Page 75 - QDG Year of 2022 CREST

Ex Bavarian Eagle was a Multi-Activity Adventure Training exercise in Wertach, Bavaria, Germany. B Sqn QDG deployed 15 participants on the Expedition to test soldiers in a challenging environ- ment whilst fostering team ethos and spirit. Over a 10-day period, soldiers took part in hill walking, kayaking and Klettersteig in order to test character and build cohesion. Alongside the day’s activity, the soldiers threw themselves at the Bavarian way of life and became acquainted with the local beer gardens. Further afield, day trips to Munich and Kempten allowed the soldiers to further immerse themselves in German culture.
Kayaking
The first day on the water
was aimed at a complete
beginner, the instructor
started on land and talked
through the equipment we
would be using. We then
progressed onto the water
where we learnt basic strokes
and how to escape the
kayak in the event of rolling.
The instructor was excellent
at bringing on beginners to a
good standard of paddling in
a short space of time ready
for day two which took place
on a fast-flowing river instead of a lake. Some soldiers struggled with rolling under the water and showed panic when exiting the kayak, but it was good to see them develop and learn how to control this fear as the day went on.
Klettersteig
The first day was spent learning the basics of climbing. It was an inform- ative day which covered basic knot tying, abseiling and belaying. The climbing was technical and there was something for all abilities. Climbing was a great mech- anism for teaching soldiers
ways in which to overcome and manage fear in a relaxed setting and allowed for plenty of opportunity for coaching. On our second day we travelled an hour and a half to one of the best Klettersteig routes in the region. This was unani-
A cultural afternoon...
mously the most popular activity; it was great adventure for the group.
Hill Walking
Hill walking provided an opportunity for soldiers to add quality mountain days to their logbook. Each day there was a summit of a local mountain (weather dependent). The days lasted around 5 hours and covered between 10 and 20km. Hill Walking provided an excellent opportunity to mentor and develop navi- gation.
B Sqn hope to return to Bavaria in July
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
73
Hill Walking provided an excellent opportunity to mentor and develop navigation
2023.
TC
Long way up
Long way down