2010’s early May Bank Holiday weekend saw some 350 reservists from the RNR, RMR, TA and RAuxAF descend on Altcar Training Centre near Liverpool to participate in Ex Altcar Challenge, the annual International Military Skills Competition sponsored by the United Kingdom Reserve Forces Association.

Altcar Challenge aims to test competitors physically, mentally and practically in terms of military skills. It is based on an ‘Operational Environment’ and command tasks and challenges focus on IEDs, mine awareness, battlefield casualty drills, patrolling, tactical map marking, boat drills, vehicle recovery and check points. There is also an assault course and weapon handling, ending with a falling plate shoot. The variety of stands plays to different teams’ strengths and mean everyone has an equal chance to capture the prizes on offer.

The competition is organised and run by Reservist SNCOs from across the three services. They assist with planning from the outset, including the administration of personnel and the organisation of accommodation, stores, catering and transport, as well as the delivery of the stands and ensuring smooth running on the day.

For those on the organising Committee it is a great way to develop management skills including preparation and planning experience, using initiative and working without being under direction or senior supervision. For the competitors, they not only benefit from practising their military skills in an operationally realistic environment, but teams can share their experiences to enable better cooperation and understanding across the international Reserve Forces.

28 teams of four SNCOs and JNCOs from the UK, Netherlands, Poland, France and the Czech Republic competed against each other in male, female, and mixed categories under the watchful eyes of Air Marshal Bryant, AVM Lord Beaverbrook, UKRFA President AVM Newton and Group Captain Gary Bunkell. The visitors were impressed by how well the exercise complemented unit training, how challenging it was, how it benefitted the personal development of the SNCOs and JNCOs involved, and the levels of enthusiasm, motivation, teamwork and confidence displayed by the participants.

WO Matt Dillon 4624 Sqn RAuxAF, Exercise Director, said “Not only does the exercise provide the opportunity for members of the Reserve Forces to apply their trades, but also to use the skills and lessons learnt from live operations. The variety of stances put on by the cap badges represented enabled all participants to learn even more about what everyone else does. Altcar is the only UK-based exercise in which tri-service personnel get the opportunity to work with our NATO Allies”.

Ex Altcar Challenge fosters a healthy spirit of competition in its participants. It provides a strong basis for teamwork, personal development and leadership and provides excellent military training, but most importantly it is also good fun. If you would like to compete in Exercise Altcar Challenge in 2011 or help with the organisation, contact WO1 John Bennett on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Results 2010