1st Commando Regiment's Corporal N recently represented the ADF in Exercise Alpine Challenge '24 (Ex AC24) in the European Alps, just eight years after "accidentally" competing in the Army snowboarding championships - her first taste of snow sports.
"I joined the team not realising it was a competition when I signed up… I thought it was just snowboarding," she said.
A far cry from her first tentative runs at the Army championships at Perisher in 2016, Cpl N was one of 19 ADF skiers and snowboarders from across the services who trained for four weeks in Austria before testing their skills against the best of the UK Armed Forces at the Inter-Service Snow Sports Championships in Meribel, France.
Set against the backdrop of the Austrian and French Alps, Ex AC24 was the first iteration of the program since 2019 because of the pandemic.
Based in Zell am See, Austria, the 19 ADF members first trained and competed in the Royal Air Force championships held in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, before moving to the UK Inter-Service championships in France.
With the snowboarders competing in giant slalom, parallel giant slalom, snowboarder cross, and slopestyle, Cpl N's schedule was packed.
Cpl N placed second in the Austrian competitions, with Sgt Ashley Watts, of 3rd Health Battalion, topping the table in all competitions during the RAF championships, as well as placing second overall in the inter-service competition for women's snowboarding - and beating out some of the ADF and UK men's timings.
"We're all so proud of her," Cpl N said. "The championships are a great platform to step outside your comfort zone, and to support those alongside you.
The high level of competition resulted in a number of injuries, including broken elbows, legs and a kneecap, bringing the contingent down to 16.
An emergency services first responder in civilian life and a part-time soldier for more than 15 years, Cpl N joined 1st Commando in 2018, where she averages more than 100 reserve days a year at 2 Company based out of Fort Gellibrand, Williamstown.
A Special Operations Force enabler, Cpl N provides specialist technical support aligned with her parent corps specialisation in support of 1st Commando's activities.
1st Commando Regiment is responsible for the employment of Special Warfare within the ADF and, alongside the Special Air Service and 2nd Commando Regiments, make up the cornerstone of the ADF's Special Operations Command.
"With 1 Commando being a hybrid full-time/part-time unit with members from all three services, the flexibility is great," Cpl N said.
"Being able to balance my civilian and military careers is hugely fulfilling, and being able to stay involved with ADF sports is fantastic.
"There aren't too many units or workplaces where you can do so many varied things, then on top of that spend five weeks in Europe tearing it up on and off the slopes with the best of the British military."
