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Skiing, 'Northern Alpine Warrior', France, Apr 2011, ID 1076

Liverpool University Officer Training Corps

25 hours on a coach, students suffering from travel sickness and a broken air conditioning unit resulting in the coach reaching a roasting 33 degrees during the journey. This is how 40 Officer Cadets (OCdts) from Liverpool University Officers’ Training Corps (LUOTC) were welcomed into the French Alps ski resort of Tignes.

The expedition, Northern Alpine Warrior 2011, was organised by expedition leader and ski instructor, Officer Cadet (OCdt) Lizzy Millwater. Miss Millwater, along with 5 other military ski instructors who accompanied the expedition, successfully ensured 23 OCdts learnt to ski and achieved the military level of Basic Ski Proficiency[2]. For those OCdts who had spent a significant time skiing previously, 7 were awarded the Advanced Ski Proficiency and OCdts who had already completed the Basic Ski Proficiency from attendance on previous years LUOTC ski trips partook in the Ski Touring Proficiency course – a gruelling mix of traversing uphill on skis, winter skills and downhill skiing. The ski groups were small, ranging from 5 to 9 OCdts to ensure individual coaching in technique could occur. The small groups were imperative to those completing the Basic Ski Proficiency as learning how to ski is both daunting and dangerous if correct technique is not enforced!

The University Officer training corps (UOTC) is a training scheme which takes intakes of potential army officers who are at university. Officer Cadets are not required to join the military after university and whilst classed as military personnel, are free to leave the UOTC whenever they want. Training includes aspect of military doctrine and tactics, as well as adventurous training, under which this expedition was classed. Whilst skiing is considered by many to be a leisure activity, LUOTC used the medium of skiing to learn new motor skills, highlight the importance of effective leadership and group management in the cold environment. Parallels can be drawn to situations when external assistance is not always at hand when a problem arises and problem solving has to occur in situ.

Adventurous training is an important aspect of military training because it is develops leadership and the necessary qualities to enhance the performance of military personnel during peace and war. Officer Cadets who choose not to join the military after graduation are likely to become leaders within their own workplace and therefore the skills learnt from the UOTC and from adventurous training are considered highly transferable.

The officer cadets stayed in self catering apartments for the duration of the expedition. They were given cash in lieu of rations which meant that one of the challenges faced by all officer cadets was living, cooking and cleaning together. Undoubtedly the greatest challenge were to those officer cadets who had no previous ski experience, but under the excellent tutelage of Ocdt Hernshaw (an instructor from Sheffield UOTC) and Sergeant Harden from the Royal Military Police were by the end of the week confidently skiing down red slopes. Skill progression was so rapid for some OCdts, who have shown considerable skill in their ability and are keen to complete military ski instructor courses, which will enable them to instruct fellow OCdts on future ski expeditions.

Ski groups who had previous experience of skiing (two groups of Basic Ski Proficiency, Ski Touring Proficiency and Advanced Ski Proficiency) enjoyed skiing in both the resorts of Tignes and Val d’Isere which gave groups huge variety in the types of slope available.

Officer Cadet Rutter said “I have learnt many new skills during this trip, the standard of instruction has been fantastic, I want to progress to instructor and hope to contribute something back to the Unit in the future.”

Skiing in Val d’Isere had not been planned, however due to a misunderstanding of the piste map on the first day, one of the groups ended up stranded in Val d’Isere, requiring a very expensive taxi back to Tignes. Miss Millwater decided the most appropriate course of action was to upgrade the lift passes, which allowed groups to ski in both resorts.

Of course, on the last day there was time to show off in the ski jump park, with some OCdts getting considerable height but inevitably forgetting to lean forward upon landing, resulting in some impressive crashes.

Funding received from the Ulysses trust meant that the overall cost of the expedition was significantly reduced. This increased the accessibility of the expedition to officer cadets because everybody felt they could afford the upfront contribution to the cost of the expedition, with the knowledge that they would receive a portion of the cost back in Military Training Days – a payment given to military personnel for attendance to training.

All of the Officer Cadets who went on the expedition thoroughly enjoyed it, gained experience of skiing and are truly grateful to the Ulysses trust for their contribution to the funding.  The cadets who have advanced their qualifications will move on to instructor qualification, enabling them to instruct on subsequent expeditions and training cadres.

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Home   Last updated 01/08/2011 .   Copyright © Ulysses Trust 2003 - 2010

Northern Alpine Warrior/Group Photo Northern Alpine Warrior/Ocdt Nikki Reid getting "Air time" during Basic Ski Proficiency Northern Alpine Warrior/Ocdt Sam Rutter demonstrating how to get "Air time" to the advanced ski proficiency group Northern Alpine Warrior/Ocdt Sarah Threlkeld completing her first blue run Northern Alpine Warrior/Ocdt Threlkeld, 2Lt Coomber, Ocdt Molloy and Ocdt Hopkins - exhausted after skiing Northern Alpine Warrior/Ocdt's d'Arch Smith, Chatburn and Reid disembarking a ski lift