ARMY CADETS TAKE TO THE SLOPES IN PILA, ITALY

Army Cadets from across Northern Ireland had the adventure of a lifetime recently on Exercise CADET SNOW FINN 2026 in Pila – Aosta Valley in Italy.

Adventure training in the cadets is all about challenging yourself and getting outside your comfort zone, and this Exercise was no exception with our beginner and intermediate skiers receiving expert tuition from first class Cadet and Reserve Skiing Instructors.

During the week, the beginner skiers began with snow plough stops and turns and progressed to parallel turns very quickly; they were soon on the slopes with the cadets who had skied before, building confidence and determination with every run. Not even the occasional fall would keep them down!

For the more advanced skiers, it was more about perfecting their techniques, linking turns and achieving the allusive “carve” as they whizzed past the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers as if they were born on the slopes.

As part of the Adventure Training package, the cadets also learned how to read piste maps, assess weather conditions, react to emergency procedures and about the real dangers of avalanche.

The Cadets also got the opportunity to spend an afternoon in the Aosta Valley to experience a bit of Italian culture and way of life where there was plenty of gelato sampled, and a few souvenirs bought to bring back home.

Cadet Sergeant Kyle Patterson from 2^nd NI Army Cadets said, “This has been a big experience for me and a big boost to my confidence. I just want to thank my instructors for all the guidance along the way.”

Both 1^st and 2^nd Battalion, Army Cadet Force would like to thank ACCT UK and the Ulysses Trust for providing funding towards the exercise and are grateful to Exercise Leader, Lieutenant Sean McDaid, their Ski Instructors from 2^nd Battalion ACF, King Edwards School CCF, 2^nd Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment and 157 Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Cadet Force Adult Volunteers who assisted on the Exercise.