| NOCG : Naval Outdoor Centre Germany : Bavarian Surprise : Providing members of the Naval Service with an opportunity to participate in adventurous training | |||
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What is NOCG? The Naval Outdoor Centre Germany running Bavarian Surprise By Maj Paul Gellender MBE RM The Naval Outdoor Centre Germany (NOCG) is the Naval Services sole multi activity Centre conducting adventurous and challenging activities in the beautiful Allgua area of Bavaria in Southern Germany. The Centre was opened by the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan Massey CBE ADC on the 3 Apr 2009 and builds upon the success of previous Bavarian Surprise exercises. The Centre's primary aim is to encourage wider participation in Adventurous Training (AT) and in so doing, expose personnel to a range of activities, after minimal training, occasionally operating outside their comfort zone, where they have to apply themselves both physically and mentally in an enjoyable yet challenging environment. The first surprise for many will be the fact that there is no personal contribution for the standard winter and summer packages – however the centre is generously supported by both the RN/RM Sports Lottery and Sports Amenities and Benevolence Scheme (SABS), and members will be given priority. So join or contribute today. The next surprise will be waking up on the first morning in the Centre, a civilian managed hotel, to be confronted by bright blue skies and a fantastic vista. Tina and Chesty, the hotel's proprietors, provide a home from home atmosphere with the local beer on tap and enough food for even the most determined Stokers and Marines.NOCG is situated in an area famed for its beauty throughout the year and is alpine in nature with picturesque mountains rising to over 2000m overlooking steep valley floors. Activities on offer from Dec to Apr are Alpine Skiing and Ski Touring (snow conditions allowing) and we cater for all standards from complete novices to advanced powder hounds. From May the Centre switches to a multi activity package, where participants will try climbing, klettersteiging a form of multi pitch climbing and scrambling on wires and ladders, mountain biking, kayaking and canyoning. There will also be scope for groups to organise bespoke AT packages whereby they can determine what they want to do. This might take the form of 5 days of mountain biking with the aim of tackling a Black graded mountain decent or 5 days mountaineering. Along with recognised AT Proficiency courses that are your first step on the Joint Service AT Scheme. Each AT experience will start on Saturday with participants making their own way to Dover before embarking on the ferry to Calais and then a Luxury German coach to arrive in Bavaria the following morning. The rest of Sunday will be briefs, issue of kit and local area familiarisation before the activities start on the Monday. The week's activities will finish on Friday afternoon and then you will have the opportunity to sample the delights of Sonthofen before departing on Saturday morning and returning to the UK. Maj Paul Gellender the Centre's Officer Commanding summarises, “The NOCG builds upon the success of previous Bavarian Surprise and will be the first opportunity most personnel will have to participate in Adventurous Training. Initially many will assume that this is going to be some form of military exercise. Our aim will be to expose novices ATers to a variety of adventurous activities, after minimal training, in order for them to experience AT for themselves. Bavaria makes our job easy, the scenery, weather, hotel staff and spectrum of activities, all within easy reach will enable us to offer all a challenging but rewarding time. The feedback from all who have participated in the past has been fantastic with the only criticism being the days have gone too quickly. Unfortunately Centre's of this nature do not come cheaply and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Sports Lottery, Sports Amenities and Benevolence Scheme and the Rebalancing Lives Initiative for their continued financial support”. We are looking to utilise the Centre's spare capacity over leave periods to offer RN/RM Families the chance to use the centre as a subsidised holiday location. We are running the first families package this Christmas from the 27 Dec – 2 Jan 10. This initiative is kindly sponsored by the SABS and in order to qualify for a subsidy participants must be members, for further information speak to your PT Office who hold the details and application forms or contact us directly at the Centre on 0049 8324 953540. |
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