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IN NO W


ith harsh winter conditions in Scotland, members of the RAF Mountain Rescue


Service have been preparing in earnest by training on ice covered waterfalls and deep snow covered mountains in Norway. Warrant Officer Alfie Jones of RAF Valley reports.


To ensure that ‘MR troops’ are fully capable of operating in such severe conditions whilst also implementing all the safety aspects involved working on a wall of sheer ice, it is paramount that team members are subjected to very realistic training and instruction before the onset of winter.


Mountain Rescue Service Chief Instructor, Flight Sergeant Jocky Marr, who keeps a watchful eye on proceedings said:


“The weather conditions we train our troops in whilst in Norway are as severe as those we expect in the mountains of Scotland. Working in temperatures below minus 20ºC with wind chill is not uncommon during the winter periods and the more training we do the more proficient we will be in conducting rescues back in the UK and overseas.”


To enable team members to operate competently and effectively, the Mountain Rescue Service conduct winter training annually. This training involves snow or ice climbing from the easiest of gradients and cutting steps with boots and ice axes, to a grade 5 ice climb which requires the use of ice axes, ropes, crampons and piton screws.


Training with the RAF M


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