Wattisham Air Corps soldiers on Himalayan expedition
Soldiers who operate Apache helicopters at Wattisham are off to the Himalayas with a services’ medical research expedition.
A team of 20 from 4 Regiment Army Air Corps fly out tomorrow to trek the 100-mile Dhaulagiri Circuit at 5,360m in Nepal’s mountains.
Over the three-week expedition the Wattisham-based soldiers will be taking part in medical research projects to look at the effects of altitude on their appetite, cardio-vascular system, blood glucose levels and biomechanics.
Several teams from the army, navy and air force are taking part in the expedition, which aims to introduce military personnel to mountaineering and carry out medical research for the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.
WO2 Ben Wilkins, who is leading the 4 Regt AAC team, said: “There is great value in putting soldiers in demanding situations together outside the military environment, to develop their teamwork and confidence. Most of the team have not done any mountaineering beforen. I’ve been to the Himalayas several times and am looking forward to seeing how they all get on.”