MILITARY COLLECTION GAUSDAL NORWAY

ARMY OUTWARD BOUND CAMP ISEJÆR.

Avdelingen ble etablert våren 1958 av den Engelske Hæren.
Isefjær/Gautestad organisert som en del av den britiske Rhinarmeen i Tyskland.
Personell i stab, og intruktører var alle engelske befalingsmenn.

Hensikten med virksomheten var å trene befal fra Natoland i fysisk og physisk krevende aktiviter i vanskelig geografisk og klimatisk terreng. Elever kom både fra kampavdelinger, og fra administrative kontorjobber innen logistkkområdet. Det var hensiktsmessig for moral og videre innsatsvilje at de ble gitt en avveksling fra den daglige tjenesten de var vant med i sin hjemmeavdeling.
Isefær ved Kristiansand ble valgt fordi dette stedet hadde alle de geografiske karakteristika en ønsket for å kunne tilby realistisk trening.

På de fleste kurs deltok to befal fra den norske Hæren som elever.
Det ble ikke brukt militære uniformer hverken av stab, instruktører eller kurselever.
Alle brukte samme type klær i blå farge. Kjøretøyene av type Landrover var også lakkert i samme blå farge.
Avdelingen kommuniserte med støtte fra sambandsavdelingen DKS i Kristiansand.

Deltagerne skulle lære mestring under krevende forhold, og lederegenskaper skulle utvikles.
Treningen var i hovedsak praktisk anlagt med intensitet tilpasset å møte krigens krav.
Instruktører fulgte tjensten tett opp. Hver deltager ble nøye observert.
Tjensten startet kl 06 om morgenen, og avsluttet kl 20.
Elever og instruktører hadde svært krevende dager. Grunnkursene varte i 3 uker, og de beste ble gitt tilbud om en ukes spesialisering som direkte fortsettelse etter grunnkurset.
Aktivitene bestod i terrengløping, kajakkpadling, fjellklatring, overlevelseteknikker og patruljetjenste i fremmed krevende terreng.
Mellom hvert kurs var det kun avsatt 3 dager til etterarbeid, og planlegging for neste kurs. Elevene kom samlet enten med båt, eller fly.
Hver enkelt elev ble evaluert, og resultatet ble formidlet hjemmeavdelingene. Resultater oppnådd under kurset hadde innflytelse på videre karriere.
Instruktørene avviklet sin 6 ukers ferie i desember og januar.
Fra 1958 til 1966 var det kun kurs fra midten av april til slutten av sept.

Fra 1966 ble det etablert en ny leir på Gautestad ved Evje, 28 km fra Evjemoen.
Virksomheten ble da utvidet med kurs også om vinteren.
Treningen ble ofte om vinteren gjennomført ved Hovden, der det var bedre vinterforhold.
Kursene om vinteren omfattet skitrening og generell winther warfare.
Mange av elevene hadde aldri tidligere gått på ski.
På slutten av hvert vinterkurs krysset elevene Hardangervidda på ski.

Om sommeren ble stedet også brukt til fjellklatring.
Innledende «opplæring» i fjellklatring ble holdt ca 2 – 3 km nord for Kil (Hægeland) tett inntil riksveien mellom Krsand og Evje. Aktiviteten var lett synlig fra veien.

Virksomheten ble avsluttet i 1992. Begge leirene ble da nedlagt.
Årsaken til nedleggelse var nedskjæringer i forsvarsbudsjettet i Storbritannia etter oppløsning av Sovjetunionen/Warzawapakten, og fjerning av Berlinmuren.

ARMY OUTWARD BOUND CAMP ISEJÆR.

The department was established in spring 1958 by the English army.
Isefjær / Gautestad was organized as part of the British Rhine Army of Germany.
Personnel staff and instructors were all English commanders.

The purpose of the operation was to train officers from NATO countries in physically and mentally demanding activities in difficult climatic and geographical terrain. Pupils came both from combat units, and from administrative office jobs in the logistics area. It was appropriate for morale and further commitment that they were given a diversion from the daily service they were accustomed to in their home department.
Isefær at Kristiansand was chosen because this place had all the geographical characteristics desired in order to provide realistic training.

On most courses, two officers from the Norwegian Army attended as students. Military uniforms were not used, neither of staff instructors or courses students. All used the same type of clothes in blue. The vehicles of type Land Rover was also painted in the same blue color. Department communicated with the support of liaison department DKS in Kristiansand.

Participants should learn coping under difficult conditions, and leadership skills should be developed. The training was essentially practical laid out, with intensity tailored to meet war demands. The instructors followed the training closely. Each participant was carefully observed. The Service started at 06 in the morning and ended at 20. Pupils and teachers had very intensive days. Basic courses lasted three weeks, and the best were given the offer of a one-week specialization as direct continuation after the basic course.
The activities consisted of trail running, kayaking, rock climbing, survival techniques and patrol-service in unknown and demanding terrain. Between each course, only three days were allocated to follow up work and planning for the next course. The students arrived together either by boat or plane. Each student was evaluated and the results were passed on to their home departments. Results obtained during the course influenced their future careers. Instructors settled their 6 weeks holiday in December and January. From 1958 until 1966, courses were only held from mid April to late September.

From 1966 a new camp was established in Gautestad at Evje, 28km from Evjemoen. The activities were then expanded with courses also in the winter. The training was often winter conducted at Hovden, where the winter conditions were better . Courses in winter covered ski training and general winter warfare. Many of the students had never been skiing before. At the end of each winter course, the students crossed the Hardangervidda skiing.

In summer, the site was also used for mountain climbing. Initial "training" in mountaineering was held approximately 2-3 km north of Kil (Hægeland) close to the highway between Kristiansand and Evje. Activity was easily visible from the road. Operations ended in 1992. Both camps were then closed down. The reason for the closure was reductiona in UK defense budget after dissolution of the Soviet Union / Warsaw Pact, and the removal of the Berlin Wall.

Isefjaer1969

After serving in Aden and returning to Germany I found Army life in Barracks a bit dull, so, I volunteered for the Outward Bound Course at Isefjaer in Norway.
We went by train up through Germany then Denmark and ferry across to Kristiansand and then east to Isefjaer. The location was brilliant on the edge of a fiord.
The course was made up of the usual outward bound activities. Every day started with a run followed by a swim before breakfast. The activities included canoeing, swimming,
survival and rock climbing. The canoeing included 24hour trips with camping on uninhabited islands. The scenery was outstanding in this beautiful country.
The second part took place in the mountains which included mainly trekking, mapping reading which if we managed to do accurately we would meet up with our instructor.
We would then camp over night at different locations. Towards the end of the Course we had written examinations and a First Aid Course.
47 years has mellowed the experience and cannot verify everything.
I have to give credit to the Instructors for their patience, superb knowledge and expertise. It was a very successful Course which returned me to Duty fit and healthy.

Harry Shields. Served in THe British Army ( October1959 /June1970)