ARMY CADET VOLUNTEER G O I N G
Autumn 2015
F U R T H E R
armycadets.com
JOIN THE BAND Why Cadet Force Music needs you
AIM, FIRE!
INSPIRE CADETS WITH AN AIR RIFLE RANGE
ACF APPEAL
HOW TO ATTRACT NEW CADETS
OUTDOOR ACTION Fun and good times guaranteed for all, whatever the weather
INSIDE: NEWS
THE LATEST COMMAND TASKS YOUR LETTERS AND PHOTOS SPORTS IN THE ACF
ACFA ANNUAL DINNER Saturday 21st November 2015, Honourable Artillery Company, London
BOO
OPEN TO ALL SERVING ACF ADULT VOLUNTEERS & MEMBERS OF ACFA
Early booking is strongly advised
ISSUE #2: AUTUMN 2015
W E LC O M E
There are now more people in the Army’s cadet forces than in the Regular Army. This emphasises the importance of the service and commitment of both cadets and adult volunteers. It also means that, for many members of the public, the only people they see in uniform will be cadets and adult volunteers. It is a responsibility to which cadets and CFAVs have risen admirably. I am particularly interested in whether we can do even more to set cadets up for their future careers by more closely aligning the syllabus to recognised civilian qualifications. This holds true for CFAVs as well: we need to invest properly in the development of our adult volunteers, including progress towards recognised civilian qualifications. We will look at the Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park to see which courses can be delivered via a distributed training programme and which courses can be expanded. MAJOR GENERAL RICHARD STANFORD General Officer Commanding Support Command
See p29 for a profile of Major General Stanford, who assumed command of Support Command in June.
CONTENTS 14
12
24
EVERY ISSUE 04. THE BRIEFING Army Cadet news round-up
08. THE DRILL
You get to meet great people from all around the country and Europe Cadet Force Music p18
Ideas, advice and comment
26. NUMBER-OFF! Top tips for recruiting cadets
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 Meet Sergeant Instructor Stuart Taggart
THIS ISSUE 12. COMMAND TASKS Communications tasks to try with your detachment
14. OUTDOOR ACTION Making the most of summer camp – whatever the weather
18. STRIKE UP THE BAND It’s never too late to learn an instrument – get involved with Cadet Force Music
22. HOME ON THE RANGE The benefits of teaching cadets to shoot with air rifles
24. BE A GOOD SPORT Why sporting opportunities are so important
ON THE COVER Outdoor action Shooting with air rifles Cadet Force Music Sports in the ACF
GO FURTHER Look out on Westminster for an online survey about your new-look magazine: coming soon
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
Printed by PrecisionColour Printing 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: Carly Chynoweth Art editor: Simon Goddard Project manager: Esther Newman
ARMYCADETS.COM 3
THE BRIEFING ARMY CADET NEWS FROM AROUND THE UK
BELOW One of the 1st Military Working Dogs Regiment goes through his paces RIGHT Cadets from A Coy HWACF enjoy the facilities at Sennelager
REMEMBRANCE
Remembering St Valéry
YOUR Flash STORIES
GERMAN BITE
HUSSARS VISIT Hereford and Worcester ACF strengthen ties with the Queen’s Royal Hussars on a trip to Germany
I
n May, cadets and CFAVs from A Company, Hereford and Worcester ACF (HWACF) visited Sennelager in Germany to take part in training exercises with the Queen’s Royal Hussars (QRH) – many of whom are former cadets themselves. As part of the trip, the cadets visited the British Army’s battlegroup training facility – one of only two – and took part in exercises on the Combined Arms Tactical Trainer, which is the world’s largest virtual training system. Next, they learnt the basics of controlling tanks through the Target Gunnery Trainer
4 ACF AUTUMN 2015
and the Precision Gunnery Trainer, before being put into Challenger II tank simulators and tasked with commanding and moving them. The company also spent time with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), who support QRH, and saw the amazing abilities displayed by the 1st Military Working Dogs Regiment. The trip was full of highlights, said Maj Helen Smail, OC, A Company, HWACF. “Our cadets are still talking about their experiences. And we now have cadets who want to be army dog handlers, engineers
Write to us with your news and stories at editor@army cadets.com
in the REME and, of course, QRH soldiers.” The cadets, who were hosted by QRH’s RSM Rudd, a former HWACF cadet, were joined on the trip by the British Forces Broadcasting Service, which filmed their experiences and gathered audio for a radio programme. Since returning from the trip, HWACF cadets have further strengthened the relationship between QRH and their company by supporting them at their Freedom of Worcester Parade, with 50 cadets parading behind ranks at the event.
IN JUNE, Western Isles cadets from 1st Battalion the Highlanders took part in the annual St Valéry-en-Caux commemorative parade, which honours the men from the 51st Highland Division who fought and were captured there in 1940. The cadets marched from St Mary’s Church to the Griminish War Memorial for a service conducted by Reverend Fraser Stewart and Father Ross Crichton of St Mary’s. Wreaths were then laid by L/Cpl Shaun Mowat, a cadet from Stornoway Detachment, and Nick Philip from the British Legion. After the service the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles, George MacDonald, presented SSI David Lister with the Certificate of Meritorious Service for his years of service to the cadet forces. This year’s event marked both the battle’s 75th anniversary and the 15th anniversary of the ACF organising the parade. L/Cpl Shaun Mowat laying a wreath at Griminish War Memorial
GET IN TOUCH E: marketing@armycadets.com facebook.com/Armycadetforce @ArmyCadetsUK cadetsarmy
THE BRIEFING
Excellent drummers have a choice of categories to enter
ACF AWARDS
The following have been recognised for their commitment and dedication to the ACF CADET FORCE MEDAL 2LT SSI SSI LT CAPT LT SSI SSI
RECOGNISING EXCELLENCE
Nominations open for new awards THE ACFA has launched a new awards ceremony to celebrate the leadership skills of cadets and adult instructors across the ACF. Nominations for the Recognising Excellence Awards, sponsored by BAE Systems, are now open. Judges are looking for nominations for cadets and CFAVs who have demonstrated dedication and commitment in national sports, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, first aid, Pipes and Drums and Bands and Corps of Drums. Winners from each category will be chosen by a panel of activity experts and will be presented with their awards by a special guest from the BAE Systems Community Investment Committee at a ceremony on
21 November. Victorious entrants will also receive an invitation to the ACFA’s annual dinner, which follows the awards ceremony. Travel and accommodation will be included for the winners and a guest. All CFAVs are encouraged to send their suggestions of outstanding cadets and CFAVs to their commandant by email as soon as possible. Before submitting your nominations, please refer to the criteria, which can be found at armycadets.com/ excellenceawards. Commandants have until 30 September to submit nominations. Enter by sending an email to Martin Meek: pa-gensec@armycadets.com
B A C K I N T H E D AY : THE BLITZ 7 Sep 1940 THREE QUARTERS OF a century ago the Luftwaffe sent more than 300 bombers to attack London in an effort to demoralise the British people and subdue Great Britain’s resistance of the Nazis. Army cadets were training with the Home Guard in preparation for a possible invasion, while others became Air Raid Precaution messengers charged with warning people to take cover. By 1941 around 220,000 boys aged 14-18 were being trained in cadet units.
SI LT LT RSMI MAJ SSI SI SI MAJ SSI SSI SSI SSI MAJ SI SMI SMI SMI SSI SMI CAPT SMI SSI SI MAJ SMI SMI SI CAPT CAPT SSI CAPT CAPT SSI SMI SSI CAPT SMI RSMI SMI COL CAPT LT CAPT CAPT SI SMI MAJ SMI
J CD RA SRH RE AM DJ P
BARKAT BARRY COOK DAVIES DEEGAN FEENEY FOULDS GORDONHARLOW SJ HERRON D HEWITT SP HILL W HUME C HUNTER CJ JOHNSON RT JORDAN BJ KELLY SR KENDALL AJ KEYLOCK CA MARGETT W MCCLURE AG MCDOWELL LA MCLEOD TA MORRIS SE MULLOY JP MURPHY GJ NORTON CJ PARSONS IFD POWELL JL PROTHEROE RC RAMAGE JP ROYAL L SIMPSON J TONNER RJ UPTON A WARD G WILKINSON 1ST CLASP MA RH TS D K TA D M DC A PW AL AV TM KM PW I S S IG J
ARA CURRIE DAVIS EVANS GALEITZKE GOULD HAMILTON HOLLAND HOLMAN JAPPY JEPHCOTE JOHNSTONE JONES LONGMUIR LORIMER MACDONALD MASON MCBRIDE MURDOCH POXON REID
CAPT SI LT LT LT MAJ SMI LT
TL TA D J IP G CD JM
SCALES SHAW SQUIRE TAYLOR TRAVERS WATSON WESSON WHATLEY 2ND CLASP
MAJ SMI MAJ CAPT LT SMI MAJ SMI MAJ
SP D M TM PB A CJ KD SP
MAJ CAPT CAPT COL SSI SMI
DT M AL P G PA
CAPT CAPT SMI
PRA J IF
LT COL
MD
BETTANY DANNATT LEDGER LONGMUIR LUCKHURST MACKENZIE PICKIN ROBERTS TWYMAN 3RD CLASP BUCK NELSON RASHID RICHARDSON TENNANT ZIEGLER
4TH CLASP BRANT HEGGIE MACKIE
5TH CLASP RENDER
ARMYCADETS.COM 5
THE BRIEFING
15-year-old cadet Tom Hurry – proud to be off to Canada
IN THE MEDIA
ACF luminaries making headlines
Lt Debra Jerdan, Detachment Commander (4th from left) and cadets receive the award from the Duchess of Northumberland
RECOGNITION
QUEEN’S AWARD FOR BERWICK
B
erwick Detachment, Northumbria ACF, has received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in recognition of its outstanding work in local communities. The award – equivalent to an MBE – is the highest accolade that a voluntary group can receive. The cadets’ voluntary activities include raising an average of £5,000 per year for charity and planning and participating in a number of community events, including Armed Forces Day, the Remembrance Sunday service and parade, and the recent clean-up of the war memorial in Castlegate. The judging panel warmly praised the detachment for “going over and above the usual cadet requirements, holding not just military charities but the local community at the heart of their volunteering activities.”
6 ACF AUTUMN 2015
Lt Debra Jerdan, Detachment Commander, said that the cadets were a credit to the ACF, their parents and the town. “Their involvement in charity work and volunteering is at the very heart of our detachment,” she said. “Time and time again they go the extra mile to help others, and always at their own choice. I am incredibly proud of the cadets who have embraced volunteering. As a detachment commander I don’t even need to give a full briefing before their decisions are made – a sea of hands shoot in the air as soon as an event or fundraising challenge is announced.” A contingent of Berwick’s army cadets was presented with the award by the Duchess of Northumberland at a garden party in Alnwick Gardens in June. For more information on cadets’ work in the community, visit armycadets.com
Following an official inspection by the Mayor of Hedon, cadets march through the town
Humberside and South Yorkshire: The Hedon Blog captured cadets from across the county taking part in a Freedom Parade in the town of Hedon. The ACF was granted the Freedom of Hedon in 1960; this grants cadets and instructors the right to march through the town with flags flying and drums playing. Merseyside: SSI Mark Davies has been honoured for his services to the ACF by the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside at a ceremony at Liverpool Town Hall, reported the St Helens Star. He oversees the Corps of Drums for the Prescot Detachment and is acting DC for Kirby Detachment. Lincolnshire: Cadet Tom Hurry, 15, told the Sleaford Target that it was “overwhelming and pretty awesome” to have been chosen to take part in a cadet course in Canada. He secured one of just 12 places on the six-week exchange programme. Oxfordshire: Cadets and CFAVs from Oxfordshire ACF raised more than £1,600
for Help for Heroes from collections in Henley on Armed Forces Day. SMI Mike Quigley told the Henley Standard: “I’m very pleased and proud of my cadets.”
Oxfordshire ACF on Armed Forces Day
Greater Manchester: Rochdale Detachment was crowned champion in the Inter Detachment Competition in June, reported Rochdale Online. The competition tested a number of skills, including drill and first aid. Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire: Master Cadet Alex Smith, 18, featured in Bedford Today for his nomination in the Young People of the Year Awards. He was nominated for helping at the scene of a car crash and mentoring pupils at his school.
Alex Smith was nominated for an award
THE BRIEFING
STAY IN THE FIELD LONGER See how other CFAVs ensure cadets can make the most of annual camp whatever the weather Outdoor Action, page 14
NATIONAL SPORTS RESULTS Sports results for athletics, tug of war and hockey
N AT I O N A L AT H L E T I C S C H A M P S Class A (Junior Boys)
London North East Eastern
1st 2nd 3rd
Class B (Intermediate Boys)
North East Eastern South East
1st 2nd 3rd
Class C (Senior Boys)
North East Eastern South East
1st 2nd 3rd
Athletics The ACF National Athletics Championships 2015 were held in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on Saturday 6 June. Eight regional teams and more than 400 competitors took part in the event at The Meres Sports Stadium. Tug of war The ACF National Tug Of War Championships 2015 took place at Imphal Barracks, York, on Saturday 4 July 2015. Ten boys’ and eight girls’ teams from across six regions took part, totalling around 200 cadets. Hockey The ACF National Girls’ Hockey Championships 2015 were also held at Imphal Barracks, York, on Saturday 4 July. Six regional teams competed against each other for the chance to be crowned the champions. Find out more about ACF sport on p24
Class D (Junior Girls) 1st 2nd 3rd
Eastern North East West Midlands
Class E (Intermediate Girls) 1st 2nd 3rd
North East Eastern South East
Class F (Senior Girls) 1st 2nd 3rd
North East Scotland South East
OVERALL NATIONAL ATHLETICS CHAMPIONS
Eastern
N AT I O N A L H O C K E Y R E S U LT S 1st NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2015 N Ireland FINAL N.Ireland 3
NE 0
SEMI-FINAL 1 NE 2
6th Wales, 5th Eastern, 4th South West, 3rd Scotland, 2nd Runners Up 2015 North East SEMI-FINAL 2
Scotland 0
N.Ireland 3
SW 0
N AT I O N A L T U G O F W A R R E S U LT S Boys National Champions
South West Region A
Girls National Champions
Eastern Region B
FINAL – BOYS
FINAL – GIRLS
SW A 3
Eastern A 0
SEMI-FINAL – BOYS SW A 3 Eastern A 3
Eastern B 3
South African honour for 133 Detachment Wandsworth GREATER LONDON South West ACF cadet Saffa Da Conceaio and Detachment Commander 2 Lt Cass Sealy served as standard bearers for the South African Legion during a recent memorial ceremony at Delville Wood, the South African National Memorial in France. The detachment has formed strong links with the South African Legion following Saffa’s arrival in the UK. Cass contacted the South African Legion for help with her research into Saffa’s deceased father’s cap badge, and its members responded with details and photos of him in service that the cadet had never seen before. The Legion invited Saffa and Lt Sealy to attend this year’s ceremony as standard bearers, and invited the detachment to return to take part in centenary commemorations. Cadet Saffa Da Conceaio and Detachment Commander 2 Lt Cass Sealy
Eastern A 0
SEMI-FINAL – GIRLS
SW B 0
Eastern A 3
NI 0
Eastern B 0
Eastern B 3
Scotland A 0
3/4TH PULL OFF – GIRLS
3/4TH PULL OFF – BOYS
NI A 3
Eastern B 2
Scotland A 0
COMMEMOR ATION
SW B 1
ARMYCADETS.COM 7
THE DRILL TIPS, ADVICE AND COMMENT
O N LY I N T H E M O V I E S
5
MINUTE FOOD
Whip up something warm and nourishing after a day on your Duke of Edinburgh’s expedition
BANGERS AND SMASH
I
t can be hard to fi nd the energy to cook at the end of a long day on a Duke of Edinburgh’s expedition, but there is no need to rely on ration packs: with a bit of preparation cadets can have a hearty meal ready to eat in a few minutes, says Captain Lucy Welch, ACFA’s DofE Development Manager. “My fi rst tip is to cook a test meal on an expedition evening before you go so that you know what to do – and you know that you like the recipe.
“One of my favourite meals is bangers and instant mash, which is really easy to make on a transit stove or hexi cooker. All you need is a tin of frankfurters, which you can drain beforehand to make lighter; a pouch of instant mashed potato; and some gravy granules. “Then you just boil some water for the potato and gravy, warm the sausages and then enjoy a hearty meal. You could even bring instant custard powder and cake for dessert.”
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P R E D ATO R CHECK OUT THE CLASSIC ARNIE MOVIE FOR A TOTAL CAMO NO-NO The seven-foot alien that hunts Arnold Schwarzenegger and his US Special Forces comrades in the 1987 movie Predator can hide anywhere it wants to: its cloaking technology is so successful that it is nearinvisible, with only the faintest rippling pattern giving it away as it moves through the jungle. Arnie, however, takes a much more low-tech approach to camouflage. He starts with a few smears of grease paint on his face, apparently unworried that his vest leaves an expanse of shiny bronze skin on display. When this barely slows the Predator in its hunt for the soldiers that are supposed to be hunting it, Arnie’s character Major Dutch Schaeffer realises the alien is spotting him using thermal imaging, and covers himself in mud to hide his heat signature. Unfortunately this type of camouflage would be, at best, temporarily successful; television show Mythbusters discovered that it only works until the mud starts to warm up.
THE DRILL
ON YOUR M AR K S
Playing sport helps cadets to build healthy, well-balanced lives Lt Col Terry Hayter, page 24
HOW TO : GE T I NTO WE L BECK
E
very year around 185 students start their engineering or technical officer military careers by enrolling to study A levels at Welbeck Defence Sixth Form College. The boarding college, based in Loughborough, offers a first-class education and impressive facilities, but has a rigorous application process. Here 17-year-old Welbeck student Karan Merwaha, a former ACF cadet with Wigman Road Detachment, Nottinghamshire ACF, explains what to do:
Start planning early Give yourself time to research your options and check this is the right choice for you – and that you have all the information you need for the application form. Enjoy the process The next stage is a Generic Army Insight Course. They will be watching you but don’t worry too much about trying to impress – it’s a chance to listen and learn. Get smart (1) Officer selection is a mixture of mental and physical testing. The best way to prepare for the first part is by practising mental arithmetic – assessors will ask you to do things like calculate speed, distance and time on the spot, which can be stressful for anyone. Get smart (2) Wear a smart, conservative outfit. Your hair and general appearance should be neat and professional. Make sure your shoes aren’t scuffed. Make sure you pay attention to the news, says Karan Merwaha, right
DO YOU MEASURE UP?
SWIMMING Get fit Make sure you can do a 1.5-mile run and a physical fitness assessment before you go so you know what time you can expect. Get knowledgeable Make sure you are up to date on current affairs, as this may come up in the essay and will definitely be part of the interview. You should also have researched the role you are interested in, so you can talk about it and show you know what it involves. It’s more important to do this than to read up on interview techniques. Find out more: www.dsfc.ac.uk
Mock interviews Read about officer selection interviews then offer cadets a chance to practise.
2
Share information Invite a current or recent Welbeck student to come and speak to your detachment.
PHYSICAL TEST 1. Jump into water that’s 2.5m deep while dressed in coveralls 2. Tread water for two minutes 3. Swim 50m in less than four minutes without touching the sides or the floor. Any stroke is acceptable; the time is the same for men and women
HOW CFAVS CAN HELP
1
CFAVS DON’T have to meet the Army’s physical standards or entrance tests; volunteering is about inspiring young people to tackle challenges and know they can go further than they thought. But if you were going to set yourself a challenge, could you do it? Why not see if you could pass the Military Swimming Test next time you want to push yourself.
W H A T T O D O I F. . . …SOMEONE SPRAINS AN ANKLE It can be tempting to tell someone who sprains his or her ankle to “walk it off ” but this will make it worse, says Andy Baggs, the ACFA’s First Aid Delivery Manager. Instead, remember RICE: REST Advise the injured person to stop what they are doing and sit or lie down to take pressure off. ICE If the injury occurs while on a cadet activity there will be a first aid kit available; grab the cold
pack, activate it, wrap it in cloth and apply it to the injured ankle for ten minutes per hour. COMFORTABLE SUPPORT Don’t try to bandage the ankle. Instead, keep it stable – put it on a cushion then tuck material around it to stop wobbling. ELEVATE Raise the injured foot – a cushion on a stool is ideal. WHAT NEXT? If the ankle is extremely painful and getting no better, put the patient in the back of a car
and take him or her to A&E for an X-ray. FOR MORE INFORMATION Read the First Aid Manual issued by your county.
ARMYCADETS.COM 9
SEE FOR YOUR SELF
Take a look at our new ACF promotional films on armycadets.com or via our YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/user/cadetsarmy
SSI Neil Stephen (left) is congratulated by Ellon Detachment Commander Colour SI Alan Crombie
RECOGNITION
BRAVERY AWARD FOR SHETLAND HEROINE
S
I Jessica Bradley has received St John Scotland’s highest award for bravery after risking her life to save a man who was in danger of bleeding to death. She was presented with the charity’s Gold Life-Saving Medal, awarded for “conspicuous acts of bravery” at a ceremony at Edinburgh castle in August. Two years ago Jessica, then 20, forced her way into a known drugs den to help the man, who was suffering from a self-inflicted knife wound to his neck. She and a friend, Claire Hendry, were leaving a house in Grodians, Lerwick, when they heard glass smash.
In control Jessica grabbed a first aid kit from her car, told Claire to telephone for help, and went into the house, where she found two men struggling. “I had to fight off the unhurt one, but managed to get a look at the other,” said Jessica, who had known the injured man since she was
four. “He had a throat wound and was bleeding badly… I managed to talk to him and calm him down enough to apply pressure to the wound.” The situation deteriorated when the injured man became violent, kicking and punching Jessica before locking himself in another room. “I kept talking to him through the door and managed to get him to press a blanket to the wound,” Jessica explained. It then took six police officers and two ambulance personnel to subdue him enough to get him to hospital. Jessica was nominated for the St John Scotland award by her Battery Commander, SMI Kevin Bryant, who said: “Jessica acted in a brave and professional manner in what was an extremely dangerous situation.” Jessica joined the Shetland Independent Cadet Battery when she was 12. Here she received her training in first aid, before volunteering to become a first responder with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Jessica Bradley’s parents, Wynne and Derrick, celebrate her receipt of the award
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PROFILE
SSI Neil Stephen ANYONE WHO has ever been to a summer camp probably has plenty of stories to tell, but SSI Neil Stephen of the 2nd Battalion The Highlanders ACF has more than most: the 56-year-old has not missed one in 42 years. SSI Stephen joined the ACF at the age of 13 as a cadet, attaining the rank of sergeant before signing up as an adult instructor when his cadet service ended. “As a cadet the ACF gave me opportunities which I would not otherwise have been able to experience,” he said. “I met some people who have become lifelong friends and I wanted to play a part in ensuring other young people had the same opportunities as I had. “My advice to any young CFAV attending their first camp would be to work hard, play your part in providing the cadets with memorable experiences, listen to your mentors and above all do not be afraid to ask for advice.” And don’t worry if you aren’t good at everything. Neil has many abilities but sporting prowess is not one of them, according to fellow CFAV SMI Douglas Mackie, recalling the time at camp when a fire alarm went off while Neil was in the shower. In his hurry to reach the assembly area he attempted to hurdle a low fence while clad only in a towel, and, let’s just say, failed miserably. His response: “I guess I’m not making the athletics team this year.”
THE DRILL
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YOUR LETTERS, EMAILS, TWEETS & POSTS
We asked you: tell us about your #ACFEpicTraining sessions or great cadet experiences
UNSUNG HEROES I am a company commander in Lincolnshire ACF and have just read your article on “Detachment Heroes”, about civilian assistants, in the summer issue of Army Cadet Volunteer. I would like to endorse the key role of the civilian assistant within the ACF as I have quite a few in my company. Some help with the canteen, detachment admin and the like, but I have seven who are musicians and give freely of their time to help teach and develop cadet music within the county band. Without their dedication to duty and professionalism it is unlikely that our county band would be as musically proficient as it is. I would also like to add that we have a number of former adult volunteers who, having reached the age of 65 and no longer allowed to serve in a uniformed role, have become civilian assistants. This group of people are an invaluable asset as they have both the experience and the time to devote to furthering the aims of the ACF. We must applaud their dedication to the organisation. MAJOR JA FIELD MBE OC, No1 Company, Lincs ACF
Matt Willis: So many experiences while I was a cadet, but marching through the Menin Gate has to top them all. Standard bearer for the county at the TA centenary parade, too – that’s up there.
2 Lt Priscilla Ledlie graduating at CVQO
BURSARY SCHEME This month the ACFA is launching a new CFAV Bursary scheme in collaboration with CVQO. We are offering all ACF CFAVs a “double bursary” for the City and Guilds Licentiateship or Affiliateship. All ACF CFAVs will receive a heavily discounted rate when they sign up for one of these marvelous awards, and will receive a rebate on completion of the qualification. This effectively means that the Licentiateship will be free (instead of £140) to CFAVs, while the Affiliateship will ultimately cost £50 (a saving of £150). All you need to do is sign up! More details are available on the ACFA web pages – go to: www.armycadets.com/ acfa/membership
RICHARD WALTON ACFA Development Manager
GET IN TOUCH Send your letters, comments and ideas for future conversation starters to marketing@armycadets.com
Robert Hendry: I loved every minute as a cadet. I am 48 and still think of the great camps we had at Stirling, Barry Buddon, Southport etc. I recommend the cadets to any kid, it makes you a better person. Matthew Mitchell: Signals Cadre Wretham Norfolk 2009, made great by Pete Whiffin. Absolute legend. Eliot “Arfur” Daley: Presently in Whitehorse in Canada with 13 CCF/ ACF cadets. Soon to be going on the 18-day expedition and their solo survival 24 ex. Fun times ahead. Martin Craven: I have been a volunteer for nearly 25 years. It’s a great pastime, where you make great friends, have fun and help young people enjoy their childhood and prepare them for the future. Some of my ex cadets have their own families now and still come up and talk to me.
TOP TWEETS ACF in the Twittersphere @nacfpro Cpl Ernst being presented his Silver DofE by Capt Pugh in Malta. #NACF @Westiepod @ArmyCadetsUK Hadrian’s Wall and bumping into Robson Green. All in an annual camp day! @LNRCadetHQ New boots well and truly worn in during BnTac Competition at Fort George.
ARMYCADETS.COM 11
TEAM BUILDING
COMMAND TASKS
CADETS FROM GREATER LONDON SOUTH WEST ACF TRIED OUT THESE COMMUNICATION AND TEAM-BUILDING TASKS, SET BY CAPTAIN EMMA SNEAD, AT ANNUAL CAMP
1
2
SHEPHERD AND SHEEP
BLINDFOLD SEQUENCING
Equipment: Blindfolds, mine tape to mark out a ‘pen’ area Time: 5-10 minutes, depending on group size Where: Indoors or outdoors Aim: To explore how good communication is essential for even the simplest tasks Benefits: Promotes communication and teamworking Instructions: One cadet was named as ‘shepherd’ to lead the task. The team members or ‘sheep’ were all blindfolded before the ‘pen’ (an area marked with mine tape) was set up. The cadets were briefed that the shepherd needed to get the sheep into the pen without using the words left, right, forward or backwards and without touching them. Instead, the shepherd had to use other words or signals to communicate with the sheep. Result: This was a nice task to do – especially coupled with the other blindfold task – as it demonstrated the benefits of having a leader rather than allowing everyone to make
12 ACF AUTUMN 2015
their own rules. The shepherd told her sheep that she would use the word ‘correct’ instead of right and ‘wrong’ instead of left. For forwards and backwards she used ‘yes’ and ‘no’. The sheep grasped the rules, but they moved very slowly and kept stopping throughout the task. This task would work best run against the clock to maintain pace. Alternatively, it could be made harder by insisting the sheep kept moving or by creating obstacles, such as a bridge over the river, that all the sheep had to cross.
AS THE SHEPHERD I WANTED TO KEEP THEM ALL CLOSER TOGETHER, BUT THEY SOON DRIFTED APART. Cadet Tabitha Hastie
IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BE CONFIDENT WHEN BLINDFOLDED. I WAS SCARED OF WALKING INTO SOMETHING. Cadet Francella Cansdale
Equipment: Blindfolds for all team members Time: 20 minutes Where: Large flat area, ideally indoors Aim: For cadets to gain an appreciation of the need for clear communication and leadership Benefits: Promotes communication and leadership skills Instructions: The cadets were spread out around the room. Each cadet was given a piece of paper with a number and asked to wear a blindfold. They were tasked with returning to the starting point and forming a line in sequence, from the highest to the lowest number. No talking was allowed. Result: Cadets quickly congregated but found it a challenge to communicate their numbers to each other. Systems of clapping, stamping and hand-to-hand signals were tested before they eventually succeeded. The team then discussed which communication styles worked best and the disadvantages of them all trying out different systems. The exercise was then re-run with an assigned leader, which showed the team how much more quickly and effectively they could complete the task.
WE USED CLAPS AND COUNTED ON EACH OTHER’S FINGERS TO COMMUNICATE OUR NUMBER Cadet Corporal Alexandria Sol
Cadets from Greater London South West Sector ACF try out the Blindfold Sequencing task
DID YOU KNOW?
28,786
cadets obtained an APC first aid pass in 2014/15
SUMMER CAMP
SUMMER CAMP
OUTDOOR ACTION
MOST CAMPS THROW UP SOME SORT OF PROBLEM, WHETHER LOGISTICAL OR METEOROLOGICAL, BUT STRONG TEAMWORK FROM CFAVS CAN HELP CADETS SEE THE FUN IN ANY SITUATION
O
ne of 2nd Lt Ricky Allen’s keenest memories of annual camp was as a kayak instructor at Barry Buddon in 2011. “We were out kayaking and the water was freezing but the cadets were still happy to jump in and have a laugh,” says Ricky, the Detachment Commander at Carrickfergus Open Detachment. “It’s amazing to see young people doing that. As a social worker I see a lot of young people who have difficulties in their lives, so it’s good to come here and get a positive balance. It restores your faith a wee bit.” This year was Ricky’s second camp as a 2nd Lieutenant. “As my roles and responsibilities develop, I’m settling in and beginning to mentor newly qualified sergeants who may be stressed out about what they have to do. With cadets, they are all tackling fears and gaining confidence. I’m working with one stars, so I’m dealing with the usual
THE RAIN WAS SO BAD THAT THREE TRAINING GROUPS HAD TO BE MOVED INTO A BARN. YOU HAVE TO JUST CRACK ON Cadet Sergeant Jack McCormack
Captain Aimee Mitchell 14 ACF AUTUMN 2015
Photo: Mark Knight MBE
THIS PIC: Cambridgeshire ACF cadets at St Martin’s Plain camp CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: Staffordshire and West Midlands (North) ACF cadets and adults
DID YOU KNOW? 725 students (adults and cadets) attended adventurous training at CCT in 2014/15
Photo: Capt Emma Snead
SUMMER CAMP
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: 1st Battalion ACF cadet at Sennybridge camp; Greater London South West ACF cadet at Swynnerton camp; 1st (NI) Battalion ACF at Sennybridge Camp; A member of 1st (NI) Battalion ACF demonstrates a head for heights
worries about sleeping outside, spiders and the dark.” Volunteers’ ability to think on their feet is an essential part of a great camp. “Even the best plans never survive first contact,” says Ricky whose day job is as a social worker in Northern Ireland. “Stay calm, reassess, continue to change your decisions so everyone stays safe and the cadets are enjoying themselves whilst learning. It’s all about teamwork – talking to training officers and others, pooling ideas and working as part of an effective team.” Then there’s the weather to keep in mind, says AUO Rob Preece of Lichfield detachment. He agrees with Ricky’s advice, but adds: “In my area we joke that
there are three types of weather: hot and sh***y, wet and sh***y and cold and sh***y. It’s always important to have a foul weather plan and be ready to think on your feet. “On Salisbury Plain conditions can change quickly so it’s a case of ‘check the kit, check the kit, check the kit’. The new sleep systems, Gore-Tex waterproofs, mark 4 cadet vests and lightweight day sacks have removed some of the danger elements and ensure cadets don’t get fatigued as easily, but a little forethought is still essential to make sure we can keep the cadets out in the field.” Cadet Sergeant Jack McCormack, Stafford Detachment, has seen the WE WERE OUT KAYAKING benefits of forward planning during AND IT WAS FREEZING BUT expeditions and at exercises as well THE CADETS WERE STILL as at annual camps. “At a previous camp at Warcop the rain was so HAPPY TO JUMP IN bad that three training groups 2nd Lt Ricky Allen had to be moved into a barn. You
IT’S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A FOUL WEATHER PLAN AND BE READY TO THINK ON YOUR FEET AUO Rob Preece
have to just crack on with it and rearrange the programme – on that occasion we did indoor archery, skill at arms tests and a navigation exercise.” Jack’s tip for avoiding problems is to look out for the signs of dehydration or hypothermia and to ensure cadets bring the right kit with them. “On my Bronze DofE I took clothing for five days even though I was only out for one night. At this year’s camp the one stars have been given a diagram of a day sack and what should go in each pocket. For the junior cadets it’s ideal.”
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SUMMER CAMP
CAMP FACTS SITE HISTORIES CAMP LOCATIONS AROUND THE UK
12.OTTERBURN Home to the UK’s largest firing range, artillery can be clearly heard from Lindisfarne to the north-east and Fontburn Reservoir in the south
1.ALTCAR 16,000 sailors, soldiers, airmen and women or service personnel learn rifle skills at Altcar every year
13.PENALLY
2.BARRY BUDDON Barry Buddon (known as Barry Butlins) has been home to a salmon fishing enterprise, a racecourse and a lifeboat station
In March 2014 flocks of twitchers came to Penally to see a great spotted cuckoo, last seen in the UK in 2009, when it flew to Wales instead of Spain
02
3.BECKINGHAM The Lincolnshire camp dates back to Norman times as a hunting chase
14.SENNYBRIDGE Home to many birds of prey including the red kite, goshawk, peregrine falcon and merlin
4.BRUNSWICK (PIRBRIGHT)
15.ST MARTIN’S PLAIN Home to a German prisoner-ofwar camp during WWII
If you’re out at night look out for (nocturnal) muntjac deer spotted in the region
16.STRENSALL
5.CASTLEMARTIN
Strensall was cited in the Domesday Book in 1086 and was named Streonaeshalch
12
German recruits for the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) received armoured training here from 1962 until the 1990s
17.SWYNNERTON Reports suggest the site is home to a number of peacocks, which occasionally run loose
6.CHICKERELL RANGE During WW1 the area was a base for thousands of wounded Australian and New Zealand troops evacuated after Gallipoli
18
01
7.CROWBOROUGH Parts of the Doctor Who story ‘The Curse of Fenric’, broadcast in 1989, were filmed here
18.WARCOP Established in 1942 as a tank gunnery range, tanks still use it to this day
19
19.WATHGILL Yorkshire Air Ambulance service based one of its helicopters at Wathgill during the 2014 Tour de France
16
8.LONGMOOR Damage to local roads when construction work started (in 1900) prompted the Army to trial pneumatic tyred lorries for the first time
17 03
10
9.LYDD Lydd camp includes an urban training area with a variety of different street scenes
05
13
Site includes the ‘ghost village’ of Imber – villagers were evicted in 1943 and never allowed back
21.WEST TOFTS Scenes in the Dad’s Army TV series were filmed in and around the West Tofts area
14
22
10.NESCLIFF Nescliff was constructed during WWII as an ammunition depot
20
11.OKEHAMPTON The Army’s annual Ten Tors event starts from Okehampton Camp
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20.WESTDOWN
11
06
Antis the German Shepherd dog and his owner took part in 30 airborne missions from RAF East Wretham in WWII. Antis received the Dickin medal in 1949
04
08
22.WRETHAM
07 09 15
Send us facts about camps you’ve visited. Email editor@armycadets.com
ARMYCADETS.COM 17
CADET ForCE MUSIC
strike up the band the proportion of former cadets becoming music instructors has doubled in five years, but more are needed
T
wo decades ago nearly everyone involved in Cadet Force Music (CFM) had served as a musician or drummer in the Army or the Reserves. Five years ago this had dropped to 35 per cent; today, only a quarter of instructors at Altcar come from this background, says CFM’s Lt Col Mike Neville. “The reduction in the number of Army bands has, no doubt, had an impact,” he says. “The decline will continue.” However, in the past five years the proportion of staff who are former cadets has more than doubled. “We are approaching the point where half of our instructors will be ex-cadets – the bulk of those being people who come directly into the ACF as adults
18 ACF AUTUMN 2015
at 18 years old.” Alongside this, nearly a quarter of music instructors are AIs who are currently learning music. “This increase is fantastic, encouraging news, but we do still need more”, says Major Tex Calton, ACFA executive officer for CFM, which covers both Cadet Force Bands and Highland Drumming. “Music teachers across the UK are in short supply. By training ex-cadets and adult volunteers to become instructors with CFM we are just about meeting our requirements and demands at the moment,” he tells us. “But we are aiming towards every county having a talented bugler for Remembrance Sunday and every brigade having a viable military band for high-profile engagements.” At the moment around
90 per cent of counties or battalions have some kind of connection to music, he adds.
Marching on Tex’s goal is for CFM to be able to offer an annual calendar of events across the country, following the example of the successful Rorke’s Drift concerts held in Wales. “This concert really sticks in people’s minds for the whole year, and tickets often sell out,” he says. “We have professional lights and put on a great show, which gives the cadets a real experience of professional music.” Such concerts are also a great way of drawing in the community, which creates opportunities for both recruitment and fundraising (see overleaf).
MUSIC
ARMYCADETS.COM 19
MUSIC
TOP TIPS HOW TO RECRUIT NEW MUSICIANS
1 2
Visit schools and let pupils try instruments
Hold an awareness day and teach potential recruits how to make noise
3
Encourage cadets to invite friends – young people are more likely to stay if friends are involved
4
Explain to parents that being a cadet means children can combine music and sport – it is not an either/ or situation
DID YOU KNOW?
5
Emphasise value – private lessons can cost £35 or more, but CFM is free
Over 1,280 cadets and adults attended Cadet Force Music training events in 2014/15
Tell us your experiences with Cadet Force Music: email editor@armycadets.com
“Involvement in music also offers enormous opportunities for young people. It can be counted towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, BTECs and NVQs; it improves teamwork and self-confidence; and it is even associated with better results in maths and English,” adds Tex, a former cadet who served as an Army musician himself before joining ACF. “On top of that, cadets attending the annual camp can compete in ‘The Tex Factor’ – a kind of talent show in which young people can perform any musical act they like, as long as it is not on their main instrument. The last three winners we’ve had were a mime artist, a conjurer and a Freddie Mercury impersonator,” he says.
Making memories More seriously, CFM gives cadets the chance to participate in significant ceremonial events in the UK and overseas, which they will remember forever. “We can work alongside the Army or Reserves, or we can replace them,” says Tex. “If they can’t get a band together for a Remembrance Sunday service, for instance, we can deliver that professional music, with decorum, for the public.
“Some young people enjoy it so much that they go on to join the Regular Army and play for the Queen.” “It is also fun for cadets and CFAVs alike. “I have taken cadets to Europe on tour,” says Captain Steve Croney of the Hants and Isle of Wight cadet band. “We visited four countries in ten days, we did battlefield tours… and it cost them £35 each. All the money that the band raised through fetes and so on went
into their European fund, so it was great fun, but they worked for it. They are learning and becoming young adults.”
FIND OUT MORE
Find out more about learning an instrument and becoming a music instructor at armycadets.com
YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT SI Julie Witney was 58 with more than a decade’s experience as a CFAV when she decided it was time to learn the drums. Some 18 months on she is an instructor with CFM’s Corps of Drums, as well as an assistant administrative officer at Essex ACF. “Learning as an adult wasn’t intimidating at all,” she says. “And I think it was nice for the cadets to be standing next to an instructor who was learning to play at the same time as them – we were all in the
same boat. After learning the drums I decided to give the flute and the bugle a go as well… but my real passion is drums. You need quite a lot of puff to play the bugle, and I don’t think my lungs are big enough. And I couldn’t practise at home, my cat hated the noise.” Being relatively new to the drums helps her as an instructor, says Julie, who recently signed up to do an adult BTEC. “I have a real understanding with learners because my own learning is so fresh. SI Julie Witney is virtually a one-woman band these days
20 ACF AUTUMN 2015
I encourage anyone who is interested in music to go for it. ACF has taught me so many lifelong skills… it is wonderful to learn as much as you can and to pass those things on to the next generation as well.”
MUSIC
LCpl Jack Hunt has travelled to Belgium on tour with an ACF band
ACF cadets in action Beating Retreat at Edinburgh Castle in 2014
WHERE DO ACF MUSICIANS AND INSTRUCTORS COME FROM? KEY ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■
Ex Regular band or COD Ex TA band or COD Ex cadet (musically skilled) Ex cadet (non-musically skilled) Adult instructor, now learning music Parent (musically skilled) Parent (not musically skilled)
23% 9%
5%
16%
3%
10%
“YOU GET TO MEET GREAT PEOPLE FROM ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY” LCpl Jack Hunt has met people from across the UK and Europe thanks to his involvement with the Hants and Isle of Wight ACF band. “We have camps twice a year where every cadet band – from right up north in Durham down south to us – congregates in one place,” the 17-year-old says. “You get to meet great people from all around the country.” Last July he and his bandmates, plus some cadets from the Berkshire ACF band, travelled to Belgium on a tour marking 100 years since the start of WW1. “We played at the Menin Gate and Tyne Cot Cemetery. It was extremely eye-opening.” This August he attended the Summer Academy held at the Royal Military School of Music in Twickenham with the aim of finding out more about a career as a musician in the Army. However, he is quick to point out that ACF music is for everyone, not just those considering a military musical career. “It ties in with the green, so you can learn first aid and everything… but we are about the music. It’s what we love doing.”
ARMYCADETS.COM 21
SKILLS
Photo: 2Lt Simon Crossley - LNR ACF PR Team
SHOOTING
HOME ON THE RANGE WHY AIR RIFLES ARE THE IDEAL WAY FOR CADETS TO LEARN THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF SHOOTING
YOU CAN HAVE MORE CADETS FIRING AT ONCE, WHICH MEANS THEY GET MORE TIME SHOOTING Lt Richard Stebbings
22 ACF AUTUMN 2015
T
DID YOU KNOW? 40 DofE-specific
he new air rifles adult training introduced in 2012 courses were run are light, easy to in 2014/15 use and considerably more cadet-friendly than the old model, says Lt Richard Stebbings, Northumbria’s County Shooting Officer. “An air rifle is a starter rifle. It is a fantastic way for smaller or more junior cadets to learn the basic principles of shooting before progressing to .22 rimfire and target rifles,” he says. “And you can have more cadets firing at once, which means they get more time Lt Richard Stebbings, shooting. There is no limit to the number of lanes you Northumbria’s County can run on an air rifle range, providing you have the Shooting Officer space. At weekend camps we have set up outdoor air rifle ranges with up to 20 lanes, which means that you it out before you start.” Then it is a matter of planning can get a lot more cadets shooting. Even indoors, if training sessions. you have enough space, it’s relatively easy to set up a “It depends on the level of training, but usually six-lane range, which will cater for more cadets than you’d start with basic grouping and marksmanship the average small-bore range, which usually has only principles. Once they’ve mastered that you can start three lanes, and takes no more staff to run it.” doing competition-style shooting. There are Council More shooting opportunities means happier cadets; for Cadet Rifle Shooting (CCRS) Commonwealth more than 80 per cent of cadets say that they joined matches that any cadet in the UK or Commonwealth the ACF because they wanted to learn to shoot, while countries can enter, so you can compete against around three-quarters say that they want to do more teams from overseas.” of it, says 28-year-old Richard, who joined as a cadet There is no international travel needed: it’s a postal in 2000 before becoming an adult instructor in 2005. competition and you send your cadets’ targets in to be scored, so their results can be compared with those of their fellow cadets from abroad. “They can then Mastering the basics see how they are doing against people in Canada, The range itself can be much cheaper than many New Zealand and so on. Some of them look the other people realise. “There is an approved air rifle screen, cadets up on Facebook and chat to them.” which is a three-lane portable screen for standing, An element of competition and progression kneeling and prone shooting, but it is very expensive is important to all shooting. Cadets like to push at about £850,” says Richard. “But you can make your themselves and see how they are improving, so own nine-lane range using the template in JSP 403 – shooting in competitions – even with air rifles – gives the range construction pamphlet, which has all the them a huge incentive to try to do better. Shooting detail you need – for around £200.” can also be a good way to help cadets see the value of JSP 403 is freely available on the .GOV website, so working towards their APC, adds Richard. it’s easy to get the information you need. The template “Star levels can be quite difficult for junior for an outdoor air rifle range, which does not require a cadets to understand, but seeing an activity and complicated backstop, is in the cadet ranges pamphlet saying ‘I want to do that’ is a much bigger carrot (AC 71855-C). than simply getting a badge. They like earning the Building your own screen is not difficult and badge but it is the practical benefits that really get should only take a day to put together. “It’s just them interested.” hessian, some half-inch plywood and a few other bits and bobs. The material costs are very small. If you wanted a three-lane range it would only cost about FIND OUT MORE £75. Once it’s built all you need to do is produce a risk Find out about CCRS competitions at ccrs.org.uk assessment and you’re ready to go, although I would and the ACF’s shooting activities at armycadets. always invite a training safety adviser (TSA) to check com/become-a-cadet/what-youll-do/shooting
IN IT TO WIN IT FROM AIR RIFLES TO CLAY TARGET SHOOTING THE COUNCIL FOR Cadet Rifle Shooting, founded in 1969, is a charity that both coordinates and advises on cadet shooting matters. It runs competitions in five categories: 1. Air rifle 2. Small bore (.22) 3. Cadet GP rifle (5.56) 4. Full bore (7.62) target rifle 5. Clay target shooting Adult coaching is not permitted during air rifle competitions, except by special permission, as the rules state that the ability to coach is a “necessary part” of cadets’ training. Many categories offer multiple competition options. For instance, cadets competing in small bore shooting enter different competitions according to whether or not their rifles are fitted with hand stops. Clay target shooting, meanwhile, can offer talented cadets a route into Olympic competition; John Offord, the team GB Olympic Trap Manager, presented the prizes at this year’s event, held at Cambridge Gun Club in Cottenham. Source and more information: www.ccrs.org.uk
ARMYCADETS.COM 23
SPORT
SPORT AND THE CHALLENGE CUP
BE A GOOD SPORT
LT COL TERRY HAYTER BELIEVES PLAYING SPORT IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS FOR CADETS TO LEARN KEY SKILLS, WHETHER THAT’S THROUGH FOOTBALL, ATHLETICS OR THE TUG OF WAR
TO ALL OFFICERS AND CFAVS I SAY THANK YOU FOR INSPIRING CADETS TO TAKE PART IN SPORT Lt Col Terry Hayter 24 ACF AUTUMN 2015
SPORT
T
eamwork, commitment, discipline: ACF sports encapsulate everything that it means to be a cadet, according to Lt Col Terry Hayter, the ACF’s National Sports Officer. “Cadets who qualify for championship events have taken a long trip to get there,” he says. “They’ve worked hard and shown enormous commitment – but they haven’t done it alone. They have been supported by the equally hard work of adult volunteers. To all officers and CFAVs I say thank you for making this possible… and for inspiring cadets to take part in sport at all levels. “What we need now, to make sure that these opportunities continue, is for more CFAVs to step up and get involved in sport. I need adult staff to support and facilitate my sporting events – without them, neither the 2,260 cadets who take part in national championships nor the estimated 10,000 or more who work towards that goal could do so.” The ACF’s 57 counties nationally means that 57 sport leaders is the starting requirement but, as not all will be proficient in each of the sports, the reality is that the number could expand to 300 or more, says Col Andy Dawes, the Chairman of the Sports Board. “This would mean that the cadets would benefit from having proper training and would help with the movement to and from events,” he says.
Sporting life “Cadets who make it to nationals in a recognised sport – athletics, girls’ hockey, football, boys’ rugby, swimming, cross country and tug of war – are treated to the best facilities and great support from
CHALLENGE CUP COULD YOU WIN FOR YOUR COUNTY?
bridgade headquarters and the British Army,” continues Terry. His relationship with organisations such as the Army Sports Control Board and Physical Development Branch at Support Command means that cadets can also participate in regular Army competitions; cadets recently won the Army tug of war champsionships. “My next aim is to get the cadets and staff recognised with civilian awards and qualifications,” he says. This is an acknowledgement that sport is about much more than the athletes who fight for glory at the national championships – or for points that count towards the Challenge Cup (see right). “It is a common theme across all genders, races and religions,” says Captain Mike Shucksmith, the Yorkshire (North and West) County Sports Officer. “It pulls together competitors from across the county, the brigade and the nations. And it offers benefits to both physical and mental wellbeing.” It is also, sadly, something that many young people have less opportunity to participate in than the past, adds Andy. “In a time where physical activities are seemingly being placed on the backburner in schools, it is important that organisations like the ACF champion the need to keep our youth fit,” he says. “Sport not only helps to provide a healthy lifestyle, it also develops key parts of a cadet’s life, helping in other parts of the syllabus. And, as part of the ACF Charter is to give an insight into the Armed Forces, we have a remit to make sure cadets have every opportunity to participate in the activities on offer to ensure their fitness is at the required level for entry.”
FIND OUT MORE For more information about getting involved in ACF sport, visit armycadets.com
The Challenge Cup isn’t just about sport but is a key ACF event in which counties compete against each other to get to the top of the rankings and win the coveted cup. “The large number of Challenge Cup points available through sport should act as a significant incentive for commandants planning involvement in regional sports,” says Lt Col Terry Hayter. “They get points for cadets who compete at a national level but they will get loads more when they participate in regional events. The idea is to encourage more involvement in local sporting competitions.”
SILVER MEDAL SUCCESS FOR KAYLEIGH ADAMS 19-year-old former cadet Kayleigh Adams won a silver medal at the recent European triathlon championships. She says: “Cadets showed me that with teamwork, determination and consistency, anything in sport is possible. When I started cadets I was not into sport at all but, after seeing some friends win medals at swimming, I thought ‘I’d like to do that’ – and I was hooked. That small competition led me on to see what else I was capable of. I’m hoping to be on the under 23 squad for triathlon in 2017 in Rotterdam, then to go on to be in the Commonwealth Games in 2022. It is a massive challenge.”
RECRUITING CADETS
DID YOU KNOW?
Cadets and adults received 76 awards for praiseworthy first aid in 2014/15, saving at least 11 lives
NUMBER-OFF! A COUNTDOWN TO ATTRACTING NEW RECRUITS AND THE TOP 10 NO-KIT EXCUSES
TOP 10: WAYS TO APPEAL TO POTENTIAL CADETS
W
e all know what a fantastic and potentially life-changing choice joining the ACF can be for a young person, so here are some fresh ideas to help you recruit even more youngsters to your detachment.
Illustrations: Tom Hughes
1
PEER-TO-PEER
Organise a “bring a friend” promotion with your cadets. It gives them the chance to show friends what they get up to – and also the possibility of sparking their interest. It’s been proven that young people are more likely to keep coming regularly if friends are there.
26 ACF AUTUMN 2015
2
SCHOOL OF THOUGHT
Get in touch with local schools to see if you can give a presentation. There’s a ready-made presentation available in the Resource Centre on Westminster. Take along short films and pictures to show potential recruits what’s involved.
3
DISPLAY
Seek permission to put up posters in schools or on community notice boards. You can find posters in the Brand Centre.
RECRUITING CADETS
One cadet professed an allergy to mashed potato – and asked for chips instead
4
SEEK ADVICE
5
BE ON-MESSAGE
6
GET PEOPLE INVOLVED
Let your PRO know that you’re recruiting and ask for advice. They will have been through it all before so will have tricks up their sleeve.
Look at “Key Messages for Cadets” in the Resource Centre to find the words and phrases that appeal to cadets.
Include hands-on activities at your events; the Open Day Guide on Westminster has loads of ideas.
7
GO PUBLIC
TOP 10: CADET EXCUSES
C
1
NO BERET
“My sister borrowed it for her reggae band” was the reason given – and it’s probably true!
2
IT’S ALL WELSH TO ME
Ask your PRO about staging a public event in a place that’s popular with young people.
No plans to attend the Rorke’s Drift concert in Wales. Reason: “I can’t read Welsh music.”
8
3
FLYING SQUAD
Talk to your county HQ and/or RFCA for supplies of the latest cadet recruitment leaflets.
9
FAMILY AFFAIR
Engage parents of potential cadets. Your PRO will be able to help you make sure that parents know your detachment is recruiting.
10
SOCIAL NETWORK
Put those smartphones to good use and ask cadets to post pictures on Facebook so that their friends can see how much fun they had at camp.
5
adets appear to be a pretty creative bunch when it comes to dreaming up excuses for missing uniforms and the like, or justifying their bizarre behaviour. Never mind “the dog ate my homework”; here’s a selection of excuses we’ve heard that really take the biscuit.
NO POPPY
“I am allergic to flowers.” Sigh.
4
FOOD SHORTAGE
A cadet told to pack three meals for a weekend expedition turned up with one. Reason: “I wasn’t hungry on Friday so I only packed one meal.”
DIET FADS
Under “special dietary requirements” one cadet filled in: “Allergic to mash. Likes chips.”
6
NO BERET PART 2
7
NO KIT
8
UNIRONED UNIFORM
“It’s at home on my wardrobe. I can’t reach the top of my wardrobe, so I asked my dad to get it. He said ‘that’s a command task, you get it down’.”
“I can’t wear my shirt because I’m injured. My dad said that collars need ironing down so that they sit flat on my chest, so I ironed them… but I didn’t take my shirt off to do it.”
“My mum forgot to do it before she went to bingo.”
9
NO KIT PART 2
“It was stolen from the washing line.” Minus points for originality for that one.
10
GO SLOW
“My doctor hasn’t diagnosed it but I have asthma. I know I have, because I get out of breath when I run really quickly.”
ARMYCADETS.COM 27
OFFICERS
STEPPING UP
DID YOU KNOW? Almost 1,700 adults and cadets achieved DofE Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards in 2014/15
RECENT PROMOTIONS AND AWARDS FOR OFFICERS, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS, AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE OFFICER PROFILE
CAPTAIN LESLEY DEACON
C
APTAIN LESLEY DEACON, 40, has been part of the ACF for most of her life. She joined as a cadet at 13, left five years later as a four-star and Battery Sergeant Major, then immediately signed up as an adult instructor.
She rose to Company Sergeant Major and, in 2010, with plenty of enthusiastic encouragement from senior officers, Lesley secured herself a commission. Moving into the officers’ mess was a way for her to have more inf luence over crucial changes and improvements to the ACF, she says. At the same time, Lesley was taking on increasing responsibility in her career within the NHS, rising to be Head of Midwifery & Assistant Director of Nursing at a trust in London. “I am responsible for the whole maternity and gynaecology service for the London borough we serve,” she says. “We deliver 3,000 babies a year and look after more than 6,000 women during and after pregnancy.” The two strands of her professional life have each reinforced the other, with ACF experience in roles such as training officer and
28 ACF AUTUMN 2015
her experience as an officer supporting her development as a supervisor and leader in midwifery – and vice versa. “My NHS and ACF careers have complemented each other,” she says. “I use my knowledge of methods of cadet force instructional techniques when giving lectures and presentations, but also when I am working with student midwives and agreeing learning outcomes. The leadership experience that I have gained in each role has had an impact in the other.” Taking on a commission would also be helpful for volunteers who are not yet in a leadership role in their profession but who aspire to such a position, she adds. “I encourage people looking for personal development to do this… it would give you a chance to develop expertise and management skills that you could then relate back to your work.”
LESLEY DEACON, 40 Rank: Captain Joined: 1994 County: Northamptonshire Day job: Head of Midwifery & Assistant Director of Nursing at an NHS trust in London
MY NHS AND ACF CAREERS HAVE COMPLEMENTED EACH OTHER. THE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE IN EACH ROLE HAS HAD AN IMPACT IN THE OTHER Captain Lesley Deacon
STEPPING UP
ACF OFFICERS
The following have been selected for a commission by CFCB PRV RNK AUO
SURNAME
INITIAL
COUNTY/BATTALION/SECTOR
ACHESON
DW
ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS BN ACF
SMI
HORN
IA
BERKSHIRE (ROYAL COUNTY OF) ACF
SSI
MCKENZIE
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BLACK WATCH BN ACF (ROYAL REGIMENT OF
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BRISTOL (CITY AND COUNTY OF) ACF
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LAURANCE-YOUNG PA
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OFFICER PROFILE
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DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF
MAJ GEN STANFORD
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DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF
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DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF
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DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF
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GLASGOW AND LANARKSHIRE BN ACF
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SCOTLAND)
MAJ GEN STANFORD, 49 Rank: Major General Joined: 1987
M
aj Gen Richard Stanford assumed command of Support Command in June, replacing Major General Robert Nitsch. Maj Gen Stanford was commissioned into the Welsh Guards in 1987. He has commanded at all levels in the Battalion and been deployed on operations to Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also one of the few British Army officers to have completed the US Army Ranger course. It was his experience as a cadet that shaped his career decisions. “I had an inspirational commander who encouraged my love of adventure training and my interest in the military,” he says. In his previous job, Assistant Chief of Staff Land Forces at Army HQ, he had a lot to do with cadet policy and its connections to the MoD. “I am pleased to continue that connection [in this post].”
One of his challenges is ensuring the Army leadership code is rolled out across all the Army’s cadet forces. “The cadet forces have had 22 reviews over the last nine years. We now need to get on with delivery and with enhancing the experience for our young people.” This will include a focus on what cadet forces need to do to attract and retain more young people aged 16-18; this could include running more cadet leadership courses. “We will also look at the burden we place on CFAVs; we ask a huge amount of our fantastic volunteers and we want to make sure that we understand what we are asking for, why we are asking for it and how to streamline it.” He adds; “I am really excited by the challenges ahead. I want to hear the views of ACF members on how we can develop what is already a really good organisation into a truly great one.”
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HARRISON
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GREATER MANCHESTER ACF
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NEVELL
EDC
GREATER MANCHESTER ACF
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THOMAS
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GWENT AND POWYS ACF
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HARGRAVE
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LOTHIAN AND BORDERS BN ACF
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OXFORDSHIRE (THE RIFLES BN) ACF
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WEST LOWLAND BN ACF (THE)
(SOUTH SECTOR) ACF (SOUTH SECTOR) ACF (SOUTH SECTOR) ACF RK
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YORKSHIRE (NORTH AND WEST) ACF
ARMYCADETS.COM 29
POLICY Remembrance should not be confined to November or formal parades
ACF UPDATE DR RICHARD CRAWFORD, SO1 CADETS POLICY AND PLANS AT SUPPORT COMMAND, GIVES AN UPDATE ON ISSUES AFFECTING YOU AND YOUR DETACHMENT
BAT TLEFIELD STUDIES
Remembering the battles of the Western Front NEWS
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30 ACF AUTUMN 2015
A
S WE once again approach November and with it the period of remembrance, Army Cadets up and down the country will be preparing to take part in parades and to raise funds for service charities.
However, remembrance shouldn’t be restricted to the end of the calendar year, nor should taking part in a parade be the only way for cadets to engage with and remember the past. This year has seen a number of projects for the cadet forces take shape, adding an extra dimension to battlefield studies and tours and bringing history to life for our cadets. One such project is Soldiers to Schools (S2S), which is part of the Army’s First World War commemorations. As part of these commemorations, known as Op REFLECT, a number of serving soldiers have been trained by the British Army’s Education and Training Service to deliver support to secondary school teachers who are teaching the First World War as part of the school curriculum.
This support is being extended to include serving soldiers accompanying cadets from the ACF and CCF on battlefield studies tours to the Western Front battlefields. The soldiers’ role is to support the cadets’ studies by providing a contemporary view of soldiering and facilitating the comparison of modern battlefield conditions with those of the First World War.
OLD AND NEW The fi rst cadets to take advantage of the initiative – which only covers tours to the Western Front, not other battlefields – were from Chichester High School for Boys CCF. They travelled to the Western Front in May, accompanied by SSgt Andy Milton from 37 Sig Regt. The battlefield study was hailed as a great success by both cadets
UPDAT E
The new manual has been designed as an online publication rather than as a hard copy
and adult instructors, and has set the template for this element of the S2S initiative. Cadets taking part in this tour felt that having a serving soldier accompany them gave them insights that they wouldn’t have thought of, and that these insights were thought provoking, particularly when they compared the numbers lost in the First World War with today’s Army, and in comparing and contrasting how a modern soldier would be deployed on a similar battlefield today.
PLANNING AHEAD I would strongly recommend any cadet organisation thinking about planning a WW1 battlefield study tour to consider requesting a serving soldier to accompany the cadets and to add an extra element to their trip. Further guidance and direction can be found on the Cadet Resource Centre on the Defence Gateway, along with a request form. Requests need to be submitted a minimum of 14 weeks before departure to allow for necessary clearances to be completed.
Visiting the Western Front with a serving soldier is a thought-provoking experience
NEW AND IMPROVED
ACF MANUAL: NEWER, BETTER AND EASIER TO USE HE CURRENT ACF MANUAL is an old two-volume publication and contains rules for the whole of the ACF – these are not the rules instructors use every day but the big-picture structural issues such as who can join, how to qualify for a promotion and so on. When the manual was written in 2005, it was designed as a one-stop shop for the most up-to-date information available, but there have been important changes in the 10 years since then. One of the most significant developments is CFAVs now have access to Army and MoD publications, which are the final authority for many aspects of cadets. This has meant changes in Army or MoD rules have superseded large parts of the manual. As a result, CFAVs have not been able to rely on the manual alone and have had to go through different sources to ensure they are accessing the correct information. Obviously letters and updates were sent out from the authorities involved, but keeping track of this information has not always been straightforward. The discrepancies between the manual and the rules even saw volunteers ending up doing certain things based on the manual, only to discover recent MoD guidance meant they couldn’t do these things. The reverse was true, as well; sometimes volunteers would choose not to do something based on the manual, even though the latest Army rules meant they could. For example, they might decide not to offer an activity to cadets because the manual said it required a particular qualification that is no longer awarded or has been superseded by today’s improved training regime, meaning that more adult instructors are now qualified to lead the activity. The revised manual, which has been rewritten with extensive input from all the relevant stakeholders, will take these
T
changes into account. More importantly, it has been developed in a way that makes it simpler to use, and allows it to be automatically updated with new information as further changes are made.
LINKING UP The manual, due to be published on the Cadet Resource Centre this autumn, has been designed as an online publication. So while some sections are ACF-specific and will therefore have material in the document itself, the manual will also contain links to the relevant Army and MoD documentation. The idea is to make it easy for CFAVs to open the manual, look for the information they need, and then follow one or two hyperlinks to reach it. This approach means the manual itself is smaller and more streamlined, and that the Army or MoD documents to which it links can be updated without the entire manual having to be republished. ACF-specific material in the manual will be updated annually, with policy letters and any other relevant changes made between editions kept in one central location on the Resource Centre. There will be a limited run of printed copies published and distributed, but all detachments are encouraged to use the online version for simplicity and to ensure they are accessing the most recent rules. The laptops issued as part of the recent IT programme will make this process much easier for CFAVs. While the new streamlined manual will be up-to-date and easier to use, it should not contain any surprises. Any rule changes have already been published by Support Command over the past years so most of the changes have been in organising the existing information in a way that reduces the time burden on volunteers and makes the manual itself more useful.
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, SEND THEM TO EDITOR@ARMYCADETS.COM
IN THE PHOTOS:
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1: Lieutenant Boris Lockyer, HSY ACF, and Colonel David Fuller, Colonel Cadets 4 Brigade, take a break from the classroom at the National Adventure Training Conference, Snowdonia. 2: A group of cadets and CFAVs arrive in Ottawa, Canada, for the Army Cadet Leader Instructor Marksmanship course. 3: Cadets from 101 PWRR Detachment, SouthEast London sector, helping out at a local charity’s 25th anniversary fun walk. 4: Cadets from Devon ACF mentor and instruct pupils from Tavistock College as part of the Youth Outreach project. 5: Shropshire ACF cadets on a special visit to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, Aldershot. Someone lost the camouflage contest! 6: Cadets from LNR ACF with one of the Queen’s Beefeaters at Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire. A ceremony was held to celebrate the formation of the new regiment, the Royal Lancers, which was attended by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of York. 7: Cadets and adult instructors from Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Battalion ACF having a great time at annual camp in Altcar. 8: Cadet CSM Rogerson from Sussex ACF won this year’s Champion Cadet competition against stiff competition. 3
32 ACF AUTUMN 2015
THE GALLERY
We want to see your pictures of ACF life. Send pictures of your detachment’s activities to us by the end of October 2015
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SHARE YOUR PHOTOS 7
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
Most people would want to put their feet up after a working day like this – not Stuart Taggart, left
D AY I N T H E L I F E
Get up there, get on with it
Sergeant Instructor Stuart Taggart clearly doesn’t believe in the benefits of a good lie-in, but he does have a soft spot for creating a little bit of history 5.30 I like to start with porridge, because it gives slow-release energy – anything else and I’m hungry again by 9.30am. Then it’s time to grab my kit bag and jump in the car so that I have time to pick up my colleague and then get to Aviemore by 7am. 7.00 When we get there I transfer vehicles into a Land Rover for the access track to get us further into the hills. Well, we don’t drive all the way there: we have to park and then walk uphill for between 45 minutes and an hour and 15 first. At the start of a job we will be carrying all our tools and equipment, but on an average day it’s just waterproofs, food and a first-aid kit.
8-8.30 If it’s an ongoing project we will already have done a site visit and come up with a plan so it’s a matter of getting up there and getting on with it. We take down the barrier tape around any big holes, sort out what we want to achieve that day, and then we just crack on with it.
10.00 Time for a quick snack. A banana or a piece of malt loaf is ideal.
Lunch Usually a hearty soup, heated on a small camping stove, and a sandwich. We eat fast because it’s often too cold to stop working for long. 12.30 At the moment we’re working to fix a massive scar on the hillside where lots of walking has worn away the peat on the surface and caused massive erosion. We use hand tools – we are in an area of Special Scientific Interest,
34 ACF AUTUMN 2015
so machinery isn’t allowed – and material from the hill itself to create a beautiful path that will be great for walkers while conserving the environment. I think it’s the best job in the world because it’s creating a little bit of history.
17.00 We leave a stash of gear on the hill in a mountain bag, which is basically a big cadet bivi bag, then we pelt down the hill to where the car is parked up. 18.20 I get home, jump in the shower then put some food down my neck so that I can be sorted in time for cadets at 7pm. 22.00 The exact time I get home depends on what we did at cadets – if we were on the range, for instance, it takes a bit longer to put the weapons away and get all the paperwork done. My girlfriend is a support worker who works late, so she gets home about this time too.
23.00 I try to go to bed for 11pm but often we end up chatting until 11.30pm or midnight before falling asleep.
MEET STUART Stuart Taggart, 26 Rank: Sergeant Instructor Joined: 2010, former cadet Detachment: 1st Battalion the Highlanders Moray Company Day job: Director of Cairngorm Wilderness Contracts, which specialises in upland paths and conservation Favourite thing about being a volunteer: Being able to work with young people from a huge variety of backgrounds and watch them grow
Share your story
Write and tell us how you manage a day job and volunteering for the cadets. Email editor@ armycadets.com It can get extremely windy in the hills
ARMY CADET VOLUNTEER
NEXT ISSUE COMING UP IN THE WINTER ISSUE
A look back at your Remembrance Day activities and photos Find out more about Community Week, what it means for your cadets and how you can get involved We talk to the counties involved in the adult recruitment best practice pilot project to discover how it went and what happens next
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