Exeter student on Royal Marine exercise in Norway

It is one of the most challenging environments in the world - snowbound for months at a time and full of life threatening hazards - but an Exeter student has taken it all in his stride.

Every year elements of the Royal Marines decamp the UK and move briefly to Norway's Arctic Circle where they undergo training in cold weather warfare.

Exeter sports student, Sam Logan, is one of 40 Royal Marine reservists in Norway for the first time undergoing phase one training learning vital Arctic survival skills.

Over the course of two weeks the commandos have to adapt to working as part of a cold weather team - for some that means learning to ski for the first time, but for all it sees them learning to find food, build shelters and carry out operations successfully in temperatures as low as -30c.

For Sam coming to Norway for the first time has been an eye opening experience.

"I've been in the Corps for four years and served in Afghanistan but this is the first time I've been to Norway," he said.

"It is tough, and it is physically draining, but I joined up because I wanted to be challenged and that has certainly happened."

Marine Logan initially joined the Royal Marines as a full time commando four years ago. Over the years he realised he wanted to be a football coach so resigned at the end of 2013 but remained on in the Corps as a reservist.

He said: "My brother's a physical training instructor in the Navy and he suggested I try the marines, I did and it was just what I needed. I learned a lot about myself, and life, during that time and when I decided I wanted to become a football coach I also knew I didn't want to leave the Corps which is why I became a reservist."

The 23-year-old lives in Heavitree, Exeter, and is balancing doing a SAQ qualification with his ongoing training as a Royal Marine.

He added: "I'm very proud to be a Royal Marine, I have served my country in Afghanistan and met a number of different people from all walks of life. The things that I have done, and experienced in this role are unlike anything I would do on civvy street. Who would have thought I would ever be camping in the Arctic Circle in winter."

Celebrating their 350th anniversary in 2014, Royal Marines are the UK's mountain and cold weather warfare specialists able to operate at altitude and in the most extreme of weather conditions.

The Corps has been training in Norway since the 1970s practising procedures and protocols that can be transferred to almost any environment or situation.

Colonel Kevin Oliver, Deputy Commander of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines, said: "Norway is about soldiering in a hard, dangerous environment but the skills learned out here are transferrable to other climates. Most of the marines would agree that it is hard work and challenging but that they also enjoy themselves along the way."