ARMY CADET VOLUNTEER G O I N G
Autumn 2017
F U R T H E R
armycadets.com
XMAS GIFTS
10 presents CFAVs will love for Christmas Page 26
LEADERSHIP CODE
A NEW MANUAL FOR BEST PRACTICE
ANNUAL CAMP
The place for pushing boundaries, learning – and having a lot of fun INSIDE: NEWS
ESTABLISHMENT CHANGES COMMAND TASKS IN THE FIELD PHOTOS
ISSUE #8: AUTUMN 2017
W E LC O M E
When I took over as General Officer Commanding Regional Command in June, I also took on the role of Commander Cadets to over 78,000 enthusiastic cadets and CFAVs in the Army’s Cadets. I am already impressed by the range of activities our dedicated volunteers deliver and how these help young people grow their selfconfidence, team-working skills and leadership. Nothing demonstrates this better than the many thousands of cadets who were able to attend summer camps and take part in national events this year down to the tireless efforts of our volunteers. As I travel around the country over the coming two years, I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible and hearing more about the great news stories the ACF delivers every day.
MAJOR GENERAL DUNCAN CAPPS CBE GOC Regional Command
CONTENTS 14
20
22
EVERY ISSUE 04. THE BRIEFING Army Cadet news round-up They’re outside for 24 hours so have to go into tactical mode Capt Thomas Hall, Rise to the Challenge, p22
08. THE DRILL Ideas, advice and comment
26. NUMBER-OFF! 10 Christmas gifts
28. STEPPING UP Awards and promotions
30. ACF POLICY Update on ACF issues
32. IN THE FIELD Your photos from ACF events
34. DAY IN THE LIFE Forest keeper Martin Whitfield
THIS ISSUE 12. COMMAND TASKS Team-building tasks to promote communication and decision-making skills
14. ANNUAL CAMP A look back at some of the highlights of the season
20. LEADERSHIP CODE Outlining the Army Cadet Leadership Code, a manual for best practice
22. CADET CHALLENGES Four exciting exercises, events and competitions that cadets can participate in, from DofE to target shooting
ON THE COVER Annual Camp Leadership Code Number-Off Cover image Taken at City of London and NE Sector ACF annual camp. Photo: Jason Cairnduff for Action Images
GO FURTHER Thinking of stepping up? How to get selected and prepare for the Cadet Force Commissioning Board, page 28
Army Cadet Volunteer is produced by the ACF Marketing and Communications team, based at the Army Cadet Force Association: Holderness House, 51-61 Clifton Street, London EC2A 4DW Get in touch: Tel: 020 7426 8377 Fax: 020 7426 8378 Website: www.armycadets.com Email: marketing@armycadets.com Facebook: facebook.com/Armycadetforce Twitter: @ArmyCadetsUK Army Cadet Volunteer magazine is designed and edited by James Pembroke Publishing
This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form whole or in part without prior written permission of the publishers. All contents and addresses correct at time of going to press. Every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, but neither James Pembroke Publishing or ACFA can be held responsible for the accuracy of the information herein, or any consequences arising from it. Views expressed by contributors might not reflect the views of the ACF or the Army.
Editor: Sarah Campbell Head of design: Simon Goddard Senior project manager: Elizabeth Hufton
ARMYCADETS.COM 3
THE BRIEFING ARMY CADET NEWS FROM AROUND THE UK
FUN DAY
ACF cadets setting off for the trip of a lifetime
Corsham cadets showcase skills
SEE MORE Flash
INTERNATIONAL
To see more photos of cadets on overseas exchanges, visit our Facebook page facebook.com/ Armycadetforce
CANADIAN EXCHANGE TRIP Cadets from the UK and Canada traded places this summer for the annual Canadian Cadet Exchange
I
n early July, 36 ACF cadets accompanied by adult volunteers travelled to camps across Canada and 60 Canadian cadets and six adults arrived in the UK. ACF cadets visited Argonaut, Whitehorse and Rocky Mountain camps for leadership and adventurous training courses. The experience helped to improve their fitness and sharpen their existing adventurous training, first aid and marksmanship skills as well as providing opportunities to take part in community activities.
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Another team also travelled to Connaught for a Leadership and Instructor Marksmanship course. The Canadian cadets’ UK visit included a twoweek field and leadership course – Exercise Tiger Leader – at Holcombe Moor near Manchester. They also visited Capel Curig and Halton, where they did sailing, rock climbing and canoeing. Culture Week included three days in Southampton and Portsmouth, and four days in London. The week included activities such as
museum visits, tank displays and the D-Day War Room and visits to a theme park and a West End show. A four-day tour took the cadets to First and Second World War battlefields, cemeteries and memorials in Belgium and France. The trip concluded with a visit to Canada House. Cadets reported that the unique challenges, new skills, friendships and memories would last a lifetime. Details on next year’s exchange will be posted on Westminster later this year.
CADETS AND CFAVS from Wiltshire ACF helped to put the fun into a family day in July for 200 lookedafter children and their carers. Fourteen cadets and four adults from Corsham detachment put on a range of ACF activities at the Park Farm Family Fun Day in Yatton Keynell in Wiltshire. These included stomp rockets, laser tagging and making paracord belt clips, adding to the dozens of activities available to visitors. “The cadets were very excited and keen to take part. They interacted brilliantly with the young people and supported the event wholeheartedly,” Detachment Commander Lt Mark Perrett said. “During the day I was also pleased to see how well they represented the ACF when talking to carers and other adults.” Look out for details of Community Week (April 2018) in the next issue of the magazine to find out how you can publicise your detachment’s work with the local community.
ABOVE: CFAVS and cadets from Corsham detachment getting ready for action
GET IN TOUCH E: marketing@armycadets.com facebook.com/Armycadetforce @ArmyCadetsUK cadetsarmy
THE BRIEFING
Emily Budinger
ACF AWARDS
Ellis Rudge
The following have been recognised for their commitment and dedication to the ACF 5TH CLASP
AWARDS
Bravery nominations Quick-thinking cadets are shortlisted in the Young Hero of the Year award TWO ACF CADETS, Emily Budinger from Sussex ACF and Ellis Rudge from Suffolk ACF, were nominated for the Guy Evans Young Hero of the Year award, part of the Everyday Heroes awards run by St John Ambulance and supported by the Mail on Sunday. Emily Budinger Emily Budinger from Horsham detachment was chopping firewood at a Canadian summer camp when the axe cut her leg to the bone. Emily’s first aid training immediately took over. “I don’t remember how I had the clarity of mind to lay myself on my back,” Emily said. “Next thing I knew I was laying on the dirt with my leg raised. I had a bandana on my wrist, and so I untied it and pushed it into my wound.”
When her friends arrived, one of them fainted, but Emily was able to instruct another friend to keep their airways clear and put them in the recovery position. Emily made a speedy recovery. Ellis Rudge Ellis Rudge (13) from Haverhill detachment helped Mason West (10) after he fell and banged his head on his scooter. Mason passed out and suffered internal bruising to the skull. Ellis gave first aid to Mason and remained with him until paramedics and his family arrived. “I owe him a massive amount of debt for helping my son,” Melanie West, Mason’s mum said. The winner of this year’s award will be announced at a dinner on 28 September, hosted by TV presenter Katie Piper.
B A C K I N T H E D AY : WESTBURY LEIGHTON HOUSE, WESTBURY, became home to the Army Officer Selection Board in 1949. But it wasn’t until 2006 that Cadet Force officers got a selection board all of their own, also based at Westbury. The Cadet Force Commissioning Board is similar to the Army version, but without the fitness assessments. New officers are commissioned as 2nd Lieutenants and expected to undertake the year-long online Initial Officer Training course. The cadet commission is undergoing its biggest evolutionary change at the moment. A new commission is currently being introduced – the first in 155 years – specifically for volunteer officers of the Sea Cadets, Combined Cadet Force, Army Cadet Force and RAF Air Cadets.
CAPT MAJ SMI CAPT SMI MAJ CAPT MAJ LT LT COL
P KJ P AA GAM P KN B F FN MJ
MAJ LT COL MAJ MAJ LT COL MAJ MAJ LT COL SMI MAJ LT COL
KA ND J CG M DW E JW A IW BM
MAJ SMI SSI SMI SMI MAJ SMI CAPT CSMI MAJ SMI
I DA E SG A G E AL AP R P
SMI SMI SMI MAJ LT COL SMI SSI COL SMI CAPT CAPT LT COL SSI SI SMI CAPT RSMI SMI SSI MAJ
DJ CP TS J J M DS J J G J RH R A C S PA AJG P O
SSI SSI SSI SMI MAJ SMI LT SSI SSI LT SMI CAPT LT SMI LT LT MAJ LT
N A DK DS A PA KIC B A A O SE JE I S JE DJ JM
BADRUDDIN BLOOR COLLINS FISHER MACALLISTER SLATER SMITH SYKES WEBBER WOOTTON
4TH CLASP ADAMS ATHERTON BURNS ELLWOOD MACDONALD MARTIN MASON PICKERING SCOTT SMITH WHITE
3RD CLASP ATKINSON BYWOOD LOCK MATTS MURRAY NEWBURY SCULL SMITH SMITH WILSON WRIGHT
2ND CLASP BATCHELOR BURN CHILD DALEY DAUNCEY ELLISON GILLETT GREENLEE JOHNSTON KIMBER LANGHAM MILLS PARROTT PEACOCK RATCLIFFE RHIND RICHARDS SMITH SMITH WILLIAMS
1ST CLASP ANNABLE BEATENS BROWN BROWN CALVER CASS COLE EDWARDS GASSON JARDINE KAPLAN KARRAN LEE LETTIES MCCARTHY MCCONNELL MUNRO PETERSON
SMI SSI SMI CAPT SMI MAJ SMI COL
N WJ A AM BP PH W CJM
PRITCHARD ROBSON SHARPE THORNE TOWNSEND TRANTER WILKINSON WOOD
CADET FORCES MEDAL 2LT CAPT CAPT SSI SI 2LT SMI SSI CAPT RSMI COL SMI SI SI MAJ SSI SMI CAPT MAJ CAPT SMI LT SSI SSI SSI 2LT 2LT CAPT SSI CAPT SI LT SMI CAPT LT SSI SSI LT COL CAPT SI SMI SMI MAJ CAPT LT SMI LT CAPT LT SSI CAPT SMI SI MAJ CSMI CAPT MAJ SSI SSI CAPT CAPT LT 2LT MAJ SI COL MAJ SMI
AL M RJ MH IC TF K A DJ JMK JMK K J CJ NAC SJ SP PA KL MGB R L DW E R B MT J J A J PG LA DWJ A SJ A A SA MD SJ BG SR AD ND MRM PT PD CJM B MA LGD SJ MAR JR SW D CF DS AP SW D SJ KD MJ CJM MJ D
ASHTON BLACKBURN BRADBURN BROWN BUSH CHAN COLLINS DARKE DONNELLY DWYER ERSKINE FARQUHAR FISHER FLETCHER FULLARD GREENLAND GRYNTUS HADLEY HARVEY HAUGHEY HEARN HEARST HEATHCOTE HENDRY HIGGS HIRST JOHNSON JOHNSTON KIRKLAND LEE LEWIS MATYEAR MAXELL MAYALL MCWILLIAMS MESZAROS MONK MOTTRAM MOYNHAM NAYLOR NEVILLE OSBOURNE OSTACCHINI PANTER PARRY PATERSON PRICE PRIEST PRIOR REID ROBSON SAUNDERS SAUNDERS SHALLOW SLADEN SPENCER STEVENSON THOMAS THURLOW TOZE TURNER TWIGG TWYMAN WALKER WEBB WOOD YEARWOOD YEOMANS
FOR A FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS VISIT ARMYCADETS.COM/ACFAWARDS
ARMYCADETS.COM 5
THE BRIEFING
IN THE MEDIA
ACF luminaries making headlines
PERSONNEL
A CA is basically a CFAV who chooses not to wear uniform
CAs IN THE ACF Report on the role of civilian assistants and how to make the best use of them
C
ivilian assistants (CAs) are not always used as effectively as they could be in the ACF, although examples of good practice abound. This is the main finding of research into the use of CAs commissioned by the ACF following the publication of the Project Libra report. Col Chris Sharwood-Smith, who led the research, engaged with counties early this year and carried out an anonymous survey about how CAs could be better used. He also looked to the Sea and Air Cadets for examples of best practice. Chris said: “There are some beacons of best practice throughout the country where CAs are maximised at local and county level to reduce the burden on the instructors. Equally, in some counties there was confusion about what a CA could and couldn’t do. The message we need to make clear is that a CA is essentially a CFAV who chooses not to
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wear uniform. They may be purely administrative or, if qualified, they may instruct some subjects.” The report has identified several areas where there is a need for clearer communication about the role of CAs. For example, several survey respondents did not consider that CAs were CFAVs and, as a result, their use was so limited as to make them a burden on the county or detachment. On the other hand, one of the examples of best use of CAs was one county that used a small team of CAs to provide welfare cover at annual camps, releasing the instructors to train the cadets.
Greater London SE Sector ACF: A former cadet was appointed as the royal household’s first black equerry. Maj Nana Twumasi-Ankrah, who was once a cadet with 101 (Penge) Cadet Detachment ACF, will support the monarch at official engagements such as regional visits and audiences at Buckingham Palace, according to The Telegraph. Glasgow and Lanarkshire ACF: An Airdrie army cadet hero was recognised in the Daily Record for saving an elderly woman who had fallen. Cadet Ross Kay, from 3 Troop Royal Engineers, was collecting money for his paper round when he heard the cry. He found the woman, who had passed out initially, and put her in the recovery position until paramedics arrived. 2 Highlanders ACF: Three army cadets featured in the Banffshire Journal for their brave efforts with the
Read more about Project Libra at www.defencegateway. mod.uk/linkedfiles/reference_ portal/cadets/refdocs_forms/ projectlibrareportfinal.pdf Turn to page 8 to check whether you’re getting the most out of your CAs
Cadet Ross Kay receiving a St John Ambulance letter of appreciation from Col Alex McNamee
rescue of a man in difficulty in Macduff Harbour. Jordan Anderson swam out to the man, while Katlyn and Shannon Wilson used first aid training to comfort the man’s partner. Durham ACF: Thirtyfive cadets from Durham ACF took part in the Whiz Bang exercise, a battlefield tour of the Somme and Passchendaele, reported by the Sunderland Echo. Cpl Kayleigh Craik was asked to present a wreath on behalf of a female Second World War veteran. The veteran then gave Kayleigh the cap badge she had worn throughout the war. Essex ACF: A former Essex ACF cadet was featured in the Braintree and Witham Times for winning a top award from a defence college. Cadet Jake Finesilver won the Sword of Honour at the recent parade at Welbeck DSFC. He won the award for ‘outstanding personal development’.
THE BRIEFING
BEYOND THE HOR IZON Find out how taking cadets on exercises away from home can benefit them
page 22
NATIONAL COMPETITION RESULTS Results for cross country, hockey and tug of war
NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY (TEAM) Junior Boys – Class A 1st 2nd 3rd
Junior Girls – Class D
51 Inf Bde 7 Inf Bde LONDIST
1st 2nd 3rd
Intermediate Boys – Class B 1st 2nd 3rd
7 Inf Bde 4 Inf Bde 11 Inf Bde
National Athletics Championships Eight regional teams competed at the Meres Stadium in Grantham on 10 June. It was an amazing day that showed true ACF sportsmanship. National Girls’ Hockey Competition Seven regions sent teams to the 2017 national competition, which took place at Imphal Barracks on 1 July. All teams played at the top of their game but Northern Ireland (38 Bde) were victors again. National Tug of War Championships Twelve teams from all over the UK travelled to York to compete in the National Tug of War Championships on 1 July. All teams worked very hard to represent their regions, but well done to Eastern who won both the boys’ and girls’ competitions and are now the national champions.
1st 2nd 3rd
Intermediate Girls – Class E 1st 2nd: 3rd
Senior Boys – Class C
7 Inf Bde 11 Sigs Bde 51 Inf Bde
51 Inf Bde 7 Inf Bde 11 Sigs Bde
Senior Girls – Class F
7 Inf Bde 51 Inf Bde 4 Inf Bde
1st 2nd 3rd
OVERALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
7 Inf Bde 51 Inf Bde 11 Inf Bde 7 Inf Bde
NEW NATIONAL RECORDS Class D discus Class F long jump
Cdt A Michelow 23.6m (Eastern Region) Cpl A Pattinson 4.83m (Eastern Region)
NATIONAL GIRLS HOCKEY COMPETITION 2017 Player of the tournament Runners up National champions
Cdt Sgt E Crisp 4 Inf Bde 38 Irish Bde
NATIONAL TUG OF WAR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017 Boys national champions
7 Inf Bde
Cross country medallists proudly display their medals
Girls national champions
7 Inf Bde
PIPES AND DRUMS
Cadets in Beating Retreat debut THE ACF’S Pipes and Drums took part in the annual Household Division’s Beating Retreat in London for the first time in June. A team of nine CFAVs and 41 cadets from all over Scotland played at the event, aided by a support team of six. Cadet Pipe Maj Ruadhan ScrivenorAnderson (17) was asked to play the Lament. “I was Cadets were excited. This thrilled to take part is one of the biggest things a cadet has been asked to do in my time in cadets,” said Ruadhan. “I ended up playing a tune I wrote myself. It was quite nervewracking. The crowds are very big and we had Prince Harry there as well.” Senior Cdt Drum Maj Morgan Danks of Glasgow and Lanarkshire Bn ACF led the Pipes and Drums’ performance with Ruadhan, from the Black Watch Battalion ACF. The event was a success, with the Pipes and Drums having found a new platform to display its talents at the Beating Retreat. “It was absolutely amazing. It was the proudest moment of my life,” said Ruadhan, who will leave Army Cadets to study history at Dundee University in the autumn.
ARMYCADETS.COM 7
THE DRILL TIPS, ADVICE AND COMMENT
ACRONYM AID
KNOW YO U R A B C Fess up: how many of you hear a particular acronym all the time but haven’t the foggiest what it stands for? Worse, how many of you use that acronym all the time, but still haven’t a clue what it means? Google is rarely any help in decoding military jargon (we’ve tried), so to save you the embarrassment of asking your mates or superiors for the definition of an acronym that you’ve been using for years, we’ve decoded a few here.
Col Chris Sharwood-Smith
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POINT CA CHECK
Are your CAs fulfilling their potential? Col Chris SharwoodSmith, Colonel Cadets (East Anglia), 7th Infantry Brigade and HQ East, has produced this checklist for maximising your non-uniformed colleagues’ roles
MAKING THE MOST OF CAs 1. Make sure they are properly qualified and trained. Like any other CFAV they should have the necessary vetting checks and safeguarding training. They should also have access to Westminster. There is no bar to CAs attending any form of training, including courses at the National Cadet Training Centre. 2. Use their skills. CAs can teach cadets any skill that they are qualified in. Use this to your advantage. 3. Keep people in the ACF family. If a uniformed instructor reaches 65 or can no longer commit as much time, ask them to stay
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on as a CA. Their ACF qualifications remain with them if they are current and competent. 4. Make sure they aren’t out of pocket. Although CAs can’t claim volunteer allowance they can claim travel and subsistence. 5. Challenge myths. Often there is a reluctance to recruit and use CAs because of misconceptions. The Small Arms School Corps has confirmed that CAs who have received appropriate training and are current and competent can teach skill at arms or conduct range work. SO2 Policy and Plans at Regional Command Cadets Branch can provide further guidance.
This issue: all the Cs… CO
Commanding Officer, usually of a Battalion or Regiment
Comd
Commander, for example Pl Comd (Platoon Commander)
Comdt
Commandant
Comms
Communications
Coy
Company
Cpl
Corporal
CGS
Chief of the General Staff
CDS
Chief of the Defence Staff
CFCB
Cadet Forces Commissioning Board
C3I
Command, Control, Communications & Intelligence
CA
Civilian Assistant
CAA
Cadet Administrative Assistant
A prize to the sender of the first postcard we receive with all these acronyms used in a sentence. (Not really, but we will be very impressed.)
THE DRILL
A R M Y CA DET LE A DER SHIP
Find out about the ACF’s leadership code from WO1 Sarah Cox pages 10 and 21
HOW TO : TALK ABOUT ARMY CAREERS TO CADETS
C
adets are under no obligation to join the Army: that is not the reason the ACF exists. However, there are some obvious similarities and so some cadets are bound to be curious about what life is like in the Armed Forces. It is even MOD policy that cadets should be made aware of career opportunities in the Forces. Toby Evans, Head of Liaison at Army Recruiting Group, has a few tips on talking to cadets about Army careers.
Your local Army Careers Centre is your one-stop shop. There are 68 around the country, and they can help with issues ranging from advice for individual cadets to careers presentations for your detachment. Army Recruiting Group tries to schedule a careers advice presentation at every ACF and CCF annual camp. This is in line with MOD policy (JSP 814) and Regional Command direction. We’re very clear that this is not a recruitment event, but we do talk to cadets about Army careers and opportunities like junior entry and apprenticeships. A cadet’s ACF experience is good preparation for an Army career. Unfortunately, even a four-star cadet isn’t exempt from any training, but they would absolutely recognise many subjects
in the recruit syllabus and be well set up to succeed. The best way for a cadet to find out if they are eligible to join the Army and whether a military career is for them is to apply online. This in no way commits them to joining, but starts the process
of finding out if they are eligible and learning about Army roles. We will help and nurture them through the process; they can choose to leave it at any time. Making an application is definitely recruiting, so should not take place on ACF premises or using ACF facilities.
W H AT TO D O W I T H . . . … NEW RECRUITS September often brings an influx of new, nervous cadets. Capt Mark Evans from Gloucestershire ACF has some pointers for making sure they settle in and enjoy themselves. GET THEM IN UNIFORM. Don’t have them hanging around in civvies for ages. Make getting uniforms sorted your priority so they feel part of it straight away. PAIR NEW RECRUITS WITH EXPERIENCED CADETS. Link them up with
a senior cadet for their first evening who can mentor them and explain what it’s about. It’s good experience for the senior cadet too. This is better than putting the new recruits into a separate cadre because it gets them involved straight away. INVOLVE THE PARENTS. Encourage them to come and meet you so you can explain things like costs involved, what kit cadets are going to be given and
how long cadets might go away for. The main thing is knowing who they can contact if there’s an issue. SIGN THEM UP FOR A WEEKEND. If there’s a weekend coming up in a month or two, and they’ve got their uniform, why not see how they feel about it? They’ll meet people from other detachments, put into practice some of what they’ve already learnt and really start to feel part of the company.
THE DRILL
GR E AT A DV ENTUR ES Find out what counties are doing to keep annual camp exciting
pages 14-19
The expedition training is thorough preparation
PROFILE
Sarah Cox Poor weather made for an even tougher challenge
EXPEDITION PREPAR ATION
LESSONS FROM A TOUGH CHALLENGE
M
aking the pre-expedition training as hard as the expedition itself is key to a successful challenge. That was the key lesson learnt by the 10 cadets and six CFAVs from Somerset ACF, who travelled to Scotland to canoe the Great Glen Way in a challenge made tougher by bad weather. Despite the difficulties and not being able to finish the challenge, the training objectives were exceeded, according to SI Rob Evered, who led the expedition and put together a report to help other CFAVs with expedition planning (see link at end of article). “My approach was to make the preexpedition training hard, delegate as much as was practically possible and upskill all participants so single points of failure were eliminated,” said Rob. “We lost about 15 cadets who began the training but decided for a variety of reasons that the final expedition was not for them. The feedback from the team that went to Scotland was
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they enjoyed how hard the training was. They felt that everyone taking part had earned it. However, we need to think about those who dropped out, so we can think about what we offer to cadets who struggle with teamwork and personal drive. “Every day we had rain, sometimes accompanied by strong winds, but thanks to months of training, all cadets ended the week with dry sleeping bags. The cadets learned to gather clean water, menu plan and cook using petrol stoves. “We let the cadets go for a swim in Loch Ness before finishing. For some, being able to go back and say they had entered the monster’s lake and survived was the coolest part of the trip.” Read Rob’s report at armycadets.com/ county/somerset-acf/news/exercisetiger-venturer-caledonian-challenge.-816-april-2017
WO1 Leadership, Centre for Army Leadership, The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst “If somebody had said to me as a young Lance Corporal chef ‘You’re going to be the new WO1 Leadership for the whole of the Army’, I would have gone ‘Not a chance’,” says WO1 Sarah Cox. Sarah joined the Army in 1997 as a 16-year-old apprentice chef in the Royal Logisitics Corps. She’d always known that’s what she wanted to do, right from being an enthusiastic 12-year-old cadet who always managed to get a job in the kitchens at annual camp. “It was only in 2007 when I became a chef instructor that I realised I had an aptitude for teaching. I liked the idea of developing individuals’ knowledge and skills,” she says. Now she has equipped herself with a degree in leadership and management and was a key contributor to the Army Leadership Code, on which the new Cadet Leadership Code is based (see pages 20-21 for our feature on this). The Army Leadership Code came out of recommendations following the Chief of the General Staff’s leadership review in 2015 – as did the Centre for Army Leadership. It has been in existence only since December last year. She says: “The more we can educate and advise on what a good leader is and how to be one, the more good Army leaders we will develop.”
THE DRILL
GETCONNECTED
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SPEAK OUT YOUR LETTERS, EMAILS, TWEETS & POSTS
RISING STAR
Cpl Owen Jones (right) with one of his awards
HEARTFELT THANKS Corporal Owen Jones, Lincolnshire ACF, wrote the following for the county’s website in appreciation of what the Army Cadet Force has done for him. Owen was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and has overcome huge obstacles, including the death of his father, to gain numerous awards and a promotion in the ACF: “I am thoroughly enjoying my time in the Army Cadet Force. I have met some incredible people, had wonderful experiences, hugged, laughed, cried, marched (a lot), sweated and done some amazing things,” he says. “I have an amazing detachment commander in Sergeant Coulson and an adviser, friend and father figure who’s done everything my dad would have done. Joining Lincolnshire ACF made me a better person, and I am proud of how far I’ve come.”
Lt Simon Crossley, Assistant PRO of Northamptonshire ACF, told us about a cadet who shadowed the PR team at annual camp this year – and about her scoop of an interview with the GOC: “The interview with the Maj-Gen Duncan Capps at annual camp was a grabbed opportunity. Cadet CSM Lucy Waller, who is almost 18, was given the option of being attached to the PR team at annual camp this year as something a little different. She was amazing! She spent a couple of days getting stuck in with interviewing and photography. By mid-week, we were happy to let her take on interviews herself with us on hand to support. “When the GOC visit was announced, we thought it would be an opportunity to not only put Lucy’s new skills to the test, but also to showcase to the GOC what we can offer cadets in terms of developing skills such as confidence and communication. The GOC seemed impressed and wanted to know more about Lucy’s experience on camp. “Lucy was perfectly suited for the role. It has also paved the way for a new venture for next year’s camp, in which we will take six cadets into the PR team.” Listen to Lucy’s interview at soundcloud. com/lnracf-media-area/interview-with-thegeneral-officer-commanding-of-the-armycadet-force
GET IN TOUCH Send your letters, comments and ideas for future conversation starters to marketing@armycadets.com
FRONTLINE ON FACEBOOK We asked you: fieldcraft is fun, but what do you learn from it? Carrie Purdom Hedgehogs like warm sleeping bags. The 3 Stars will attack at dawn on the first night. Nothing tastes as good as your first brew. Marvin Marshall Resilience. After a hard day, you find yourself lying in a puddle in the freezing cold winter night while it's chucking it down. You eventually patrol out then get attacked, so you have to switch on and leg it out of there with all your kit, stay switched on enough to make sure everyone is okay, replan and carry on. Russell Myers Everything, if it's taught well. It's pretty much the only subject in which you can incorporate elements of every other subject from the syllabus into your training.
TOP TWEETS ACF in the Twittersphere @WellsportsPhil Great to see the @ArmyCadetsUK based in Plymouth speaking to @TaviCollege students about future careers & transferable skills. @LNRCadetHQ A Company cadets taking part in their interdetachment Sportsday. @ArmyCadetsUK Building teamwork with Fun & Friendship at its best. @hsyacf1 Cdts from Brigg, ECoy volunteering at Brigg in Bloom, creating an ACF garden. Well done guys! #VolunteersWeek2017 #GoingFurther
ARMYCADETS.COM 11
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The aim is to pass each other through the holes without touching the rope
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12 ACF AUTUMN 2017
GET INVOLVED We’re always looking for detachments to feature on these pages. Get in touch: marketing@ armycadets.com
Good planning and cooperation are necessary to complete this task
2
TEAM BUILDING
1
Spider Web
2
Red Alert
COMMAND TASKS CADETS FROM ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS BATTALION ACF TOOK ON THE SPIDER WEB CHALLENGE ON ANNUAL CAMP AT SWYNNERTON TRAINING CAMP. MEANWHILE, CADETS FROM 2 SQUADRON, LINCOLNSHIRE ACF, DID THE RED ALERT CHALLENGE AT PRINCE WILLIAM OF GLOUCESTER BARRACKS IN GRANTHAM
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SPIDER WEB Equipment: Long rope and two wooden posts or trees 2-4 metres apart. Time: 20-30 minutes. Where: Outdoors. Aim: To work as a team to get each member through a different hole of the spider web without touching the rope. Benefits: Encourages participation, contribution, relating to others, teamwork, communication and listening. Instructions: The CFAV sets up the spider web then sets the challenge with as little instruction as possible. Cadets work together to strategise ways to overcome the challenge while thinking logically about implications and risks. They try their ideas and re-try as required. At the end they should reflect on what went well and what they would do differently. Make it harder: Make the holes in the spider web smaller.
CADETS WORK TOGETHER TO STRATEGISE WAYS TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGE WHILE THINKING ABOUT RISKS
2
RED ALERT
Equipment: Various ropes, planks, burdens (such as an oil drum or metal box), red coloured tape, and materials to build two scaffolds. Time: 5 minutes briefing, 5 minutes planning by task commander, 15 minutes to complete the task. Where: Indoors or outdoors. Aim: To get the group and the burden from the start to the finish, without the burden touching the ground or any areas on the equipment marked with red tape, in a safe and efficient manner. Benefits: Gaining experience managing a team, planning a task as a team, delegating tasks, making command decisions, teamwork, achieving the physical demands of each task and working to a deadline. Instructions: Cadets are asked to listen to the instructions given for each task which outline the objective, the rules and the safety precautions. A task
commander is assigned who then has 5 minutes to formulate a plan with their team, incorporating where necessary the ideas from the team with their own, delegate tasks and execute the task by managing the team. No one and nothing may touch the ground between the start and the finish lines, the sides of the obstacle, any part of the scaffolding or anything marked with red tape. Any equipment which crosses the start line must cross the finish line, and keep in mind the burden is fragile and may not be thrown or dropped. Make it harder: • Decrease the time allowed. • Remove elements of equipment. • Make the teams smaller.
NOTHING MAY TOUCH THE GROUND BETWEEN THE START AND FINISH LINES
ARMYCADETS.COM 13
ANNUAL CAMP
PUSHING BOUNDARIES
ANNUAL CAMP
AS THE MEMORY OF CAMP FADES INTO AUTUMN, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE MORE UNUSUAL AND INTERESTING EXPERIENCES OF THE SEASON
A
renowned DJ, the chance to do a sports leadership qualification, talent shows – even caving in a bus. The opportunities for cadets at this year’s annual camps ranged from the instructional to the recreational. For cadets who wanted to get stuck right in, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland ACF had just the thing at Brunswick
14 ACF AUTUMN 2017
Camp this year: a bus adapted into a cave. Lt Col Sean Smales, Deputy Commandant for Military Training, explains: “It is a singledeck converted coach, with more than 100 metres of crawling spaces, which is designed to replicate going potholing or caving. It is made of wood and has the added bonus of having escape doors all over the bus, so if cadets struggle they can be let out. We are always looking for something different to do
ANNUAL CAMP
DID YOU KNOW?
There are hundreds of great images from this year’s camps available from the Brand Centre
ARMYCADETS.COM 15
ANNUAL CAMP
THEY DO A LOT IN A SHORT PERIOD. IT REALLY BRINGS THEM ON Lt Clare Wookey, Lincolnshire ACF Sports Officer
on the adventure training day to ensure we give cadets an experience they may not have had before – something their mates at home would not be doing. This fitted the bill.”
Facing up to fears The caving and potholing activities in the bus helped some of the cadets face up to their fears. Sean says: “Some who were scared of tight spaces and being trapped still gave it a go and loved it. They saw it as fun. However, what I saw was the realisation that they are not that scared of tight spaces and are more
THIS PAGE: Camp is an opportunity for cadets and CFAVs to learn new skills OPPOSITE PAGE: Cadets can try high ropes (top) and gain the Community Sports Leaders Award (bottom)
16 ACF AUTUMN 2017
flexible than they thought from getting round some of the tight corners.” It helped to build team work and peer-topeer mentoring and support as cadets were helping each other through confined spaces. And, these being cadets, “it also built in a bit of a competitive edge as to who could get through the quickest,” Sean says. Cadets from Lincolnshire, meanwhile, were focusing more on ostensibly aboveground activities. They had the chance to not only fulfil half of their four-star, but also get a nationally recognised qualification in the form of the Community Sports Leaders Award (CSLA) on this year’s camp at Wathgill. It’s the second year that the county’s Sports Officer, Lt Clare Wookey, has offered the opportunity to cadets: last year she had seven participants; this year word spread and she had 14, including cadets of all ranks and three adult volunteers. “Normally in a further education
environment, you’d do this over a year, one hour a week,” says Clare. “But we do it intensively on camp in one go. I think it’s a good way of doing it because they do a lot in a short period and they can see a massive change in their behaviours during that time. It really brings them on.”
Fast-track qualification The cadets focus on their award for the entire camp, apart from one day of adventure training and one afternoon of range activities. “They have a mixture of practical and theory-based sessions, with five units to complete including one around developing their leadership skills. Then they have to plan, lead and evaluate a number of sporting activities,” Clare says. “After tea each day, the cadets on the CSLA cadre run structured sports activities for their peers. They can be traditional sports, physical training testing or they can make up their
ANNUAL CAMP
Images: Thank you to all the counties (and Peter Russell from Somerset ACF) who contributed images for this feature
ANNUAL CAMP
own games.” The CSLA cadets also run a day of sporting competition. Clare thinks that the award adds to the variety of activities available for cadets. “Camp can be quite intense for some cadets and this can give them something besides the hustle and bustle of drill and fieldcraft,” she says. “Or for some, if it’s their last camp it’s something else they can do on top of the qualifications that they’ve already got.” ABOVE: One of the brilliant things about camp is the variety of fun activities the cadets can do, from canoeing and shooting to zorb football and climbing
18 ACF AUTUMN 2017
Talent competition Also at Lincolnshire’s camp, variety is given its true entertainment meaning in the form of a ‘Cadets Have Talent’ competition, run by Padre Peter Hopkins. “Two camps ago I wanted to identify the best cadet singers
to get them together for a choir for the final parade service. I thought that advertising for a choir would not produce many results so I came up with the sneaky idea of running this competition and then persuading those who came forward to help with the final parade,” he says. Since then it’s become a camp institution. “It’s advertised to all cadets and there are usually three or four evenings dedicated to rehearsals. There are no elimination events – everyone gets through to the final – and on the night of the final I use the biggest assembly venue I can find on camp.” He recruits technicians and hosts from the cadets, and a panel of four judges from officers and members of the ACF band.
IT IS GREAT TO SEE A CADET FINDING THEY ARE GETTING ENCOURAGEMENT, CLAPS AND CHEERS
The course ended with a full battle exercise
Padre Peter Hopkins
NEW TRAINING COURSES IN SOUTH WEST
“I also have a store of corny jokes for personal use,” says Peter. Like Clare’s motives for putting on the CSLA, Peter thinks that the talent show gives cadets another outlet for their skills. “It is great to see a cadet who may be overlooked in some of the other activities suddenly finding they are getting encouragement, claps and cheers from the audience,” he says.
Whooping it up
of Sgt Tim Scargill from Redhill Detatchment after Tim saw an article in Soldier magazine about him DJing at the Ministry of Sound. The DJ said: “It was great to get the call from Surrey ACF to come and play at this gig. The cadets were a fantastic crowd, they were dancing from start to finish. I even got a few future stars up behind the decks to help out during my set. It was great to see them enjoying themselves so much and I’d definitely play for them again.”
Claps, whoops and general merry-making were the order of the evening for Surrey cadets over at West Tofts Camp as they let their hair down for an evening of dancing and severe R&R as DJ Kid Cut took to the decks. The artist had come to the attention
Tell us your ideas for making annual camp fresh and exciting for cadets – contact editor@armycadets.com. We’ll share the best in the next issue of the magazine.
Instructors in the South West may soon be adding more excitement to their annual camps following the introduction of a ‘Train the trainers’ course in TIBUA/TIWAF (Training In Built Up Areas and Training in Woods And Forests). The HQ South West Cadet Training Team ran its fi rst course in April “to enable those adults who wanted to go back and run it in their counties in a safe manner”, according to Bristol ACF’s County Training Offi cer, Maj Jon Beake. Jon is more used to being at the delivering end of training, but this time he was one of about 60 students on the April weekend, which took place at Longmoor Camp in Hampshire. “Over the weekend we went to a number of diff erent stands on the camp, learning skills from building clearance to how to overcome house defences, how to organise a battle lesson for house clearance, observation posts, fi ghting in woodlands and forests,” Jon says. “We were instructed on how to throw practice grenades as well, which is an experience that most cadet forces don’t get. We then put it all into practice on the Sunday morning as a full battle exercise.” The successful course participants get an award on their Westminster record, allowing them to pass that training on to their cadets. “I know that there’s a desire to deliver this training more particularly to our senior cadets. It’s one of those key areas we’re looking at with regard to retention of post-16 cadets. Two of my companies have already put weekend exercises together following the training. It’s exciting that we’ve got something relatively new that previously cadets have not been able to take part in – organised purely by CFAVs.”
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
ARMYCADETS.COM 19
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
LEADERSHIP
UNIVERSAL CODE THE ACF’S NEW LEADERSHIP CODE MAKES IT CLEAR WHAT GOOD LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE AND WHY EVERY CADET AND VOLUNTEER SHOULD STRIVE FOR IT
20 ACF AUTUMN 2017
FROM THE CODE We expect to see good leaders who always: Lead by example Encourage thinking Apply reward and discipline Demand high performance Encourage confidence in the team Recognise individual strengths and weaknesses Strive for team goals
T
he Army recently gave its approach to leadership an overhaul. In 2015, the Chief of the General Staff, Gen Sir Nick Carter, announced a leadership review. It wasn’t that the Army was bad at leadership, he said at the time: “We just simply want to get better at leadership by recognising the context in which we are going to have to lead in the future, and the nature of those that we are going to have to lead.” One of the outcomes of that review was the Army Leadership Code, a kind of written doctrine outlining best practice in leadership: what it looks like and how to model it. And now the ACF has followed suit with its own Army Cadet Leadership Code. This draws on the Army’s version but is tailored to the leadership styles and challenges unique to a volunteer-run organisation. CFAVs may already be familiar with it. It was published in January and Regional Command distributed copies to counties along with a suggestion that county commandants launch it with a briefing. Like the Army’s code, the Army Cadet Leadership Code is not intended to be a step-by-step leadership manual. Maj Mike Doyle, SO2 Cadet Policy at Cadets Branch at Regional Command, says: “Lots of our volunteers are brilliant at leading cadets, but if you asked them how they do that they couldn’t necessarily tell you. So this is a way of sharing good practice.” Lt Col Steve Berry, SO1 Training at Cadets Branch, agrees: “The code recognises that leadership is a very personal thing. It’s not that what volunteers are doing now isn’t right. This is just codifying what’s recognised
as being best practice and giving people the opportunity to reflect and to get new ideas.” The Army Cadet Leadership Code itself is a 30-page booklet. It outlines the values of the Army and the cadet forces, the leadership behaviours expected of ACF leaders and some leadership styles to think about and try out. It also gives guidance on coaching. Mike is keen that CFAVs see the code as useful not only for those in high-level command positions but for everyday interactions with cadets. “Leadership is leadership, wherever you are,” he says. “Leadership and discipline have to be equally good in the field, especially as you’re modelling leadership behaviour for the cadets.”
LEADERSHIP TIPS One of the other recommendations from Gen Carter’s review in 2015 was the establishment of a Centre for Army Leadership. Its new WO1 Leadership, Sarah Cox (read an interview with her on page 10), has a few leadership tips for ACF leaders, whether cadets or adults, from her own experience:
1
Understand the team. Being a leader is about understanding the people you lead. Know your team’s strengths, weaknesses and areas they need to develop – and help them to develop. If you cannot help them, signpost them to people who can.
2
Communicate. Actively listen to ideas and thoughts: other people’s ideas may be better than yours. Be clear in what you are saying and get confirmation on what has been said.
3
Be self-aware. Understand your own strengths and weaknesses. Develop the areas that you are bad at. For example, if you lack confidence speaking in front of people, go outside your comfort zone and push yourself each time. Start small and work your way up, gather feedback and act on the feedback given.
4
Make mistakes but learn from them. You are not alone. Making a mistake is fine in an environment that allows you to learn from it. Do not always think you have to do it right first time.
Specialist training Steve and Mike are now developing training for CFAVs and for cadets to support the code and have already run some trials in Scotland, Exeter and the City of London. “Historically, no one in the ACF has received formal leadership training other than detachment commanders,” Mike says. “Now we’re aiming to give everyone the opportunity to have training at all levels.” Steve says: “The training packages we’re developing are coherent with the code. In due course we’d expect appropriate content to be part of the of the ACF syllabus, so all cadets will be exposed to it.”
FIND OUT MORE Learn more about the ACF Leadership Code: www.defencegateway.mod.uk/reference_ portal/cadets/personnel_and_admin/aclc.aspx
WO1 Sarah Cox
COMPETITIONS AND EXERCISES
RISE TO THE CHALLENGE FROM DofE IN GERMANY TO A GRUELLING PATROL THROUGH WALES AND A SCIENCE CAMP, THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR CFAVS TO ENGAGE AND TEST CADETS
W
eek in, week out, cadets in detachments across the country are receiving exceptional training that fosters confidence, self-reliance, initiative, loyalty and a sense of service to other people – the aims of the ACF. Another important part of the cadet
22 ACF AUTUMN 2017
experience is the opportunity for cadets to push themselves out of their comfort zone, develop skills – and have a brilliant time away from their home environment. Here we highlight four events to give a flavour of the exciting, life-affirming competitions and exercises on offer to members of the ACF.
EXERCISE CADET CAMBRIAN PATROL This is an arduous, unsupervised exercise that involves patrolling 25km across the Sennybridge Training Area in Powys, Wales. It usually takes place in April and tests fieldcraft and tactics. It’s up to cadet units to put together their own team of eight, including a patrol commander and a second in command. They should also have an adult volunteer as team manager. The minimum age is 14 and all cadets must be three-star or above. According to Capt Thomas Hall from the Cadet Training Team Wales, teams will train all year for it, with guidance and supervision from Tom’s team. “It’s very competitive, a really good challenge,” Tom says. “They’re
outside for 24 hours, so they have to go straight into tactical mode, carrying weapons and kit. It’s testing from start to finish. They’re shattered but exhilarated at the end of it.” The skills that are tested are both physical and mental, and confirm cadets’ knowledge of the syllabus. The categories are numerous. Tom lists them off: leadership, teamwork, receipt and issuing of orders, navigation, first aid, camouflage and concealment, observation, physical robustness, target indication, reconnaissance patrol, standing patrol, judging distance… “During the patrol we have five or six stands that the teams visit,” Tom says. “So, for example, one stand
This exercise is a real test of cadets’ skills
could be testing observation, with 100 points on offer. They also get up to 100 points for the orders they give, there’s a section attack also worth 100 points, and a written test worth 100. They lose points for patrol members dropping out.” Depending on the points gained, the teams are awarded gold, silver or bronze medals, or a certificate of participation. There are trophies on offer too for the highest patrol score and for the best overall commander.
FIND OUT MORE
Tom’s team posts all details on Westminster. You can also email Tom at thomas.hall207@mod.uk
RIFLE SHOOTING
Cadets is the main route for young people in the UK to compete in target shooting
The sport of target rifle shooting is part of the cadet syllabus, so all cadets get to try it out – and most enjoy it. Four out of five cadets say shooting is a top motivator for them, and most of those would like to do more. For cadets willing to work and practise, a whole world of competition is there for the taking, according to Robert Bruce, the general secretary of the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting (CCRS). His role is to promote and organise the sport of target rifle shooting across all four cadet youth movements. The competitions that the CCRS runs as part of a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Defence range from air rifle and clay target shooting to fullbore (7.62mm) competition. The organisation is also responsible
for three international shooting teams: the UK Cadet Rifle Team (under-17s), the British Cadet Rifle Team (also known as the Athelings, under-18s), and the Great Britain Under-19 team. Robert says: “Cadets is the main pathway in the UK for young people to take part in target rifle shooting. That is the great thing about the MOD’s sponsorship: shooting can be an expensive sport but in the cadet world everything is provided, you just have to show commitment and motivation. If you want to represent your country as a shooter, Cadets is the place to strive for that.”
FIND OUT MORE
Visit www.ccrs.org.uk/competitions to explore the world of shooting competitions or email Robert at GenSec@ccrs.org.uk
ARMYCADETS.COM 23
COMPETITIONS AND EXERCISES
Cadets can get hands-on experience at the Science in Action camp
SCIENCE IN ACTION CAMP This October camp is an opportunity for cadets to find out how the Army uses science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in its daily work. While there’s plenty for cadets to watch in terms of demonstrations, there are also lots of exercises and activities to take part in. This year, cadets can turn their whole camp experience into an exercise in the principles of flight if they wish. The Royal Artillery is sending its Drone Racing Club (yes, they really have one) to show the cadets how drones are used for surveillance. Maj David Puckey, SO2 Cadet
THE ROYAL ARTILLERY WILL SHOW THE CADETS HOW DRONES ARE USED FOR SURVEILLANCE Maj David Puckey
24 ACF AUTUMN 2017
Activities at Cadets Branch, says: “They can’t have the cadets see and operate the real Army surveillance drones because they fly around real airspace as you have to be qualified to fly them. So the cadets are going to be in a hangar operating civilian drones to do a series of tasks. It’ll give them an excellent idea of how the Royal Artillery uses the real thing.” Also showing off their flying machines at the camp will be the Army Air Corps – although these machines are on a different scale: helicopters. Cadets will be instructed in helicopter marshalling, or “waving arms telling the helicopter to go up and down”, says David. “Not only will this show the cadets the physics of how a helicopter works, they’ll get to have some degree of control over the aircraft, from the ground. It’ll also educate them about the role of helicopters in the Army. They might not know, for example, that the Army is the only service that operates attack helicopters.”
The main purpose of the event is to show cadets how what they’re learning in school can be applied in the military. “The advantage to them as school students is they’re getting real-life examples of various STEM principles in application. They see it face to face and talk to the people operating these machines,” explains David. “It’s showing them how the Army uses STEM as one of the many tools to do its job.”
FIND OUT MORE
Registration for Science In Action is open until 22 September. Sign up on Westminster.
COMPETITIONS AND EXERCISES
Every August, Northumbria ACF takes cadets to Bavaria to do their gold DofE award
DID YOU KNOW? 130 Gold DofE Awards were achieved by cadets and CFAVs last year
With a setting like this, it’s small wonder this trip is always oversubscribed
DofE BAVARIA Northumbria ACF has been taking cadets to Bavaria to do their gold DofE award for 28 years now. It’s become a fixture of the national ACF calendar and is consistently over-subscribed, according to the county’s DofE administrator, Maj Alan Thompson. “The calling letter goes out in October/November and the closing date is March, but the places are filled by the end of the year,” he says. “There’s a compulsory practice weekend on the Cumbria-Yorkshire border in June, then we go to Bavaria at the end of August.” Alan and his team take around 30 cadets to a lodge in Ortwang near Sonthofen in the very south of Germany. For the past 25 years it’s been a joint affair between the ACF and the Air Training Corps – cadets are put into mixed teams of five or six on the June training weekend, and generally keep these teams for the main event. The group travels by coach on a Friday, arrives on the Saturday, and on Sunday goes out on an acclimatisation exercise: scaling the Grünten mountain nearby.
“The reason we use the Grünten is that is has a wonderful assortment of terrain in a compact area. The cadets get to a point in the valley on the way back when we tell them to get back to the lodge in their own time. It gives them a bit of practice,” Alan says. The next day is taken up mostly with route planning and booking campsites (which the cadets have to do themselves, in German). Then from Tuesday to Friday they’re off under the watchful – but usually unseen – eyes of Alan and his team. “By the time they get back they’re always absolutely as buzzy as can be, full of their mountain stories,” Alan says. “Sometimes you’ll get stories of a cadet getting chased by a cow, but sometimes you get really deep stuff about their feelings. You’ll find young people you’d never expect to open their hearts talk about the spiritual experience they’ve had in the mountains. It can be quite meaningful for the staff as well as the youngsters.”
FIND OUT MORE
Search armycadets.com to find more information on DofE.
YOUNG PEOPLE OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE Maj Alan Thompson
ARMYCADETS.COM 25
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
NUMBER-OFF! IT MIGHT ONLY BE SEPTEMBER BUT IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO BE THINKING AHEAD TO CHRISTMAS. HERE ARE SOME FUN IDEAS FOR PRESENTS FOR CFAVS
10 THINGS…
VOLUNTEERS WILL LOVE FOR CHRISTMAS
S
tuck for a gift idea for your fellow CFAVs? You don’t have to plump for a box of chocolates. Here are some fun ideas that will make them smile, from big gifts to stocking fillers.
2
1
Contents: chocolate, socks, bootlaces, blister plasters, Jelly Babies. Make sure it’s small enough to pack snugly into a Bergen.
PACKET OF MINTS
With an accompanying card saying ‘Thanks for your commitmint/ encouragemint’ (geddit?)
5
ALTERNATIVE GIFT IDEAS
26 ACF AUTUMN 2017
FOR THOSE WHO DON’T HAVE MUCH CASH TO SPEND OR WANT TO TAKE SOME OF THE CONSUMPTION OUT OF CHRISTMAS
1
ANNUAL CAMP SURVIVAL PACK
COOKIE EXCHANGE Good for the last meet before Christmas: get everyone to bring in biscuits (or cakes) to swap – home-made is best, obviously.
3
BAG OF ‘LOST MARBLES’
For all those times you/ your cadets have driven them crazy.
2
CHARITY DONATIONS This year, why not ask people to donate to a charity of your choice instead of buying you presents? That way, their money is for a good cause.
GOOD ADVICE
4
GET IN TOUCH
PENKNIFE
One of those with loads of tools that can do everything from scaling a fish to stripping wires. Get it engraved for a personal touch.
5
FOLD-AWAY TRAVEL HAMMOCK
Or inflatable lounger. For when they need a bit of a lie down while on the go.
8
TRAVEL SCRABBLE/ BOGGLE/PACK OF CARDS
For those long minibus journeys.
6
POWER-PACK/ PORTABLE BATTERY
9
WATERPROOF NOTEBOOK AND PENCIL
While the conscientious CFAV doesn’t spend all their time on their mobile phone while out on exercise with cadets, it can be useful to have a power source as back-up.
For keeping notes in the field that don’t disintegrate before you get back to base. Perfect for cadets, too!
10
FRAMED PHOTO OF YOUR DETACHMENT
7
A REALLY GOOD THERMOS FLASK
Because everyone needs one of those and a nice hot Bovril is just the thing on a rainy expedition.
3
WELFARE PARCELS Put together a parcel to send to service personnel on deployment. You’ll need to do this through an approved charity such as uk4u (www.uk4u.org).
4
@ArmyCadetsUK facebook.com/ Armycadetforce E: marketing@ armycadets.com
KIT CLEAR-OUT If you have surplus of kit, how about seeking out a new or struggling detachment or other local cadet force who might be able to make use of it?
To remind them that it’s all worthwhile…
AND WHAT NOT TO BUY
Experiences and days out. After all, what could beat all the fun you can have in the ACF?
5
REACH OUT Organise a Christmas get-together for you and the other cadet groups in your area. A great chance to get to know CCFs, Sea Cadets and ATCs.
ARMYCADETS.COM 27
OFFICERS
STEPPING UP RECENT PROMOTIONS AND AWARDS, GOING FOR A COMMISSION AND PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN
DID YOU KNOW? More than 125 officers are commissioned in to the ACF every year.
COMMISSION PROCESS
BECOMING AN OFFICER How you get selected and then prepare for the Cadet Force Commissioning Board
L
et’s say you’ve decided to try for a commission. How does it actually happen? And how do you prepare for the Cadet Force Commissioning Board (CFCB) at Westbury? For county commandants, who have the final say in who gets sent to Westbury, identifying adult volunteers who might make good officers can start very early in a CFAV’s ACF career. Col David Kane, Commandant of 1st (NI) Bn ACF in Belfast, says: “We would be looking to identify potential candidates at
WESTBURY MYTHS “Westbury assessors have a quota to fi ll” False. Everyone starts off as a pass: it’s up to the candidate to give them the evidence to uphold that. “Those with regional accents or who are older are less likely to be selected” False. Candidates are selected on merit, not accents or age. “Candidates are observed at mealtimes and it will aff ect their result” False. Unless you do something really outrageous, that is.
28 ACF AUTUMN 2017
the induction stage. Partly it’s gut feeling, but we also see how they do in command tasks: they might have natural leadership traits and a good level of common sense.” Col Ashley Fulford, Commandant of Devon ACF, identifies a second category of potential candidates. “You’ve also got the existing CFAVs, perhaps ex-cadets or ex-regulars, who haven’t considered a commission,” he says. “They do a good job and you can see them grow. If properly recruited, you know they could be a detachment commander. There’s an element of patience needed as you have to nurture that potential.” Whatever volunteers’ route to becoming an officer, they all must have one thing in common, Ashley says. “They have absolutely got to have the best interests of the cadets at heart. If opening up as many opportunities for cadets as possible isn’t at the top of their agenda, they’re not the right person,” he says. Other desirable qualities are tolerance with young people, getting on well with peers and an appreciation and understanding of leadership skills, in addition to practical skills such as fieldcraft.
Col Ashley Fulford, of Devon ACF
“In the end it’s about how well they can run a unit, not how well they can shoot,” Ashley adds. Both David and Ashley make decisions on candidates in conjunction with area commanders. David explains: “I ask the area commanders to come forward with recommendations, because obviously they’re closer to them than I am. We discuss and if we agree we move forward.” ‘Moving forward’ means preparing the candidate for the CFCB and the best way to do this is on a weekend training course. “We cover all the component parts of the Westbury weekend,” David says, “so when they go to Westbury nothing takes them by
surprise.” The weekend covers planning exercises, command tasks, group discussions, mental aptitude tests and mini-lectures – just like the real thing. It also helps candidates identify areas they need to work on pre-CFCB. And once they’re through the real CFCB, hopefully with a pass, Ashley says: “They’re allocated one of two mentors in the county, Col David Kane, Commandant of 1st (NI) Bn ACF
STEPPING UP
ACF OFFICERS
POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSION HAVE ABSOLUTELY GOT TO HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CADETS AT HEART Col Ashley Fulford, Commandant of Devon ACF
who are myself and my Deputy Commandant Personnel. We mentor them through the Initial Officer Training.” He adds: “It’s important to keep their interest and make sure they don’t feel they have wasted their effort in getting
C APTAIN AND SMI ROLES
CAPTAIN’S COURSE A NEW KING GEORGE VI Memorial course will begin in January 2018 aimed at CFAVs who are interested in moving into captain and officer roles. The new course will replace the existing KGVI and become a prerequisite for promotion to SMI or captain. The course will build on the CFAVs’ detachment level experience and prepare them for working at area and county level. Much of the training will be scenario-based and will incorporate leadership, coaching and mentoring, management, planning and problem solving. At present, the prerequisite course for promotion to captain and SMI is the Exercise Conducting Officers (MQual) course. While this prepares individuals for running blank firing exercises with
commissioned, so I’m almost insistent that they become detachment commanders. That way they get to enjoy the best job in the ACF: connecting with young people and having a positive impact in the local community.”
cadets, it does not prepare aspiring captains and SMIs for the full breadth of their future responsibilities. The current MQual course will remain and, although it will no longer provide a route for promotion to SMI or captain, it will still be required for CFAVs who want to run blank firing exercises. The new-look KGVI is part of a package of changes resulting from a wide-ranging training review in 2009-10. Following the review, the Army Cadet Executive Group directed that leadership training and proper preparation for role should be part of adult volunteer training at all levels. This began with the introduction of the new ACF Adult Induction package, then the Adult Leadership and Management course and, more recently, the Initial Officer Training course. The new KGVI will build on earlier training covered in ALM and IOT, further developing adult volunteers’ skills. More details on the new DGVI course will be published in the autumn.
The following have been selected for a commission by CFCB PRV RNK
INITIAL
SURNAME
COUNTY/BATTALION/SECTOR
SMI
SA
CURRY
1ST (NI) BN ACF
SI
PA
FORREST
1ST (NI) BN ACF
AUO
VJ
CARNEY
2ND (NI) BN ACF
SSI
C
GLOVER
2ND (NI) BN ACF
AUO
REA
BALDING
CHESHIRE ACF
AUO
PA
THOMAS
DERBYSHIRE ACF
AUO
S
PARKER
DERBYSHIRE ACF
AUO
NW
MCILVAR
DEVON ACF
AUO
B
MITCHELL
DORSET ACF
SSI
NJ
NEASHAM
DURHAM ACF
SMI
A
MOUNTAIN
DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF
AUO
RMW
KNILL
DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF
SMI
KS
WILLIAMS
DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF
RMSI
SJ
HUDSON
ESSEX ACF
SI
AR
NICKLIN
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ACF
SSI
EM
BISHOP
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ACF
SSI
AM
BARRACLOUGH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ACF
SSI
AM
NASH
GLOUCESTERSHIRE ACF
AUO
SJ
HALL
GREATER LONDON SE SECTOR ACF
AUO
JA
DROHAN
GREATER LONDON SW SECTOR ACF
SI
L
TODD
GREATER LONDON SW SECTOR ACF
AUO
GD
WOODRUFF
GREATER LONDON SW SECTOR ACF
AUO
LA
JONES
GREATER LONDON SW SECTOR ACF
SSI
MG
PADDICK
HAMPSHIRE AND IOW ACF
SI
DL
BENNETT
HUMBERSIDE AND SOUTH YORKSHIRE ACF
AUO
L
MAURAN
LOTHIAN AND BORDERS BN ACF
AUO
JT
SMITH
NORTHUMBRIA ACF
AUO
L
GRAY
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ACF
SI
CC
SKELTON
SOMERSET ACF
SSI
DL
TAYLOR
SOMERSET ACF
AUO
J
BONNELL
STAFFORDSHIRE AND WEST MIDLANDS ACF
AUO
K
SIMPKIN
SUFFOLK ACF
RSMI
MR
BOURNE
SUSSEX ACF
SSI
DJ
BOWIE
SUSSEX ACF
AUO
AJR
CRUTCHLEY
WARWICKSHIRE AND WEST MIDLANDS (S SECTOR) ACF
SMI
IR
PEAPLE
WILTSHIRE ACF
SI
PA
DAVEY
YORKSHIRE (NORTH AND WEST) ACF
ARMYCADETS.COM 29
POLICY
ACF UPDATE
DR RICHARD CRAWFORD, SO1 CADETS POLICY AND PLANS AT REGIONAL COMMAND, GIVES AN UPDATE ON ISSUES AFFECTING YOU AND YOUR DETACHMENT
NEWS
To subscribe to our e-newsletter go to armycadets.com/ about-us/keepin-touch
ACF ROLES
New Establishment rules
T
he ACF is a complex organisation, made up of counties, areas then detachments. On top of this is a network of national and regional teams of CFAVs. Trying to work out how many CFAVs you should have in each part of the organisation is not easy. The ACF Regulations set out how many CFAVs each detachment should have based on the number of cadets parading, and the number of CFAVs in each area HQ is based on the number of detachments in that area. Things get more complicated with county HQs, where there are a number of fixed roles plus additional roles each commandant can choose, either as a primary or secondary role (CFAVs do this as well as a primary role). Fixed roles include a county training officer (CTO), additional roles include music or signals officers, for example. This branch completed a study into what roles should exist in a county HQ, and this was included in the ACF Regulations when they were published in January 2016. A few new roles were created as part of this study, including the assistant county training officer to support the CTO in designing and delivering the annual training programme. In some cases, roles were changed from secondary to primary, such as public relations officers (PRO) to recognise their importance in the recruiting effort for new cadets and volunteers. But this was only the start of a major look at the whole structure of the ACF. Over the coming months, Cadets Branch will be looking at what is known as the Establishment, in effect our manning plan for the organisation. This isn’t just about
30 ACF AUTUMN 2017
numbers of CFAVs and where to put them in the organisation. It will involve looking at every existing role, asking whether it still has the correct responsibilities, how it sits in the organisation and even if it is needed at all. It will also ask whether these roles need to be held by officers, or whether qualification and experience is preferable over rank in some cases. It might be that the study will show that there are some roles missing from the organisation and, if this is the case, we will look to better define what they should be. We will also be looking at the current rules for the number of officers and CFAVs that each detachment should have, and the numbers and roles of CFAVs in both county and area HQs. All of this needs to take into account the evolution of the APC syllabus,
UP DAT E
Roles within the ACF will be more clearly defined as part of this overhaul
and we need to make sure there are the correct focus roles for each of the topics in the syllabus. Many of these exist already, but maybe their descriptions need updating, and some will need to be created. We will also be improving the current role descriptions in the ACF Regulations so that everyone taking up a role knows from the start what they should be doing. Very few roles will be fixed, such as we will still only have one commandant per county, and we will be asking CFAVs what they think over the autumn. One significant area we will be concentrating on is civilian assistants (CA). In a recent study carried out by Col Chris Sharwood-Smith for the branch (read our news story on page 6), it was clear that not everyone was aware of what a CA is, or how they
contribute to the organisation and the cadet experience. Chris’ study showed that this understanding was very varied, with some counties using CAs well and in many roles, while other counties didn’t use them at all. In some cases, individuals were not even aware they existed. The role of the CA is set out in the ACF Regulations. There are a lot of myths about CAs, but every county is encouraged to use them, and Chris outlines a few practical ways that detachments can make the most of them on page 8. There are a number of roles that they cannot carry out, such as instructing the core militarythemed subjects in our syllabus, but they are not limited to admin, driving or running the canteen. There is even a standard design for clothing they can wear to show they are
valuable members of the ACF. This is a very complex project, and in some areas the rules haven’t changed in over four decades. We aim to create a much easier to navigate set of Establishment rules that everyone can understand and apply easily. Over the autumn and early into the new year you will start to see many of the changes happen.
Attitude survey It is not just the ACF Establishment that you will have the chance to have your say on over the autumn. The Cadet Attitude Survey is running once again, over September and October, and all CFAVs and cadets are encouraged to take part. This year we are also asking parents/guardians about what they think about the ACF, so please encourage as many parents as you can to also take part. More information about the Cadet Attitude Survey, and links to the three surveys, are available on the Defence Gateway and also from your county HQ.
WE WILL ALSO BE IMPROVING THE CURRENT ROLE DESCRIPTIONS SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS FROM THE START WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING
ARMYCADETS.COM 31
G A L L E RY
IN THE FIELD
KEEP IN TOUCH BY SENDING US YOUR PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD. WHETHER SELFIES OR ACTION SHOTS, DRILL OR FUNDRAISING, EMAIL THEM TO EDITOR@ARMYCADETS.COM
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IN THE PHOTOS: 1: Cdt Joe Benton is introduced to Prime Minister Theresa May by Merseyside ACF Adjutant Maj Joe Rogers during Armed Forces Week. Photo by Roy Bevan 2: CFAVs enjoyed a weekend of Mountaineering CPD training at CCAT in Capel Curig 3: Isabella Scanio, Duke of Westminster’s award 2017 winner. Photo by Vincent Whiteman Photography
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4: Cadets put their first aid skills to the test for the 7th Infantry Brigade First Aid Competition held at Cadet Training Centre Yardley Chase 5: Jack Wade from Holyhead giving Leon Shaw from Bangor a lift in Estonia 6: 1st NI Battalion’s end of camp ‘colour run’ with Cdt Jonathan Brown from Magherafelt Detachment, newly-commissioned officer 2Lt Paige Forrest and Cdt Kia Elliott from Cookstown Detachment. Photo by 2Lt Natasha Rutherford 7: Cadets and adults from Z Coy (Hampshire and Isle of Wight ACF) travelled to Netheravon Airfield to undertake their initial training for their first static line parachute jump from 3,500ft 8: Army Cadets prides itself on equal opportunities and girls and boys are always promoted on merit. This year, Glasgow & Lanarkshire Battalion’s senior cadet in each company is female. Left to right: CSM Kimberley Dougal (A Coy); CSgt Carly Colquhoun (B Coy); RSM Amy Coulter; Cdt Cpl Ellie Forrester (C Coy); CSM Sophie Graham (D Coy) 3
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5
THE GALLERY
We want to see your pictures of ACF life. Send pictures of your detachment’s activities to us by the end of September 2017
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SHARE YOUR PHOTOS 7
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Whether you’re at camp, doing command tasks, or any other fun or adventurous activity, send your images to editor@armycadet.com
ARMYCADETS.COM 33
D AY I N T H E L I F E
I’m always at ACF… even on a late shift
Martin is responsible for looking after all 160 lakes and ponds in Epping Forest as part of his job
Flytipping and fish surveys keep forest keeper Martin Whitfield busy during the day but he always finds time for his detachment 06.00 The alarm goes off and I am
14.00 I finally stop for lunch. Today I just
MEET MARTIN
out of the house by 07.20. My wife is the one who has to get the boys sorted in the morning: we have one son (18) and three foster sons (11, 14 and 16).
grab some fruit in a supermarket and munch on that for the rest of the day.
14.30 I run the volunteer warden team
07.45 I arrive at work, sign out a vehicle
so I meet a group of volunteers in the forest to brief them on the afternoon’s activities.
Martin Whitfield, 50 Rank: Lieutenant Role: Detachment Commander Joined: 2012 County: City of London NE Sector Day job: Forest keeper, Epping Forest Why I joined the ACF: My son was in the ACF and persuaded me to join. He thought I could make a positive difference to our local detachment.
and head out around the forest unlocking all the car parks. That takes a couple of hours because there are car parks all over the forest. Epping Forest is pretty big: 13 miles long, two miles wide at its widest point and about 10,000 acres.
10.00 I’ve found some rubbish: flytipping. Forest keepers are sworn in as constables under the Epping Forest Act 1878. Our role is to enforce bylaws and investigate environmental crimes such as flytipping. I search through the rubbish for evidence, regardless of how disgusting it is, take photographs and put the evidence into bags. We prosecute our own cases so I also take lots of notes so I can start a case later when I’m back at the office.
11.00 I drive down to one of the lakes (we have 160 lakes and ponds) to oversee a fish survey. I’m a qualified fisheries manager and I visit the lakes regularly to monitor illegal fishing and to check for non-indigenous invasive species. While I’m there I talk to members of the public. Our role is all about public engagement and people can be really helpful in telling us what’s going on in the forest.
34 ACF AUTUMN 2017
16.00 I’m also in control of our radio communications system so I spend a bit of time organising repairs and replacements of vehicle and handheld radios. Like in the ACF, it’s important that our radios work properly all the time – it’s a safety issue as much as a communication issue.
17.00 The end of my shift. I head back to the office, get changed and drive home. I’m lucky tonight, I don’t get held up by anything. Yesterday I got a report of a broken tree branch blocking a road just before the end of my shift and had to stay on to sort that out. 18.00 It’s a parade night so I’m out again to open up the cadet hut and prepare for the evening’s activities. The cadets arrive soon after 19.00. We’re all done around 22.00. I’m always at ACF, even when I work late shifts. I get a number of volunteering hours in my job, and with my boss’s approval I use them to make sure I can always be there.
22.30 I get home and can finally put my feet up. I usually go to bed between 00.00 and 01.00. I should get an earlier night but my brain usually won’t switch off before then.
Share your story
Would you like to feature in a future edition of the magazine? Write and tell us how you manage a day job and volunteering for the cadets. Email editor@armycadets.com
Martin was persuaded to join the ACF by his son
ARMY CADET VOLUNTEER
NEXTT N UEE S SU IIS COMING UP IN THE WINTER/ SPRING ISSUE
Diversity Helping the ACF to better reflect society Navigation and orienteering Marking the start of the National Orienteering Championships in 2018 Reflect and remember WWI centenary and more