October 8, 2024
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On 18 July cadets (pictured above) and Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAV) from 2nd Battalion The Highlanders Army Cadet Force (ACF) left Annual Camp 2024 in Warcop for Germany on Exercise Venturer Bavaria 24.
Earlier in the year 12 lucky cadets from across the Battalion had been selected to go to the southern German state on a week-long adventurous training and cultural trip. The expedition was designed to challenge cadets mentally and physically, develop them as inclusive citizens and educate them about military history.
The Breitachklamm Gorge.
The first day of activities saw the group visiting the incredible Breitachklamm Gorge (Central Europe’s deepest), then climbing up to 20 metres high amongst the trees on a high ropes course and down a thrilling downhill coaster.
The high ropes at Breitachklamm Gorge.
On day two cadets had an amazing time scaling the Grünten. At the summit they were greeted with stunning panoramic views of the Allgäu Alps and learned about the Gebirgsjäger monument, dedicated to German mountain troopers killed in World War One.
Cadets climbed the Grünten mountain.
The following day the cadets visited the Alpsee and the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle. The latter inspired the Disney World Castle and also featured in the movies The Monuments Men, The Great Escape and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Putting Neuschwanstein Castle into perspective.
On their penultimate day in Bavaria cadets paid a visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Dachau was one of the first camps built by the Nazis in March 1933. Over 188,000 people would pass through the camp gates. It was liberated by American troops in April 1945.
The cadets visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.
For their final Bavarian adventure, cadets bravely walked the natural tightrope that is the Iselergipfel Ridge. The vertigo-inducing route took on the peaks Iseler (1876m) and Kühgundkopf (1907m). On the way down the cadets were serenaded by three men dressed in traditional lederhosen playing the alpine horn.
Cadets tackled the Iselergipfel Ridge.
Alpine Horn players.
This is the first overseas trip the Battalion has organised since the COVID-19 pandemic. The cadets who participated in the event were just new recruits when face-to-face training was cancelled and CFAVs had to deliver the cadet experience digitally. These young people have continued to develop their teamwork skills, resilience and empathy through these experiences. None of this would have been possible without the tireless fundraising efforts of the cadets involved and the generosity of the Army Cadet Charitable Trust (ACCT) and The Ulysses Trust.
The beautiful Alpsee lake.
Cadet Corporal Travis Gordon was one of those taking part. He said: “I believe I have left this journey being more independent as a result of preparations for expeditions, as well as becoming more proficient in conducting expeditions. In addition to this, I have been able to improve my German language skills.”
Cadets enjoying a cable car ride.
