Page 39 - Wish Stream Year of 2017

Once we’d mastered the initial skills
we upped the mileage, taking us
deeper into the beautiful scenery of
the Ardèche gorge. The next 23km
saw us attempt more complicated
skills in order to manoeuvre the boats
in and out of rapids. We then split
the group for more specific coach-
ing in closed-top kayaks as opposed to the open ones we had been using. These kayaks were a lot more unbalanced and trickier to manoeuvre; our capsize drills soon came in handy. Many mem- bers of the team soon found themselves in the ‘stretch’ zone as it became very frustrating when our kayaks kept pointing any direction except the way we were trying to go!
The final days were spent recapping our skills and testing ourselves in more challenging waters such as the chutes that went over each of the weirs in the downstream section of our jour- ney. Amongst the kayaking, there was plenty of opportunity to enjoy a picnic of French bread and cheese, swim in
the river, or clamber up onto some of the low- lying rocks lining the banks and get a better view of the incredible scenery.
A final barbeque by the picturesque Pont D’Arc rounded off what was a very enjoyable AT trip, in which we all learnt a new skill and tested our- selves in a beautiful setting.
The next 23km saw us attempt more complicated skills...
Exercise ARNHEM CADET
“Ammunition exhausted...God save the King”
- Last radio message from the British paratroopers on Arnhem Bridge
On Friday 2nd June 2017, 21 Platoon deployed to the Netherlands on EX ARN- HEM CADET. Accompanied by former Old
College Commander and current Deputy Head of War Studies at RMAS, Lt Col (Retd) McCutch- eon, the Officer Cadets and Directing Staff of 21 Platoon travelled to Arnhem. Here they would conduct a Battlefield Education study exercise on Operation MARKET GARDEN, particularly focusing on the actions which took place during September 1944.
After driving to Arnhem, day one consisted of four stands, each of which was introduced by a small group of Officer Cadets who had
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