What you need to know
All members of the Army, including Reserves, have access to paid Adventurous Training opportunities.
Adventurous Training is designed to take individuals outside of their comfort zone, using the Adventurous Training Leadership and Resilience programme (ALeRT) to develop:
- leadership
- resilience
- coping strategies
- decision making
- teamwork
- physical fitness and courage
With this comes an enormous sense of achievement and camaraderie through tackling challenges together and helping each other. A renewed sense of self determination makes for better soldiers and enables better lifestyle decisions.
Adventurous Training (AT) is on duty military training and makes a vital contribution to Leadership Development and Personal Resilience training in the Army. There are 10 AT activities on offer:
- offshore sailing
- sub aqua diving
- caving
- canoeing and kayaking
- mountaineering
- skiing
- mountain biking
- gliding
- parachuting and paragliding
The Army Adventurous Training Group trains over 12000 service personnel a year on courses held at thirteen different Adventurous Training Wings situated in England, Scotland, Wales, Germany and Cyprus. They range from Foundation level to Instructor, are free at the point of delivery and are easily booked through the Online Booking System (OBS) which can be accessed through any personal mobile device.
The Army mounts over 1200 AT expeditions every year to a very wide range of exciting countries across the world using the experience and qualifications gained on Courses. Recent expeditions have summited Everest, trekked in Nepal, skied across Antarctica, ski mountaineered on Baffin Island, climbed in South America, sailed around the world, parachuted in California and climbed, dived and skied all over Europe. In addition, another 10000 service personnel gain a Foundation qualifications whilst taking part in an expedition.
What you need to do
All units will have a trained Unit Adventurous Training Officer who is responsible to the Commanding Officer for the Unit Adventurous Training Plan. This plan will present opportunities for individuals to participate in Adventurous Training Expeditions and Courses.
There is also enormous scope for the determined and motivated to drive their own development within Adventurous Training and seize the amazing opportunities on offer, which would be very expensive outside the Army.
Many Adventurous Training activities are mirrored as Sport in the Army and this provides a further development opportunity where individuals will receive additional support and coaching. An additional benefit is that a significant number of Adventurous Training qualifications are recognised National Governing Body awards which endure for a lifetime.
All the essential information required for course applications and planning and taking part in expeditions can be found at Group: ArmyAT | Defence Connect (mod.uk)
What you need to know
All members of the Royal Navy, including Reserves, have access to paid Adventurous Training opportunities.
Adventurous Training (AT) is core military training which adds unique value to both the Service and the personnel within it. A phrase often used when describing AT is ‘subjecting people to risk in a controlled environment’. The idea of taking someone out of their comfort zone, doing challenging physical outdoor activities they would not normally do, has proved incredibly popular for both staff and managers alike. It develops resilience, teamwork, leadership and other personal qualities It can also be extremely enjoyable and a real antidote for those personnel who are undertaking long and arduous operational tours (often described as decompression).
Everyone is entitled to complete 5 days of AT each year.
There are 9 core AT activities which are listed in JSP 419: AT in the UK Armed Forces:
- offshore sailing
- sub aqua diving
- mountaineering
- mountain biking
- kayaking
- caving
- skiing
- parachuting
- gliding/paragliding
The Navy has created an additional 6 ‘Challenging Activities’ (see BR 51 Vol 3). These are activities which are more readily accessible, may be conducted at shorter notice and for shorter periods of time. These include:
- dinghy sailing
- low level trekking
- low level mountain biking
- stand up paddle boarding
- the Naval Indoor Climbing Wall Scheme
- road cycling
To support both Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel, three teams of highly qualified AT instructors are based in each main naval base, and their role is to oversee AT in their regions and most importantly to supply bespoke packages of AT/Challenging Activities to operational units around the world.
Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel can also use the popular Naval Outdoor Centre Germany. It is based in a former 4* hotel in the beautiful village of Bad Hindelang (near Sonthofen) in Bavaria. It runs seasonal activities all year-round for up to 60 people at a time.
What you need to do
To take part, speak to your Sports Officer or PT staff.
What you need to know
All members of the RAF, including Reserves, have access to paid Adventurous Training opportunities.
Adventurous Training (AT) contributes to operational capability and encourages leadership at all levels. Alongside physical training and sport, it helps to develop fortitude, rigour and initiative, while offering respite from work and other pressures.
AT takes people beyond their comfort zone to develop their courage and decision-making. This brings a sense of achievement and camaraderie from tackling challenges together and supporting one another, along with a feeling of self-determination that builds confidence and enables better decisions at work and in wider life.
There are 2 AT schemes available to RAF personnel: the Joint Services Adventurous Training Scheme (JSAT) and the RAF Adventurous Personal Development Training Scheme (APDT).
JSAT consists of 9 AT activities:
- canoeing/kayaking
- caving
- gliding
- mountaineering
- mountain biking
- offshore sailing
- parachuting/paragliding
- skiing
- sub aqua diving
Besides personal development, JSAT offers the opportunity for personnel to train as AT instructors.
APDT allows those same 9 AT activities to be conducted on an RAF-led basis via either the centrally organised EAGLES scheme of UK and overseas interventions delivered by the Robson Resilience Centres or by Station led interventions under the Commanding Officer. Under APDT, teams may plan their own expeditions, in accordance with APDT aims or elect to participate as groups or individuals in the centralised EAGLES scheme
What you need to do
To take part, speak to your Sports Officer or PT staff.
For the EAGLES scheme you can apply online by going to the eagles sharepoint site and then clicking on the particular scheme you're interested in or speak to your Station Force Development Officer or Physical Training Instructor.
