LFCO 23-02

ADVENTURE TRAINING POLICY

APPLICABLE TO

This Order is applicable to all members of Land Force Command (LFC) participating in
adventure training activities.

REFERENCE: A. DAOD 5031-10 Adventure Training – 27 June 2003

B. DPDT/J7 Trg Adventure Training website
C. CFAO 50-1, Physical Fitness Training
D. Army Fitness Standard (B-GL-382-003/PT-001)
CANFORGEN 047/03, Interim CF Aquatics and Water Safety Policy

BACKGROUND

1. The Canadian and allied armies generally accept that participation in adventure
training activities is consistent with military service, assisting to develop and reinforce an
individual soldier’s or small group’s military values and ethos. Participation in adventure
training activities has proven to be effective in the development and enhancement of
military performance in areas such as:

a. promoting greater courage and self-confidence;

b. challenging the individual soldier, both physically and mentally;
c. promoting interest in arduous activities outside of the conduct of daily
military duties in an exciting atmosphere, thereby promoting retention;
d. developing trust and communication in small group teamwork; and,
e. developing individual leadership abilities.

DEFINITIONS

2. CF Adventure Training. CF Adventure Training is formal military training

involving participation in challenging outdoor pursuits. It is designed to provide CF
members with the necessary training and development to support the CF mission. By
enhancing physical and moral courage, fitness, endurance, initiative and teamwork it
prepares CF members to withstand the rigorous conditions of operations.

3. Level 1 - Unit Level Adventure Training. Level 1 Adventure Training is training

that is conducted by Army units within LFCs geographical area of responsibility (AOR),
which includes LFAA, LFQA, LFCA, and LFWA’s geographical AsOR.

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4. Level 2 - Unit Level Adventure Training. Level 2 Adventure Training is training
that is conducted either within CFNA’s geographical AOR or internationally.

5. Geograhical Areas.

a. Geographic areas for LFC include the geographical areas for LFAA, LFQA,
LFCA and LFWA.

b. Geographical area for CFNA is Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the
Yukon Territory.

AIM

6. The aim of this order is to define the policy and procedures for the conduct of
adventure training within LFC.

LFC ADVENTURE TRAINING

7. LFC Adventure Training will develop, through challenging adventure activities,

in an outdoor environment, leadership skills and other necessary qualities to enhance the
performance of Army personnel during times of peace and war. To achieve this,
adventure training must include a degree of risk or physical challenge to the participants.
Activities that are acceptable as adventure training are clearly explained in Reference A.
It must be stressed that adventure training is primarily focussed on achieving positive and
healthy psychological change and less about accomplishing physical skills.

8. Personnel chosen to lead adventure training activities or expeditions must have

experience in the activity planned. If not, use of civilian instructors and civilian
adventure sport companies is permitted. This must be balanced with the need to offer
leadership opportunities to soldiers and officers. Use of junior officers and NCMs as
expedition leaders is encouraged, however, selection of personnel to hold these positions
should be based as much as possible on experience in those activities permissible under
this policy.

Level 1 - Unit Level Adventure Training

9. General. Level 1 Adventure Training is training that is conducted by Army units

within LFC’s geographical AOR. The aim of Level 1 adventure training is to develop
qualities of fitness, physical and morale courage, initiative, powers of endurance and
leadership, through group participation in outdoor adventure pursuits. A secondary aim
is to assist in identifying and selecting suitable personnel for leadership development in
adventure training activities.

10. Activity Planning. The training/expedition leader will complete the LFC
Adventure Training Request, attached at Annex A, and submit it to their unit

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Commanding Officer for endorsement and staffing to their respective LFA HQ. (This
authority will rest with DGLS for the Land Staff and Comd LFDTS for LFDTS units.)

11. Approving Authority. The approving authority for Level 1 Adventure Training is
Commander LFA for LFAs, DGLS for the Land Staff and Comd LFDTS for LFDTS
units. Once satisfied that any necessary liaison with other LFAs has been conducted, the
relevant approving authority will conduct a technical review of Level 1 adventure
training requests for safety and risk management issues and, once all necessary
precautions and safety issues have been fully addressed, they can approve the activity.

12. Activity Conduct. Participants in Level 1 Adventure Training activities will be

trained in a specific adventure training activity. At a minimum, Level 1 adventure
training activities must be led by qualified instructors or experienced leaders. Qualified
leaders from other units may be employed as available. All LFC personnel participating
in Level 1 adventure training will comply with the training requirements outlined in
Reference A.

Level 2 - Unit Level Adventure Training

13. General. Level 2 Adventure Training is training that is conducted outside of

LFC’s geographical AOR. Adventure training is intended to be a challenging and ideal
training environment for the development of small group qualities. The aim of Level 2
adventure training is to develop small groups and to test their individual and small group
abilities and expertise under challenging conditions in their chosen outdoor adventure
training activity.

14. Activity Planning. The expedition leader will complete the LFC Adventure
Training Request, attached at Annex A, and submit it to their unit Commanding Officer
for endorsement and onward transmission to their parent formation and LFA
headquarters. LFC Adventure Training Requests for Level 2 adventure training are to be
forwarded to, and must reach OTS 5-2, NLT two months prior to the commencement of
the training to allow for scheduling and onward approval.

15. Approving Authority. The approving authority for all Level 2 Adventure
Training is Comd LFDTS. DAT staff will conduct a technical review of all Level 2
adventure training requests, submitted by units, for safety and risk management issues.
DAT staff will liaise with either CFNA or with the CDA of the intended country for the
training. Once satisfied that all necessary precautions and safety issues have been
correctly addressed, DAT will forward the file to Commander LFDTS for final approval.
DAT staff will also review and de-conflict any multiple requests for the same resources.

16. Activity Conduct. The adventure training leader will plan and co-ordinate Level
2 adventure training. Qualified leaders will lead level 2 adventure training. As a
minimum, all LFC personnel participating in Level 2 adventure training will comply with
the training requirements outlined in Reference A. Adventure training leaders will be
responsible for ensuring that all training requirements (including skills training as

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detailed by the appropriate adventure training activity regulations) are successfully
completed prior to the commencement of the Level 2 activity.

GENERAL

17. Participation. Unit COs should schedule adventure training when most
convenient within the Army’s Managed Readiness Plan. Field Force units should seek to
maximise the regeneration and support phases for the conduct of adventure training. All
personnel taking part in an adventure training expedition must have met the CF Minimum
Physical Fitness Standards (MPFS) (see Reference C), or the Army Fitness Standard (see
Reference D), be medically fit, be dentally fit and have passed the basic Military
Swimming Standard Test (see Annex A of CFPSA link at Reference E) if the training
involves water-oriented activities.

18. Reporting. Activity leaders will complete a PXR at the end of the training event.
PXRs for adventure training activities must reach the parent formation Headquarters
within 30 days of completion and OTS 5-2, LFDTS HQ within 30 days after that. The
PXR should comment on all relevant expedition detail that will assist in the planning for
future adventure training activities. OTS 5-2 will maintain a library of this information
for use by expedition leaders planning Level 1 and 2 adventure training. By 1 April of
each year, LFAs shall submit a report to OTS 5-2 summarizing all adventure training
completed during the past fiscal year. The report format is attached as Annex B.

19. Equipment. Equipment currently held by LFAs should, where possible, be used
for adventure training activities. Specialized equipment may have to be rented for the
duration of training and this must be planned for when costing activities or expeditions.

20. Direct liaison between DAT and anyone planning either Level 1 or Level 2 unit
adventure training is encouraged, particularly in the areas of safety and risk management.
OTS 5-2 manages this file on behalf of DAT.

SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

21. Approved Adventure Training Activities. Activities listed in Reference A that do

not qualify as Adventure Training will be neither considered nor funded. Waivers to
Reference A must be staffed to the DCDS through the Commander LFDTS whereas
waivers to this LFCO must be staffed to Commander LFDTS.

22. Risk Management and Safety. By definition, there is inherent risk and associated
safety issues concerning the conduct of any adventure training activity. Safety and risk
management is the responsibility of the activity leader and shall be addressed before,
during and after the conduct of each adventure training activity.

23. This LFCO, along with Reference A, will form the basis of any adventure activity
risk management plan. Reference A includes the safety responsibilities for approved
adventure training activities and will form the basis of risk management to be followed

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during LFC adventure training activities. Further guidance, available at Reference B, will
also assist leaders in the planning and conduct of adventure training.

ADMINISTRATION AND SUPPORT

24. Funding. In general, adventure training is a unit-funded activity unless resourced

by a higher HQ.

25. Use of National or Provincial Parks. National and Provincial Parks are often ideal
locations for the conduct of adventure training activities. The use of Parks Canada and
Provincial Parks is encouraged. All park rules and regulations shall be followed including
the payment of user fees. Adventure training leaders are encouraged to contact the
appropriate Parks Canada or Provincial Parks' staff early in the planning stages of
adventure training as necessary.

ANNEX

Annex A – Land Force Command Adventure Training Request

Annex B - FY Army Adventure Training Report

DAT/OTS 5-2

Re-issued: February 2007

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