Life-changing adventures

Crystal Drane, 19, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, credits Adventurous Training (AT) expeditions with giving her the confidence, determination and skills required to take on life's challenges.

At age 13, Crystal joined Brownhills Detachment in Walsall where she was immediately hooked by the amazing activities on offer.

‘It was something to look forward to after school and I had the opportunity to learn practical skills which really interested me,’ she said.

Crystal particularly loved and excelled at AT and, in 2018, was given the opportunity to take part in Ex Altea Dragon Venturer 2018 in Spain. It was the first time the then 15-year-old had been abroad and, while her parents paid for her passport, she was given extra financial support from The Ulysses Trust. ‘There was a girl who had never been abroad so I was able to reassure her that everything was going to be OK. During expeditions you bond very tightly with your fellow participants: it’s like you've known them your whole life.’

Crystal was determined to give back to Army Cadets after the organisation had provided so many opportunities for her so, once she had aged out, she returned as a staff cadet.

At present she is taking a break from Cadets to study and is about to start a family – she's due to give birth in October. She now enjoys outdoor activities with her partner James. ADVENTURE

‘It was quite a shock that I could even go as my family couldn’t have afforded it without The Ulysses Trust helping to reduce the expense.

‘I had always enjoyed AT with my company but going abroad was something else. When you take part in expeditions in England the weather can be terrible but in Spain it was hot and sunny, and when we climbed the mountains it was incredible.’

Not only did she get to take part in activities such as rock climbing, mountaineering and mountain biking, she also made friends with a group of cadets she had only just met. Although out of her comfort zone, Crystal learnt about responsibility, communication and teamwork. ‘Through AT I discovered a passion for rock climbing and walking. I love turning off my phone and getting outdoors. AT has given me the knowledge and courage to go and do stuff.'

'During expeditions you bond very tightly with your fellow participants: it’s like you've known them your whole life'

Crystal believes her Army Cadets and AT experiences have given her confidence, determination and skills she wouldn't have achieved elsewhere.

‘Words cannot describe how fantastic the expedition experience was for me. It was all about being thrown in at the deep end, rather than sitting around thinking “I’m not sure I can do that”.

‘Whenever you try something new there’s always a sense of fear but when you’re part of a team you do your best not to show your nerves. You try to stay calm for the rest of the group. You start thinking “I’m shivering a bit, but the person next to me is shivering a whole lot more, so let’s help them get up the mountain”. ‘

The following year, Crystal took part in Ex Dragon Venturer Otztal 2019 in Austria and this time she took responsibility for cadets who were in the same position she had been in the year before. 'The financial help given to me by The Ulysses Trust showed me that people do notice what you do and how much you put into something. You can never know what is going on in someone’s home – without that financial input I would never have gone to Spain or Austria.’

Crystal is now keen to encourage other cadets to seize opportunities and take on AT adventures.

‘If an experience is offered to you, do it if you can. Going on AT expeditions changed my perspective. These days I want to throw myself headfirst into everything because I’m grateful to have been given so many fantastic opportunities.’

To find out more click here or scan the QR code.