The French and Beligum Mottershead Battlefield Tour (MBFT) is a nine (9) day tour (inclusive of travel) held during Reading Week in February each year. Participants visit battle sites, cemeteries, and museums associated with the actions of Canada Expeditionary Forces of both wars, including the Somme, Vimy, Dieppe, JUNO Beach, and the Falaise Gap. Additionally, cadets participate in the Menin Gate ceremony to lay a wreath in honour of fallen soldiers of the Great War.
Thanks to the support of Ian and Rosemary Mottershead students are able to build on knowledge that all cadets will have acquired in one or more of their core history courses giving them a much deeper understanding of tactical battle and its connections to strategic goals and planning.
From a leadership perspective, participating cadets will not get a better learning opportunity than by walking the grounds over which junior officers. some of them RMC graduates, valiantly led and sometimes died in the course of their duties.
Standing over graves of fallen soldiers reminds them of the responsibilities they will soon bear as leaders and commanders. In short, everyone who walks away from the MBFT will do so with a far profound understanding and appreciation of how the actions of Canadian sailors, soldiers and aviators helped define who we are as a nation.