Paratroopers Take To The Mountains In Epic Excercise

Around 120 paratroopers from 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment have taken to the skies in a slightly different way from usual as part of Exercise Mediterranean Pathways.

The training is preparing paratroopers to be able to operate in any environment for their role as the British Army’s airborne rapid reaction force. 

And as part of that preparation, they are being taught to deal with the challenges of functioning in mountainous surroundings.

After being introduced to climbing kit, knots and techniques, the soldiers moved into the high mountains to apply what they had been taught.

High in the peaks the troops had to ascend, traverse and abseil on the rugged granite rock faces surrounding Col de Vergio.

Lieutenant James Robson, taking part in the excercise, said:

“As a high readiness force it’s important that we can operate in any environment that we may be sent to.

Mountains are popular areas for insurgents to base themselves in, because it’s inhospitable terrain that’s easy to defend and regular forces may be reluctant to pursue them.

 This training is giving us the skills to find the enemy and defeat them.

“The key to operating in the mountains is having confidence, to trust the equipment and that everyone is working together for each other’s safety.

 Paratroopers have that attitude in large measures, and the blokes have really enjoyed this different challenge.”

Lance Corporal Lewis Alexander, said:

“Corsica is a tough environment with steep mountains and hard ground underfoot, and it's hot during the day and cold at night.

 Coming here on exercise has been a really good challenge and experience, because it’s all very different.

We’ve gone through the basic skills needed to climb safely, and then put that into practice in the mountains. We’ve climbed cliffs, putting gear into cracks to fix ropes for safety, and then finished with a 70 metre abseil.”

During the two week exercise, paratroopers will test and adapt their navigation, fire and manoeuvre, fieldcraft and navigation skills for the demands of operating in the mountains.