Northampton RAF reservist back from gruelling winter training in Norway
Jayne Deering, 39, works in IT support for the NHS in civilian life and serves as an aircraft loader in the RAF Reserves in her spare time.
Senior Aircraftman (SAC) Deering, who has served in Afghanistan twice, joined 50 other RAF Reservists on Exercise Wintermarch to learn Nordic skiing, how to survive an avalanche and how to deal with extreme cold from members of the Norwegian military.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe said: "I wanted to try this type of skiing and do something that is a bit more of a challenge.
"It’s great to learn about extreme cold weather conditions and how to survive in this environment."
The airmen and women of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force were based at Rjukan, 100 miles north of the capital Oslo.
The town is also the site of the wartime Telemark Raid, which saw saboteurs dropped by the RAF destroy a factory making vital parts for the Nazi effort to build an atomic bomb.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe students learned more about the operation with a talk from a close friend of one of the saboteurs and a visit to the museum built on the site of the raid.
The skills used by the saboteurs in cross-country skiing and winter survival are the same as those taught by the Norwegian instructors. Participants finished the gruelling week with a cross-country skiing race.
Jayne, who serves with 4624 Squadron based at Brize Norton said: "I heard the advert for the RAF Reserves and it was all about travel - and that’s what I was looking for.
"That combined with the people and the friends I have made over the past ten years have made it a brilliant experience.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAfter leaving behind thick snow in Norway, they were lucky to get home after the UK too had heavy snowfall on the weekend they returned and many flights were cancelled.
The officer leading the expedition, Flight Lieutenant Rosie Gilmore said: “The RAF Reserves have been coming to Rjukan to train for many years and we’ve had a fantastic week here. The guys have got so much out of it. It’s hard work, but they all help each other and you can see that they’ve given their all but they’ve had a great time.”
The exercise comes at an important time for the RAF in its centenary year. She added: “As the RAF celebrates its 100th year, it’s fitting that we’ve been here where the RAF has long and friendly relations and it’s been great to be here strengthening those bonds between the RAF and Norway.”
These bonds stretch back to the Second World War when, as well as supporting the Telemark raid, Norwegian airmen served in RAF squadrons as they fought alongside Britain to defeat Germany and free their homeland. Both the UK and Norway are founder members of NATO.