On this page you can read examples of Trueways Military Survival Training in practise, applied to two quite different unit requirements.

Case Study One - 3 Day, Core Skills Course for 29 Cdo Regt, RA

Our remit was "To provide a Survival Training Course for men of 7 Bty just returned from Afganistan, along with both recruits and Training PTIs from the pre-Commando Course, including providing training assessment feedback"

A 3 day, core Skills Survival Course was organised for 18 men in the Central Highlands, within easy range of 7 Bty at Arbroath.  For the next three days the lads ditched their bergens and belt kit for a 'back to basics' living off the land Survival Course.

Gnr Eban of 29 Cdo Regt in Scotland's Central Highlands, February 2007, discovering that "Fire is your Friend"

By the end of the three days, the men had acquired a range of new knowledge and skills and had a throroughly enjoyable time.

What did they think?

"Excellent course with good instructors.  The guys got a lot out of it and so did I." Sgt S Murrie, 7 (Sphinx) Cdo Bty

"Really good, with lots of useful information from which I learnt a lot" LBdr Smith, PTI, 8 (Alma) Cdo Bty

"For the time we had out, I’ve taken a lot from this course" LBdr Clark, 7 (Sphinx) Cdo Bty

"This course/further survival courses should be taught to all military personnel" Gnr Baird, 8 (Alma) Cdo Bty

And from their CO...

"In February 2007 I sent a group of young soldiers on a 3 day Core Survival Skills course with Trueways Survival School, held in Dunkeld, Scotland.  Also attending the course were experienced personnel (including a number of NCOs) from 7 and 8 Btys, 29 Cdo Regt.  For several days the soldiers were taught various survival skills and methods by civilian instructors that they perhaps hadn't experienced before.

I was most impressed by the quality of the instructors, most of whom were ex-military, who set about creating a very warm and relaxed atmosphere that only aided the knowledge retention of the soldiers - a far cry from the more rigid and disciplined nature of military training.  Moreover, feedback from the experienced personnel and NCOs was unanimously positive.  Considering their time served and current active duty experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, their enthusiasm for and conviction of the genuine military value of the training speaks volumes in itself.

My soldiers gained a great deal from attending a Trueways Course.  Yes, they were exposed to survival techniques that they had not seen before but more importantly they found the experience to be a welcoming yet challenging break from the military norm.  I have no hesitation in highly recommending Trueways Survival to other frontline units, and look forward to the training becoming a regular feature in our own Adventure Training options.  Thank you Trueways!

Capt Jem Bersin, 7 (Sphinx) Bty, 29 Cdo Regt, RA."

Preparing game for the pot!

Case Study Two - 1 Day Introductory Course For OCdts of DTUS

Our remit, "To provide Military Survival Training Stands during Ex Trojan Spirit, Catterick, 2007, introducing Basic Survival Skills during the day, and assisting with Survival Shelter building and food preparation for the night for 120 personnel."

Organised at short notice, Trueways staff recced the intended Exercise Area prior to its start and set up stands.  Presentations were given to approximately 120 OCdts (plus most of the DS who pitched up to join in!)  The OCdts were then assisted with building their own survival shelters for the night and preparing rabbits and a variety of wild plant foods to supplement the meal (including plantains, dandelion, garlic mustard, sorrel).

OCdts receiving a presentation on edible and medicinal common wild plants during Ex Trojan Spirit, Catterick Training Areas, April 2007.  Other stands covered survival shelter building, water sourcing and purification, and traps and snares.

Was the Survival Phase of the Exercise a success?  The Officer in Overall Command of the Exercise wrote as follows, reproduced with his kind permission:

 

Further case studies and example course schedules are available upon request. Please contact one of our specialist instructors direct on (option 1) for more details.