Page 166 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

CADETS LEARNT TO OVERCOME THEIR FEARS AND TRULY ACHIEVED THINGS THEY DIDN’T CONSIDER POSSIBLE
Well rested the team, then spent a gruelling day trekking to the summit of Wank at 1780m the highest peak of the trip; the weather was poor but this didn’t deter the cadets who remained in good spirits throughout. Physically and mentally this was the toughest day for all; however the sense of achievement at the summit meant the hard climb up was quickly forgotten.
On the nal day cadets headed up past Neuschwanstein Castle, over the Marienbrucke and to the Tegelberg summit (1708m). The views were stunning across the Alps and certainly worth the climb up.
It was a challenging week but was certainly enjoyed by all. Cadets learnt to overcome their fears and truly achieved things they didn’t consider possible.
Also in the Easter break was the annual exchange with Orkney ACF, this year it was the turn of Bucks cadets to travel up to the Orkney Isles. 17 cadets and 4 adults made the long journey up to a beautiful, but wild part of the United
Kingdom where they were surprised at differ- ences in the daily like of an Orcadian compared to their own. The trip consisted of three
main parts: OP
Re ect, Expedition and Cultural Interest. Additionally, cadets took part in climbing during the trip. Cultural interest of the trip included the Ring of Brodgar, part of an enormous prehistoric ritual complex that incor- porated the Stones o’ Stenness and Skara Brae, the remains of Orkney’s nest Neolithic settlement. The expedition across Orkney’s challenging terrain was certainly the toughest section of the exchange for all participants! Nevertheless cadets preserved and rose to the challenge. The exchange promotes friendships between cadets from extremely different backgrounds, encouraging tolerance and under- standing for others.
Finally in May half-term 25 cadets supported by 5 adults headed across the channel to Belgium as part of a Battle eld tour. The trip started with the Flanders Field museum and a wander around the Menin gate, with some cadets nding names of relatives amongst those engraved on the gate. The day nished at Tyne Cot Cemetery where the sheer number of graves gave them a real understanding of the amount of people who gave their lives in WW1.
Cadets also visited Vimy Ridge and the Canadian memorial and were in awe at the enormity of the structure, spending the afternoon exploring the trench systems, before visiting a German Cemetery. Cadets then consolidated their learnings with a trip to Sanctuary 62 and the Passcheandale museum followed by an afternoon exploring Ypres. Lastly cadets attended the daily service at the Menin Gate and paid their respects for those who had fallen for the freedom they enjoy today.