Winter training week is conducted by all three RAF Mountain Rescue Teams that introduces winter skills to new Troops and consolidates advanced skills for more experienced.
Since its formation in 1943, the RAF Mountain Rescue Service has sustained a high readiness capability for Search and Rescue and Aircraft Post Crash Management operations. Born out of wartime necessity to save the lives of downed aircrew in the mountainous regions of the UK, the modern RAF Mountain Rescue Service now has three Teams located at RAF Leeming, RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Valley and is supported by a dedicated Support Flight and Mountain Rescue Service Headquarters at RAF Valley.
The images here show a party hiking up to Aonach air’ Chrith on the Glen Shiel south ridge, near Fort William, to conduct a winter gully scramble that improves upon Troops’ skill to move safely and competently on technical ground to reach downed Aircrew on Operations, and a full team simulated avalanche callout incident to carry out avalanche rescue techniques, specifically here; probing and using snow anchors to lower the simulated casualty to safety in Cairngorms National Park.
This year, RAF Mountain Rescue Service celebrates its’ 80th Anniversary. Since humble beginnings in 1943 at RAF LLanwrog, North Wales, RAF Mountain Rescue Service has rescued and saved countless lives at numerous Aircraft Post Crash and Incident Management callouts and by assisting civilian counterparts.
Throughout the Mountain Rescue Service’ history and until present day, although Search and Rescue operations and traditions have evolved, these like-minded and committed volunteers have always been, and will continue to operate as, Defence’s only all-weather, ground-based Search and Rescue organisation. Through maintaining a one-hour readiness state, 24/7/365 the Mountain Rescue Service epitomise their motto, ‘Whensoever.’
