I think this must have been Exeter UOTC 12th year of conducting adventure training in the Dolomites, for me my 7th with EUOTC and my 9th in total which amounts to 23 weeks in the Dolomites This is all thanks to my old mate Garry Mason who, back in 2015 as the second in command …
In a challenging 6-day expedition along the river Harkan in Sweden, twelve members of Cambridge and London University Air Squadrons put their canoeing skills to the test, completing the foundational canoeing qualification and showcasing their survival abilities. Facing temperatures fluctuating between 0 to 12 degrees Celsius and occasional morning fog, the group embarked on a …
Paddling Bear 2023 Read More »
In September, Southampton University Officer Training Corps (SUOTC) departed on an adventurous training exercise in Tyrol, Austria. Our team conducted a hut-to-hut hiking expedition from the 11th to the 19th of September. We chose the challenging Berlina High Trail route. The expedition aimed to push us as officer cadets beyond our comfort zone and discover …
Tiger Bergjager 2023 Read More »
From the 1st – 9th September 2023, 12 Officer Cadets from the Northumbrian Universities Officer Training Corps (NUOTC), alongside a Ranger from 2nd Royal Irish and 3 Instructors, embarked on Exercise Northern Julische Alpine II (Ex NJA II) – a mountaineering expedition across Triglav National Park, Slovenia. Following the success of a similar expedition the …
Northern Julische Alpine 23 2023 Read More »
At 3am on the 14th of August, 11 Officer Cadets & Staff from Cambridge UOTC left Cambridge Army Reserve Centre and headed for Ex DOLOMITES BLUE: a two-week rock climbing and via ferrata adventurous training expedition in the Italian Alps. We arrived at Dover in the early hours of Monday morning and landed in Calais …
Dragon Dolomites Blue 2023 Read More »
Day one began very early departure from our base at Falklands House. We met our other instructor Daniel Bucknole, who was a perfect addition to the Exped team with previous careers in mountain rescue and the RAF. Right after landing, we met plain clothes Gendarmerie who enabled us to fast-track customs. We were then off on …
Tiger Atlas 9/23 2023 Read More »
Exercise Dragon Czech Blue saw eight members of CUOTC embark on a climbing and via ferrata expedition to the north of the Czech Republic, embracing unfamiliar rock surfaces and pushing the boundaries of Army adventurous training, becoming the first climbing expedition to the Czech Republic. Indeed, AT has been a particularly prominent feature of the …
Dragon Czech Blue 2023 Read More »
Ex Sweden Dragon Blue Conducted during Cambridge OTCs jam-packed summer of AT expeditions, Ex Sweden Dragon Blue, organised by alumni Captain Loades-Bannon, along with WO2 Taylor and 7 Officer Cadets, embarked upon the challenge of completing a 245km segment of the infamous Kungsleden or “King’s Trail”. The first hurdle for us all was the 3-day …
Dragon Sweden Blue 2023 Read More »
Following the completion of their challenging Annual Deployment Exercise (ADX), officer cadets from Cambridge UOTC left Cambridge Army Reserve Centre at 3am 9th July and headed for Ex CHAMONIX BLUE: a multi-sport, six-day adventurous training expedition in the French Alps. We arrived at Dover in the early hours of Sunday morning and landed in Calais …
Dragon Caple Blue 2023 Read More »
The aims of the expedition were to qualify 10 medically ratified personnel in the Regiment in the Summer Mountain Foundation course, and to enable 2 OCdts to gain 6 Quality Mountain Days, which can count towards their next qualification. It was a great success with all 10 participants achieving the qualification they were assessed at, …
Triglav Climb 23 2023 Read More »
Over the summer 4 OCdts from ULOTC and 1 from GUOTC took part in Ex Highland Express 23, sailing through the Hebrides in Scotland. The crew sailed through stunning waters experiencing some challenging conditions that put their individual and combined skills to the test. These OCdts, some of which were novices, developed their Offshore Sailing …
Highland Express 23 2023 Read More »
Over the course of a week in August, 105 Regiment Royal Artillery (The Scottish and Ulster Gunners) and Exeter Officers’ Training Corps deployed to the Shetland Islands on Ex Tammie Norrie, an Adventurous Training (AT) expedition. Over the seven days, the three groups aimed to achieve one of the following qualifications; Rock Climbing Foundation Course …
Northern Tammie-Norrie 2023 Read More »
“Teamwork is certainly put to the test when living, sleeping and working within 34 foot of each other for a week” OCdt Oliver Irons In September 2023 five officer cadets and a member of staff from Northumbrian Universities Officer Training Corps (NUOTC) embarked on Exercise Highland Express. This military adventure training exercise is an annual …
Northern Highland Express 2023 Read More »
On 10 August 2023 eleven members of East Midlands Universities Officer Trg Corps (EMUOTC) began their journey to Wales in order to experience 8 days of mountain biking. For some in the group, this was their first time mountain biking on technical terrain, while for others it provided an opportunity for them to hone their …
Dragon Wales EMU 23 2023 Read More »
After finishing their training year at EMUOTC a group of Officer Cadets conducted an Adventure Training expedition in Snowdonia where they conducted training in scrambling, single and multi-pitch climbing. AIM. The expedition’s aim was to train and introduce Officer Cadets to single and multi-pitch rock climbing, alongside scrambling. This aimed to enhance their mental and …
Dragon Summit EMU 23 2023 Read More »
OCdts from Birmingham University Officers’ Training Corps (BUOTC) have recently been undertaking a Single-Pitch Climbing foundation course in the Dolomites. Over 10 days, the group learnt the necessary skills to further develop their climbing repertoire, all within the scenic backdrop of the Italian Alps. Starting the week off as beginners, the OCdts were introduced to …
Dragon Slim Scale 23 Read More »
From 8th to 17th August 2023, the North West Officer Training Regiment (NWOTR) embarked on Ex Northern Alpine, a klettersteig (Via-Ferrata) expedition in Bavaria. The Bavarian landscape, with its rugged terrain and spectacular vistas, set the stage for a new experience that blended physical challenges with personal growth for us. For many of us, it …
Northern Alpine 23 2023 Read More »
Introduction: Ex WYVERN MIDGARD TRAVELLER provided the opportunity for individuals to participate in mountaineering and canoeing in the hills and fjords in the Setesdal Region of Norway as well as having the opportunity to attain a Summer Mountaineering Foundation (SMF) qualification and to deliver leadership and resilience training to OCdts and staff through a mixed …
Wyvern Midgard Traveller 2023 Read More »
