Disabled troops 'Battle Back' on the ski slopes

The exercise has seen Service personnel put through their paces as they hurtled down slopes, conquered menacing courses, and competed against each other on the snow-covered mountains of Bavaria.

And, this year, a specially designed skiing course, specifically for six disabled military personnel, has been included in the exercise.

Some of the personnel had skied before the accidents that resulted in their disabilities and were having to adjust to completely different techniques, while others were starting as complete beginners with the added disadvantage of their disabilities to contend with.

However, by the end of the first day of the ten-day course, all the participants had successfully skied down a variety of slopes which many able-bodied people would fear trying, as well as taking part in a competitive race at the end of the course.

The adaptive skiing course is part of the wider military programme 'Battle Back', which encourages members of the Armed Forces, injured not just while on duty but also while off duty, to participate in skiing and other adventurous training activities and sports.

The initiative develops core skills, including leadership, teamwork, physical fitness, and moral and physical courage, and, most importantly, tries to ensure that injured soldiers have the confidence to know they can still lead a full and active life.

Major Martin Colclough, Officer Commanding 'Battle Back', said:

"The principal aim of 'Battle Back' is to use challenging outdoor activities and sports to complement the rehabilitation injured soldiers will have already participated in.

"When the medical phase starts to deliver those great results in fitness and general well-being you can start to challenge what in many cases may be the bleak outlook which many of these people will have of their own capabilities. Either by reintroducing them to an adaptive form of an activity they loved and enjoyed before they were injured or by introducing them to an activity they have never done before."

Importantly, the adaptive skiing students, assisted by a large team of specially trained military and civilian instructors and helpers, trained alongside 70 able-bodied colleagues, further aiding their re-integration back into the military family and highlighting just how much can be achieved following significant traumatic injury.

Major Colclough explained:

"This is crucial. We use the term 'normalisation' - treating them no differently than able-bodied athletes and as a result we are seeing their improved mood and psychological benefits.

"We don't treat them as special; this course is delivered as part of the able-bodied winter programme. They are doing the same activities, skiing the same mountains, sharing the same rooms, and eating with their able-bodied counterparts."

Six of the athletes who took part in the inaugural adaptive skiing course last year have since gone on to compete in the Combined Services disabled ski team as well as events for their regiments or division. Some of them may also be able to compete in the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Russia.

Lance Corporal Philip Meadows of Germany-based The Queen's Dragoon Guards lost his right leg from the knee down when the vehicle he was driving was hit by a large improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in November 2008.

But just four months later he has taken part in the adaptive skiing course and skied down some treacherous slalom and red runs, the second most difficult ski run. He said:

"I have come such a long way since I was in my hospital bed. It's amazing that I have made such a good recovery and now skiing just four months after losing my leg.

"I have a prosthetic leg which helps me to walk about but I don't need it when I ski. After the injury the Army gave me a lot of advice about these kinds of courses. It's great that people in my situation are able to do these kinds of things. It is really improving my confidence and helping me deal with my injury. I have picked up the sport really well and improving all the time. I am hoping to compete in some of the Army skiing competitions in the future."

LCpl Meadows, who has also served twice in Iraq since he joined the Army in 2004, had done some cross-country skiing before losing his leg but had never considered downhill skiing until he heard about the adaptive skiing course. He said:

"Just knowing that I can do the same kinds of activities, or more, than many able-bodied people is a massive boost. I want to stay in the Army and will adapt to deal with my injury."

The disabled skiers used a variety of different equipment depending on the nature of their disabilities, in particular mono skis (a seat mounted on a ski with short outriggers, supporting crutches fitted with skis at the base) and three-track skis (skiing on one leg with a set of outriggers).

Major Tristan Crew, the physiotherapist in support of the exercise, explained some of the physical and psychological benefits of the adaptive skiing course:

"There are many physical benefits for the adaptive skiers which can really help with their rehabilitation," he said. "It really helps them to use their abdominal muscles, especially as many of them will have been in a wheelchair not using those muscles. Skiing will really help build up their abdominal strength which will enable them to better use their prosthetic limbs.

"Their upper body also gets a good workout - they are getting to use their muscles in a lot of different ways which they wouldn't normally do. This can bring a lot of benefits that working out in the gym doesn't, it also increases their mental confidence; they know they are doing something that most able-bodied people don't do - giving them an incredible sense of freedom."