Adventurous Training with UBAS

Adventurous Training with UBAS provides an opportunity for students to participate in activities which are challenging and involve controlled exposure to risk. The training is designed to develop many of the personal attributes and skills vital to the operational capability of the armed forces, including leadership, teamwork, physical fitness, self-reliance, physical and moral courage, initiative and determination.

To facilitate this training, the squadron has a Ground Training Instructor (GTI) who oversees all of the activities. However, a large amount of the planning and organisation isoften left to the students, either individually or in small groups.

Major Expeditions

The squadron typically aims to run between 3 and 4 major week-long expeditions each year, each involving around 15 students. Generally these involve some of the following: skiing; climbing; canoeing; kayaking; sailing; mountaineering and mountain biking.

In past years, members have participated in a multi-activity expeds to Calpe (Spain), skiing expeds, to France and one to Banff (Canada), and also canoeing expeds to Adirondack (NY, USA).

Students also have the opportunity to go abroad through RAF societies they may choose to be involved with, or Air Force wide events such as the RAF Ski and Snowboard Championships. UBAS has sent teams to this for the past several years, usually held in Saalbach (Austria).

Minor Expeditions

Further to this, a number of minor expeditions take place over weekend periods throughout the year. Previous examples of these are hill walking, gorge walking and kayaking. As the squadron is located near to Wales, these minor expeditions typically take place on the Brecon Beacons or in the hills of North Wales.

Increasingly UBAS is attempting to increase the number of one day expeditions it sends, in order for students to fit Adventurous Training with UBAS around their university studies.

Joint Services Adventure Training

In addition to the expeditions run by the squadron, students are eligible to make use of all the adventurous training facilities that are available to regular service personnel. Qualifications can be gained by attending a Joint Services Adventure Training (JSAT) course, which is usually free. Students attending will be taught the necessary techniques for successful and safe instruction in their chosen discipline.