Berkshire army cadets train in Norway

A group of 30 Berkshire Army Cadets, aged 15 to 19, along with 10 adult volunteers, have embarked on a training experience in Norway, learning vital skills from the country’s first line of defence: the Norwegian Home Guard.

The cadets are currently undergoing the Norwegian Home Guard Youth’s basic training program. The intensive course focuses on key military skills, including tactical use of terrain in both daylight and darkness, operating in the field for extended periods, and essential winter survival techniques.

For many, this trip is a chance to reconnect with Norwegian cadets from HV02, whom they trained alongside last August during a joint training exercise in Berkshire. This long-standing exchange, which began in 1992, has allowed generations of cadets from both nations to strengthen ties while gaining rare and valuable training experiences.

Taking place at Haslemoen Camp, cadets from Berkshire are undergoing intensive training led by the Oslo-based Norwegian Home Guard. The program equips them with essential survival and tactical skills, including:

Operating in the field for extended periods.

Mastering basic winter survival techniques.

Understanding the importance of the buddy system.

Adapting clothing to extreme weather conditions.

Navigating unknown terrain with confidence.

Developing a security-conscious mindset.

Using terrain tactically and selecting strategic routes in both daylight and darkness.

Conducting effective observations and reporting.

This initiative is part of the Army Cadets' broader mission-to offer young people aged 12 to 17 an inclusive and challenging environment for personal development, leadership growth, and experiences beyond the ordinary.

The Haselmoan Base, Leivegen, is a former airfield and military base, in the flat, forested area established in the late 1930s. It was a military base from 1943, until its closure in 2003. It’s now used primarily as a sporting centre.

The Norwegian Home Guard is Norway’s first line of defence. It’s 40,500 soldiers across the country to ensure quick mobilisation to protect territories, national crisis management, and assist in major events such as natural disasters, accidents, and search and rescue operations.

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