Jillian Sooley is one of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary's cadets who are camping this week in a frozen wooded area in St. John's. (CBC)

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary didn't leave much to the imagination of a group of cadets about what they might expect on an excursion into the woods.

After all, the mission was titled Exercise Brass Monkey, which brought the RNC's cadets on a winter camping exercise to a wooded area in the west end of St. John's.

Chief Joe Browne said the mission — a mandatory part of training that will continue until graduation from Memorial University later this year — emphasizes the value of teamwork.

"This is just to make them uncomfortable, get them working together," Browne said Monday, as about two dozen cadets were preparing to hike into the woods for two nights of camping in the cold.

"They have to rely on each other out here, just as they do in the field working as operational police officers. The whole purpose [is] to rely on each other to get the job done," Browne said.

"The same thing applies out here, particularly when the weather gets really nasty."

RNC Chief Joe Browne: 'They have to rely on each other out here, just as they do in the field working as operational police officers.' (CBC)

Participating cadets say they were preparing for the challenge.

"We're hoping to stay warm," said cadet Jillian Sooley.

"But I got two big guys in my lean-to with me so they're going on either side of me, so I'm going to steal some body heat," she said with a laugh.

Cadets were required to carry heavy gear, and built their own shelter and fires.

Cadet Greg Gould said simply getting ready demanded co-operation, especially with the freezing rain and ice pellets that fell on St. John's on Monday.

"You're getting wet, or you need to slow down and change a layer, help each other out," he said.

The cadets will graduate from Memorial in September, and undergo six months of on-the-job training.

Don Burrage, the deputy minister of justice, came out to observe as the cadets prepared for Exercise Brass Monkey.

"It's obvious from what I've seen already that they're a tough group of young people. The recruit program is one of the best in Canada if not the best, and this give me a chance to experience that," Burrage said.