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| What do servicemen learn from skiing? | What do servicemen learn from skiing? |
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| A member of the RAF has been killed in an avalanche while skiing as part in "adventurous training" in Germany. But how does skiing teach people to win a war? | A member of the RAF has been killed in an avalanche while skiing as part in "adventurous training" in Germany. But how does skiing teach people to win a war? |
| Skiing, sub-aqua diving, caving, mountaineering and freefall parachuting. It's not the usual list of training that comes with a job, but for many members of the British military it's part of their "adventurous training" (AT). | Skiing, sub-aqua diving, caving, mountaineering and freefall parachuting. It's not the usual list of training that comes with a job, but for many members of the British military it's part of their "adventurous training" (AT). |
| It's additional to formal military training and the activities are usually voluntary, but it is training that is not to be entered lightly and comes with risks. So what exactly does it aim to achieve? | It's additional to formal military training and the activities are usually voluntary, but it is training that is not to be entered lightly and comes with risks. So what exactly does it aim to achieve? |
| The MoD says it's about developing leadership skills, promoting teamwork and getting fit. It says it's challenging but that toughens people up for the "rigours of operations" and hopefully develops "moral and physical courage". Those who have done it say it's about facing your fears and making you a "better person". | The MoD says it's about developing leadership skills, promoting teamwork and getting fit. It says it's challenging but that toughens people up for the "rigours of operations" and hopefully develops "moral and physical courage". Those who have done it say it's about facing your fears and making you a "better person". |
| The MOD says it always carries out risk assessments | The MOD says it always carries out risk assessments |
| The RAF, Army and Royal Navy are all responsible for their own AT and it's encouraged by the military, says Amyas Godfrey, a former army officer and instructor at the Army Foundation College, which trains new recruits. | The RAF, Army and Royal Navy are all responsible for their own AT and it's encouraged by the military, says Amyas Godfrey, a former army officer and instructor at the Army Foundation College, which trains new recruits. |
| Speaking about the army, he says it continually wants to train people and AT is a "different way" of challenging servicemen and women. Those who do it can gain extra qualifications. | Speaking about the army, he says it continually wants to train people and AT is a "different way" of challenging servicemen and women. Those who do it can gain extra qualifications. |
| Adventure training takes place all over the world, but there are three main centres in Germany, Cyprus and Anglesey, north Wales. A lot of the activities are what many people do in their lives, like skiing, mountain biking and canoeing, says Mr Godfrey | |
| But risk is involved, as last week's death shows. It was at the centre in the Bavarian Alps, Germany, that 27 British servicemen were spending a week back-country ski training when the RAF serviceman died in an avalanche. Two others were rescued. | But risk is involved, as last week's death shows. It was at the centre in the Bavarian Alps, Germany, that 27 British servicemen were spending a week back-country ski training when the RAF serviceman died in an avalanche. Two others were rescued. |
| Skydiving accidents have also led to deaths and in 2004 five British servicemen had to be rescued from a remote cave system in Mexico while on adventurous training. | Skydiving accidents have also led to deaths and in 2004 five British servicemen had to be rescued from a remote cave system in Mexico while on adventurous training. |
| 'Confidence building' | 'Confidence building' |
| In 2005, the Army was also heavily criticised over the death of a 17-year-old trainee soldier who drowned while caving in a notoriously dangerous pool in the Brecon Beacons. As a result the Army modified its risk assessment and appointed an Inspector of Adventurous Training. | In 2005, the Army was also heavily criticised over the death of a 17-year-old trainee soldier who drowned while caving in a notoriously dangerous pool in the Brecon Beacons. As a result the Army modified its risk assessment and appointed an Inspector of Adventurous Training. |
| In total 10 people have died on adventurous training in the last 10 years, according to official MoD figures. It would not released numbers for those who have been injured. | In total 10 people have died on adventurous training in the last 10 years, according to official MoD figures. It would not released numbers for those who have been injured. |
| A spokeswoman for the RAF says it is "a very small number" and stressed that safety is key and risk assessments are always carried out. When an incident does occur, a service investigation always looks into the circumstances surrounding it. | A spokeswoman for the RAF says it is "a very small number" and stressed that safety is key and risk assessments are always carried out. When an incident does occur, a service investigation always looks into the circumstances surrounding it. |
| Guardsman Love has been skiing, sailing and parachuting | Guardsman Love has been skiing, sailing and parachuting |
| But Wing Commander Julie Parry says people expect an element of danger and such training is "integral" to development. | But Wing Commander Julie Parry says people expect an element of danger and such training is "integral" to development. |
| "It's about the unpredictability of what might happen, you have to test yourself," she says. | "It's about the unpredictability of what might happen, you have to test yourself," she says. |
| According to the RAF, it aims for 15% of personnel to take part in at least one day of adventurous training every year, which equates to 6000 people. But operations take priority, it adds. | According to the RAF, it aims for 15% of personnel to take part in at least one day of adventurous training every year, which equates to 6000 people. But operations take priority, it adds. |
| "If you are going to Afghanistan, it's important to know the harsh environment in which you have to operate, to cope without water, know how much you need to carry, what the temperature is like," says Wing Cdr Parry. | "If you are going to Afghanistan, it's important to know the harsh environment in which you have to operate, to cope without water, know how much you need to carry, what the temperature is like," says Wing Cdr Parry. |
| "It is mainly related to roles people have to fulfil in the military, but it's about team building, leadership and a high level of fitness." | "It is mainly related to roles people have to fulfil in the military, but it's about team building, leadership and a high level of fitness." |
| She says AT has always been associated with military and "guys have been hiking up hills for hundreds of years". | She says AT has always been associated with military and "guys have been hiking up hills for hundreds of years". |
| 'Outside comfort zone' | 'Outside comfort zone' |
| But it's now something that has been adopted in the civilian world, with many companies taking staff on such team-building courses. Most commercial enterprises operating similar training are based on the military model and are initiated by ex-military personnel, says Wing Cdr Parry. | But it's now something that has been adopted in the civilian world, with many companies taking staff on such team-building courses. Most commercial enterprises operating similar training are based on the military model and are initiated by ex-military personnel, says Wing Cdr Parry. |
| Guardsman Anthony Love, 23, of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, has taken part in AT three times. He has spent six weeks downhill ski racing in France, two weeks doing a parachuting course in Germany and been sailing in the UK. | Guardsman Anthony Love, 23, of 1st Battalion Scots Guards, has taken part in AT three times. He has spent six weeks downhill ski racing in France, two weeks doing a parachuting course in Germany and been sailing in the UK. |
| He says adventure training has made him a "better person" - and that's after an accident resulted in him coming off the ski slopes with a suspected broken neck. It turned out to be torn ligaments. He says the incident was "a bit scary", but training is always "controlled risk". | He says adventure training has made him a "better person" - and that's after an accident resulted in him coming off the ski slopes with a suspected broken neck. It turned out to be torn ligaments. He says the incident was "a bit scary", but training is always "controlled risk". |
| "They try to put you outside your comfort zone, it's team work, you get to learn new skills," says Guardsman Love. "It's a stepping zone to facing your fears, it lets you see how you cope under stress. | "They try to put you outside your comfort zone, it's team work, you get to learn new skills," says Guardsman Love. "It's a stepping zone to facing your fears, it lets you see how you cope under stress. |
| "It's not compulsory, but it's good to get out and do it. It's confidence building - it brings you out as a better person." | "It's not compulsory, but it's good to get out and do it. It's confidence building - it brings you out as a better person." |
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| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |