »
City of Liverpool Sea/Marine Cadets deployed to Holy Island, Anglesey, North Wales from 10-15th August 2014 for Exercise Rip Curl. Prior to the exercise the cadets raised funds to pay for the local purchase of climbing equipment and wet suits (a total cost of £1798). Cadets from the unit carried out two bag packs at local …
Ex Rip Curl 2014 – City of Liverpool Sea Cadets (TS Mersey) Read More »
On Monday 4th August, eight cadets dragged themselves out of bed in the very, very early hours of the morning to board a plane to Oslo. After travelling most of the day we arrived at Haugastol, the hostel which sat at 1000 metres above sea level. We ate like kings and prepared for the days …
Exercise Viking Trek – Morrison’s Academy Combined Cadet Force Read More »
Twenty intrepid Cadets and four adults from Northumbria ACF spent two weeks experiencing working in the jungle environment of Brunei. The pre-exercise training had been conducted at our training centre at Otterburn focussing on team building, tactics, fitness and survival skills, interspersed with surprise meetings with creatures such as spiders and snakes, lizards and scorpions. …
Encounters in the Brunei Jungle – Northumbria Army Cadet Force Read More »
For our 5th annual visit to the Alps with the 1034 (Surbiton) Squadron Air Training Corps, we again chose to go to Arolla in the Vallenois Alps. This is a well known, although remote high mountain centre with the campsite at 1970 metres above sea level. Camping Petit Praz claims to be the highest campsite …
Alps 2014 – 1034 (Surbiton) Squadron Air Training Corps Read More »
After asking the question “How DOES all this kit fit in one rucksack?” it was time for 201 Field Hospital and a few lucky others to embark on an arduous expedition to Romania for 9 days trekking the Transylvanian alps followed by 3 stunning cultural days. We met our guide Florin Banner, an ex-Romanian soldier …
Exercise Northern Fang – 201 Field Hospital Read More »
Norway is stunning in summer with beautiful slab rock mountains and fresh flowing clear water flowing into the fjords. After several winter trips it was a stark contrast and truly magical to see, when compared to snow capped peaks in the winter. After 10 months of planning it was time to take 12 members of …
Ex Northern Curach – 32 Signal Regiment (V) Read More »
The Exercise, attended yearly, provides reservists with expedition training and the opportunity to develop and enhance command, leadership and teamwork skills. The 100 km march is physically demanding, with the reservists being required to complete 30 km, 40 km and 30 km marches on each day of the weekend in the Ypres area of Flanders, …
Exercise Flanders March 2014 – HMS Calliope Read More »
Exercise Drakensberg Duke set off from Battalion HQ early on a Saturday morning to travel by coach to London Heathrow for a night flight to South Africa. In total there were twenty people ranging from the newest Kingsman all the way to the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Jonny Lighten. Ex Drakensberg Duke was the first …
Exercise Northern Drakensberg Duke – 4 Lancs Read More »
