Borneo Expedition Report
EXERCISE TROPICS EAGLE
Seven senior cadets and three staff members from the Squadron have recently returned from Exercise Tropics Eagle in Borneo, following an extension to their trip in Singapore due the recent flying disruption.
The group formed part of a 35 strong contingent of cadets and staff from all over the United Kingdom who made the long trip to Borneo in South East Asia. Other Cadets attending the expedition represented Middlesex Wing and Devon and Somerset Wing. The expedition was made possible following months of fundraising, with activities such as bag packing at Tescos, discos and jungle themed parties along with generous support from groups such as the Royston and District Round Table and the Rotary Club.
Following a ten hour flight to Singapore and a further two hour trip to Borneo the cadets and staff spent the first day acclimatising to the hot and humid conditions. They were also able to practice putting up their hammocks and meeting their guides for the expedition. Following this the group undertook a short trek to undertake a day of jungle training, including jungle cooking, long drop toilets and of course creepy crawlies!
The expedition group ready for their jungle training
Before starting the jungle expedition the group paid a visit to a local school where gifts were handed out to the local children that had been brought from the UK following donations from local businesses, such as Shepreth Wildlife Park. This was to prove the calm before the storm as they were now about to begin their three day jungle trek. 
Sgts Charter and Kelly hand over gifts to three pupils from the local school
The long (and sweaty trek) included three days in rainforest, setting up camp, collecting firewood, group cooking, steep inclines and torrential rain. As the expedition progressed the cadets honed their jungle skills and became more proficient in erecting their hammocks. Day three of the trek consisted of a short trek to a river where they were greeted by rafts to take them back to their base camp (a journey that took three days on foot lasted just two hours on the water!) Those two hours included an impromptu raft race and a relaxing swim.
Following the trek, cadets and staff took part in a two day community project which involved helping to restore a rickety rope bridge. They worked alongside local people, who were much more accustomed to working in the heat and humidity, and were proud when it was used for the first time following an opening ceremony attended by the local MP.
The following day the group assembled at the Kundasang memorial (below), which was erected in 1962 and serves as a memorial to the 2,428 Australian and British prisoners who died during World War II at the Sandakan prisoner of war camp.
It also commemorates those that took part in the three forced death marches which saw British and Australian prisoners of war forced to march 160 miles from Sandakan to Ranau with little food, in total only six Australians survived the marches of which three of them died later as a result of their ordeal. A sombre service was held as all the victims of this cruel event were remembered.
Following the previous day of remembrance the group had to focus on climbing Mount Kota Kinabalu (the highest mountain in South East Asia) They battled through the eight hour trek climbing up through cloud to the place they would bed down for the night, the Laban Rata rest house. The next day saw an early start with everybody up and ready to continue at 02:00. The ascent was through steep terrain at high altitude which everyone coped with well (although some of the guides had to drop out with altitude sickness!). Reaching the summit as the sun came up was breathtaking, with the cadets able to view the mountain they had just climbed. The descent was timed perfectly as they reached the rest house in time for breakfast before completing the final descent and getting some well earned rest.
Everyone was able to have a relaxing day as the group visited a local wildlife park where they got to see elephants, rhino and orang-utans close up. Although the stiffness in some legs meant the visit took place at a very slow pace!
The expedition returned to Singapore only to learn that flights to the UK were suspended due to the Icelandic volcano eruption. During the extended stay, the expedition was looked after by the United States Navy who made sure they had somewhere to sleep and were well fed and watered. During this extended stay the group took the opportunity to take in the sights, sounds and smells of Singapore visiting local markets, shops and churches. Everyone also managed to visit the beach and catch up with family at home using the internet.
The group landed safely at Gatwick after eventually embarking on the return leg of the journey and all have amazing memories that will last forever.