RAF Basic Winter Training - March 2006

By F/Sgt D. Woodworth Surrey Wing ATC
Last Update: 19/05/2006 18:55:21

At 2000 on Friday 24th March 06, 35 cadets and 4 members of staff arrived at RAF Uxbridge. After a brief from the Course IC the cadets were left to an hour or so of 'free time' before lights out.

The Saturday morning had a 0530 reveille with breakfast at 0600. We left the base for London Heathrow airport slightly after 0700 as the coach driver had overslept! After a speedy and efficient check-in we boarded the plane and arrived at Munich airport just after Midday. Civilian coach took us to our Guest Houses (Gasthof) in the picturesque village of Oberammergau on the German/Austrian border. We settled into our accommodation and got a chance to meet the other 8 people staying in our Gasthof. Each one of the 5 houses had 7 cadets one staff member and one RAF ski instructor. We collected our ski equipment from a local shop before having a few hours to have a look around the village at the shops and cafés and socialise with our house group. Saturday evening was a meal for the whole course with all RAF personnel including the Camp Commandant who had organised BWT for the whole 10-week period that it runs each year. Here we received another more detailed brief on the specifics of the week and the itinerary. After dinner there was a bit of free time before bed.

The Sunday was our first day skiing, reveille was 0650 each day for the rest of the course and breakfast was served at 0700. We travelled in house groups by minibus to one of many local ski resorts where the course was divided into people who had and those who hadn't ever skied before. There were three groups of experienced skiers and numerous groups of people that were new to skiing. The groups on average consisted of 7 people to each RAF instructor. Each day skiing took place in the ski groups between 0900 and 1500. Each day on return to the Gasthof each house would have tea and cakes and chat about the day and how they felt it had gone. Each evening we ate out at local restaurants with our houses and on the Thursday evening we ate out as the entire Ski group. On Friday cadets were assessed by the Chief Ski Instructor for their RAF ski proficiency which I believe everybody passed. Friday evening was another group meal at which lots of presentations and awards made, to just about everyone on the course. Saturday morning was breakfast as usual but instead of getting ready to ski we were preparing to return home. We arrived, again by civilian coach at Munich airport around 0900 before having some free time to shop etc. After a quick and easy flight we arrived back at London Heathrow around 1200.

Everybody on the course had a fantastic time and with only 35 cadets from the whole Corps, this was a fantastic opportunity to make new friends.

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