THE FUN STUFF
DID YOU KNOW ? UAS members take a lead role in organising the annual summer camp and other adventurous training expeditions . So if there ’ s something you want to try out , mention it to your Officer Commanding .
Of course , it ’ s not all about the fun – but mostly it is . Adventurous training also helps build vital skills like leadership , courage and decision making under pressure . The RAF ’ s experienced instructors will be your guides , teachers and guardians ; they ’ ll challenge you to push the limits of bravery and courage and they ’ ll teach you some pretty impressive skills along the way .
MY EXPERIENCE ...
MISHAL FRANCIS , RAFVR , GLASGOW UAS
‘ This is my first UAS summer camp . So far we ’ ve been flying , hiking , climbing and abseiling . We ’ re staying at an RAF base , which has been great fun . We ’ re allowed access to all the base facilities , like the gym , and we get to eat in the Officers ’ Mess , too .
‘ We have a canoeing expedition over the next two weekends and today is our training day . I ’ ve never tried canoeing before so I ’ m really excited . I like the way the instructors teach you here – they ’ ll show us the basics and then say : “ It ’ s your expedition , now you take hold of it .”
‘ From there it ’ s up to us to work together . I think you learn quicker that way because you know that you ’ ll be putting what you ’ ve learnt into action right away . The instructor stays with us all the time and will always step in with advice or help if it ’ s needed .
‘ The UAS brings out the real person in you , the real qualities and skills you have . It ’ s a good mixture of academic and physical activities , so it really helps to be fit . It ’ s loads of fun but it ’ s also prepping us for the challenges coming later in life .’
For microbiology student Lisa Moutrey it ’ s an exhilarating but daunting experience : ‘ I ’ ve done lots of climbs here , but I ’ ve not abseiled before . I didn ’ t know what to do with my legs , where to place them . It ’ s quite scary at the start ; there ’ s a lot of trust involved .’
Just like the real RAF , it ’ s that trust and camaraderie that will get the team through the challenges ahead . And with trails and climbs of up to 9,000 feet , the vie ferrate or ‘ iron ways ’ of the Dolomites will certainly put their courage to the test . ‘ We ’ re all really looking forward to it ,’ enthuses Lisa . ‘ We ’ re going to be doing some mountain biking as well , so it ’ ll be a great trip .’
‘ Adventurous training has real benefits in terms of developing leadership , selfconfidence , self-reliance , all sorts of things . Our UAS recently did a week-long skiing trip in Austria , most of which was funded by the RAF . It was hard work but the team really bonded . You know you can trust people you ’ ve been up a mountain with !’
Rory Cheyne , RAFVR , Cambridge UAS 7