An eight-man team from The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland have been conducting Nordic skiing and biathlon training in the French Alps in preparation for the Army Divisional Championships early next year.

Nordic skiing is physically demanding and sees competitors race on flat cross-country routes on narrow skis, with biathlon events combining this skill with rifle shooting.

The Royal Scots Borderers’ team have been training three times a day - two skiing sessions and a rifle practice on the shooting range. Their four-week camp is being conducted alongside other Infantry units. The team will return to France for more intense training prior to the Championships after some well earned Christmas leave.

Private Jack McCaldin, 19, from Haddington, who is part of the squad, said: “It is amazing to get the opportunity to do something like this. It’s great to wake up in the morning and see the snow and blue skies and head out to do some training. I was pretty unsteady on the skis at first but I am really getting the hang of it know – as are all the boys. My shooting has improved too from the training on the biathlon rifle.” Pte McCaldin, who is also a member of the Battalion cross country team, added: “It’s amazing how much I have already crammed into since joining [the Battalion]. “It’s mostly been military training but I’ve been cross country training in Cyprus and in the New Year I’ll be back here doing more Nordic skiing training before heading off on overseas exercises. I’ve also really enjoyed being in the cross country team where we have won pretty much all the events we have entered.” Below are Jack’s replies to a series of questions about his decision to sign up and his life in the army: What made you want to be in the Army?

“I had always thought about joining. None of my family have been in the Army so I did the Army Prep Course at Telford College, to give me an insight.

“I wanted a chance to do something different and get opportunities that are not available in other walks of life.” How did it happen then?

“The Careers Office in Edinburgh were really helpful. They pointed me in the right direction as there are so many roles within the Army and I was quickly able to start training. I joined when I was 17 and passed out of the Infantry training in Catterick in March this year.” How was training?

“I loved it. The course at college had set me up well and I had a great group of lads to work with. The weapon handling and military tactics were as good as I had hoped. After six months of Infantry training I felt I was ready to start the job.” So what have you done so far?

“I have been lucky since I arrived in The Royal Regiment of Scotland. I was spotted early on as a good runner and made it into the Cross-Country Team. “The team competes regularly throughout the country, but the highlight was the training camp in Cyprus. This set me up well to compete in the Edinburgh Marathon in May. It was good to compete close to home where my family could come and watch.

At the minute I am in the French Alps learning to Nordic ski. It is hard work, but I think I have a good chance of making the Battalion’s team in time for the Army Championships. The combination of skiing and target shooting means that the Infantry training gives us a good chance against some of the other teams.” What have you got coming up next?

“Next year I am going for a month on a Company Overseas Training Exercise. It should be a great opportunity to put my soldiering skills to the test as part of a larger formation to what I have done in the past. “It is exactly the kind of challenge I wanted when I joined.” What is your normal day?

“No two weeks are the same which I enjoy. My average day involves physically training, military lessons, map reading and drill to name a few things. We also play sport every Wednesday afternoon. The changing days are one of the reasons I joined the army.” The Royal Scots Borderers moved from Edinburgh to Belfast in August 2014. They are currently part of 38th (Irish) Brigade.

The Royal Scots Borderers are a light role infantry battalion, this means that its soldiers have little reliance on vehicles.

Instead, and in the finest traditions of the infantry, they carry all of the kit that they require in order to live and fight. The Royal Scots Borderers’ soldiers pride themselves on physical fitness and mental and physical resilience and robustness.

Since returning from operations in Afghanistan in the spring of 2013, The Royal Scots Borderers have enjoyed a series of varied and exciting challenges. Company detachments have deployed on overseas exercises to Cyprus, Kenya and the Falkland Islands.

The battalion also provided Her Majesty The Queen’s Royal Guard at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire. The future promises to be equally challenging and varied with the move to Northern Ireland and further training exercises planned in France and Bosnia.

Sport and adventure training also play an important part in life at The Royal Scots Borderers.

Fitness, leadership, teamwork, courage and self reliance are developed through a rigorous programme of sport and adventurous training. Adventure training expeditions planned for this year include scuba diving in Egypt, skiing in France, sky-diving in Spain, and a multi-activity trip to Germany to include rock climbing, trekking and mountain biking.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry regiment forming a core part of the British Army’s combat capability. The Regiment comprises 6 battalions and 1 independent company of combat infantry soldiers collectively known as 'The SCOTS’.

You can find out more detail about the Regiment at: www.army.mod.uk/scots and follow us on facebook at www.facebook.com/royalregimentofscotland