A FORMER Stourport High School student who initially joined the army as a chef has completed a tough survival exercise in the wilds of the Canadian Rockies.
Stuart Brown, 18, who joined the army in 1999, has taken part in Exercise Snowshoe with the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, which divides its time between infantry work and ceremonial duties at Buckingham Palace.
The Guardsman had to master unusual skills such as skijoring, which involves being pulled along by a vehicle while on skis, and pulling toboggans weighing up to 200 lbs while carrying personal gear as heavy as 80 lbs.
He said: "I enjoy it, especially doing this sort of thing. With army life, you get out what you put into it.
"It was very hard at times when there was not much snow because we had to pull the sled on mud.
"I think everyone hits a bad point, but you have to help each other get through that. I do feel that I have achieved something," he added.
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