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.