EXERCISE COCKNEY JERBOA

Exercise Cockney Jerboa is the annual mountaineering course run by the OTC. It is open to all cadets and no previous mountaineering experience is required. On successful completion of the course, cadets are awarded the military qualification of Summer Mountain Proficiency (SMP). This is the first rung on the ladder to becoming a fully fledged Mountain Leader, which is a worldwide qualification.

This year’s course was run in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. It involved some theory training prior to five arduous days high in the mountains, experiencing a variety of terrain and climatic conditions. Navigation and leadership are the main themes of the week but all aspects of mountaineering are covered, such as; emergency procedures, use of a compass, walking on a bearing, personal administration, pacing, timing, walking skills and campsite selection. One night is spent camping and the remainder in a centrally located training camp.

It is not all hard work and all of the cadets that participated also enjoyed a variety of social activities and the use of a ‘state of the art’ indoor climbing wall nearby, not to mention the bowling alley, go kart racing, cinema and numerous hostelries that offer fine food and drink.

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