The global infrastructure services business, AECOM, is the headline sponsor for EXERCISE ICE MAIDEN. This challenge will see a team of six women attempt to cross Antarctica. HRH The Countess of Wessex was in attendance at the official launch which took place at the Well-known Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, in Camberley.
This challenge has never been completed before by a group of women from any country, but the specially selected team of six women have been undergoing extensive training to prepare them for the possible conditions. It is great news that AECOM is supporting such a historic challenge which will hopefully inspire and encourage women and girl of all ages to try something new.
AECOM provided fully integrated infrastructure assets to customers in over 150 countries. The company has expressed their pride at being the headline sponsor for the challenge that will see the women ski a total of 1,700 KMS, which is the equivalent of travelling from London to Gibraltar, while carrying all of their equipment and food for a 30 days at a time.
More than 250 women applied for the expedition, with the only conditions being that the applicant was female and serving in the Army, Regular or Reserve. From the applications, 50 were then invited to a selection weekend which took place in Capel Curig in September 2015. 22 women from this group were then asked to take part in EXERCISE ICE BAMBI, in Norway to carry out the British Army’s Winter Survival Course and a five-day expedition in the Arctic Circle with the Norwegian Army. The team was then narrowed down to 12, to carry out EXERCISE ICE READY, in November 2016, before the final 6 were announced as Major Nics Wetherill and Major Natalie Taylor from the Royal Army Medical Corps, and team captains; Lieutenants Jenni Stephenson and Zanna Baker from the Royal Artillery, Major Sandy Hennis from the Royal Signals, and Lance Sergeant Sophie Montagne, Honourable Artillery company.
