Its the role we were serving at the time. The government and MOD have a certain quota of their forces Arctic ready, some desert ready, etc with the theory being we can react quickly to any trouble anywhere in the world. We spent three years in the Arctic role then the following year we were in the heat and jungles of Kenya and Belize.
I felt much warmer at Preston. I think it helps that their grounds have the corners all filled in. Saturday was bad though. Wouldn't have wanted to watch three hours of live NFL play offs yesterday in Green Bay in around -19 weather.