On Sunday 29 th June, 16 cadets and 4 staff paid a visit to the High Ropes facility at RAF Brize Norton. After a briefing that reinforced the full brief given at the Squadron by Sgt Tony Lott from the Motivational Outreach Team of Birmingham AFCO, all of the cadets and staff were kitted out with safety helmets and harnesses. Then it was time to start climbing!

There were a total of seven different challenges that everyone could have a go at, and most did so. Four of the climbs were single person ones, with the remaining three being for multiple climbers. On one of the multi climbs, four people ascend in turn to wait on a platform some 15” square until all four climbers were read to ‘fall off' and descend back to the ground.

Most of the cadets also made the ‘Leap of Faith' from a platform some 45 feet up in the air, across the gap to the trapeze gently swinging in the breeze. When one climber makes the leap it was relatively easy, however when two climbers go together then it becomes a more difficult challenge. Both jumpers must go at exactly the same time otherwise one of the jumpers will find that the trapeze has gone without them.

The final challenge of the day for all concerned was to ascend the ‘Jacobs Ladder'. On this climb the ‘rungs' of the ladder get further apart the higher you go. Later in the day during these climbs the wind had started to blow harder and harder which made the climbs more difficult as the platforms, uprights and rungs started to swing about a lot more than at the start of the day.

An excellent day's team building was enjoyed by all from 165 Squadron who had been lucky enough to take part in this exciting activity.

Once again a very special thanks to Sergeant Tony Lott, who is a former 165 cadet and his team from the AFCO.