This year I was one of the lucky cadets that were selected to attend the Nordic Skiing expedition with Central and East Region Air Cadets.

My week began with my taking a train from Loughborough, Leicestershire to London and then getting across London using the london underground to RAF Northolt. when I arrived, it was time to meet the other cadets from around the UK, we then started our 20 hour coach trip to Zweisel in Germany. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and active week that put the "A" back into Adventure Training. You get the chance to meet lots of great people and learn a new skill for life that i didn't have before.

I would thoroughly recommend to anyone if you are given the opportunity, but be prepared to be physically and mentally challenged as you are out on the ground all day, non-stop! During the week we learnt how to cross country ski for our Bronze Langlauf Award, scaled the Grossen Arber and completed an inter-regional time trial where Regional Blues were up for grabs! The opportunity to gain a Regional Blue doesn't come up that often so you have to do your best and push yourself to achieve the award. Central and East Region gained 4 Regional blues, myself gaining one of them.

This experience wouldn't be made possible without a large staff contribution of both time and effort.

Thanks to everyone who made this experience possible.

Cadet Sergeant Andrew Norman (Aged 16)

1181 (Syston) Squadron