Times have seldom been so busy for 104th Regiment Royal Artillery, a statement echoed I’d imagine across the whole of the reserve forces. With a constant number of troops deployed in operations, as well as supporting the provision of a MUAS (Mini Unmanned Air System) assets on training exercises in both the UK and abroad, we demand a lot from our soldiers. Focusing the efforts of our training has become more important than ever and playing a strong part in this are the benefits gained from Adventurous Training.
With the target group being the junior soldiers in the Regiment, it was concluded that a multi-activity exercise would perhaps be of most value. This also allowed us to make use of the skills of our own instructors. There is currently a modest pool of qualification but something that we are working to develop and are indeed already showing real progress. Adding to the experience was the thought that it should be an overseas expedition which brought about the easy decision to book spaces in the fantastically well-appointed Haus Magnus, one of the Multi-Activity Lodges run by the Adventurous Training Group (Germany) with Bavaria and the nearby Austrian Alps providing a wealth of high class training venues.
10 young soldiers took part in the expedition with a further 5 from the Regiment delivering the training and administration. An elaborate matrix balanced our resources with the ultimate output being in putting the guys and girls through: 2 days of rock climbing, 2 days of klettersteig, 2 days of trekking, 1 day of kayaking and 1 day of white water rafting.
For our newly qualified climbing instructor being given groups of inexperienced soldiers to take climbing in unfamiliar locations was a significant challenge but the reports from his students returning from the crags of either Fussen or Klingenbichle were that he did a great job. That’s not to say that they hadn’t been scared ! Having to learn to deal with such experiences is one of the main reasons for being there.
Klettersteig routes also tested our students in a vertical arena. Travel along cliffs and ridges is made by progressing alongside a steel cable fixed to the mountain at short intervals. Where steep, rungs, steps or ladders sometimes provide aid although on the harder routes this isn’t always the case. The journey would typically take a couple of hours, a considerable amount of time to be exposed to so much exposure. You’re always clipped to the cable but for those new to the activity this lifeline feels barely sufficient.
2 days trekking in the Allgau Alps with an overnight stay in the Fiderepass Mountain Hut proved a novel experience for the students; all were quite amused that they’d slept in one long bunk. The physical nature of walking in the high mountains was more than offset by the beautiful surroundings made even more special on the first day by being on the right side of a cloud inversion and up above the clouds. Thick mist on the second day mightn’t have been so pretty but created a good environment for teaching navigation.
Rounding off the expedition were a couple of days on, or perhaps in, the water depending on ability - a morning introduction to kayaking on flat water before an afternoon trip down a section of the Iller. Whereas our instructors had looked calm and in control throughout, a days guided rafting had us all quite literally in the same boat - a boat that was bouncing quite alarmingly through the white water of the River Inn.
So over the 10 days of training I think that the aim was achieved. We’ve challenged our soldiers and they’ve grown with the experience. They’ll doubtless be challenged again, perhaps in the near future and I’d like to think that during our expedition in Bavaria we’ve helped them prepare for it.
Maj Huw Gilbert, 2IC 104 Regt RA and OIC EX DRAGON ALPENGLOW 2013
