Army Cadet Magazine Summer 2018 by Army Cadets

ARMY CADET VOLUNTEER G O I N G

Summer 2018

F U R T H E R

armycadets.com

AIM HIGH

Developing rifle shooting skills with the CCRS Page 22

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS TOP TIPS FOR RETAINING AND RECRUITING

HEAD STRONG

WORKING TOGETHER

MAKING THE MOST OF AFFILIATED REGIMENTS

Understanding and responding to emotional wellbeing issues INSIDE: NEWS

COURSE

KING GEORGE VI LEADERSHIP STEM KITS IN THE FIELD PHOTOS

ISSUE #10: SUMMER 2018

W E LC O M E

The new KGVI course (SSI to SMI and Lt to Capt) is proving to be very good – huge thanks to Col Riley for making this happen. We held a RSMI conference this year and need to invest more in this vital cohort of senior CFAVs. The Initial Officer Training review is almost complete and we are moving to something less onerous, either later this year or early next year. Transitional arrangements will be made for current candidates. CFAV numbers have risen for the second year running, after three years of decline. The Yes Agency is contracted to support counties to help recruit CFAVs locally. The cadet demographic will expand for at least the next six years, so now is the time to recruit vigorously. We say farewell to the No 8 Rifle as the last tranche of the CSBTR arrives this summer. Happily the CTR OSD has been extended to 2025. We will also pilot revised syllabi for Fieldcraft, Leadership, Cadet in the Community and Healthy Lifestyle from September 2018 onwards. These syllabi will go live for all in September 2019. Subsequent pilots will follow on an annual basis. I look forward to seeing many of you at camp!

BRIGADIER MATTHEW LOWE MBE Deputy Commander Cadets, Regional Command

CONTENTS 12

EVERY ISSUE 04. THE BRIEFING Army Cadet news round-up What I love most about the sport are the travel and the people you meet Shaun Flanagan, Raise your Sights, p22

08. THE DRILL Ideas, advice and comment

12. COUNTY FOCUS Best practice from Derbyshire & Cambridgeshire ACFs

14. STEM KITS Resources for command tasks

30. ACF POLICY Update on GDPR

32. IN THE FIELD Your photos from ACF events

34. DAY IN THE LIFE ON THE COVER Recruitment Affiliated Regiments Emotional Wellbeing Cover image taken at the Champion Cadet Competition, Frimley, April 2018. (Photo: Peter Russell, Deputy PRO, Somerset ACF)

GO FURTHER Aspiring for promotion to Sgt Maj Instructor or Captain? Read about the King George VI Leadership course on page 24

Ice Maiden Sandy Hennis 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 Media

THIS ISSUE 16. EMOTIONAL WELLBEING How the ACF supports cadets

20. RECRUITMENT How to help recruit and retain volunteers

22. RAISE YOUR SIGHTS Competitive rifle shooting

24. ON COURSE King George VI Leadership training course

26. WORKING TOGETHER Making the most of affiliations

28. WOMEN IN THE ACF 40th anniversary of female CFAVs 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: Alice Hoey Head of design: Simon Goddard Senior project manager: Lizzie Hufton

ARMYCADETS.COM 3

THE BRIEFING ARMY CADET NEWS FROM AROUND THE UK

CANADA

Canadian Exchange 2018

QUALIFIC ATIONS

CVQO LAUNCHES COURSE FOR YOUNG LEADERS New qualification provides young cadets with both challenges and leadership opportunities

imed at cadets aged between 14 and 15½ years, the ILM Level 2 Award for Young Leaders (SCQF Level 5 in Scotland) is designed to unlock their leadership potential. It also provides a natural pathway to a CVQO-led BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development. Delivered by a team of CVQO instructors over two consecutive days, the course includes a combination of practical leadership activities and classroom-based theory. Thanks to LIBOR funds, CVQO will be offering 2,500 cadets the chance to complete the qualification

4 ACF SUMMER 2018

each year for the next three years, free of charge (this includes cadets in Northern Ireland and Scotland). Interested CFAVs need to supply: Two consecutive days of training CFAVs who hold duty of care and act as a point of contact for instructors Overnight accommodation and food for instructors A suitable venue for cadets and all staff Sufficient teaching space for all elements of the course Mike Askem, CVQO’s ILM Curriculum Manager, says: “The ILM Level 2 qualification is a fantastic

addition to the CVQO learner journey and provides a bridge between our entry level BTEC Level 1 and 2 qualifications. “We’ve recruited about 50 CVQO instructors and have already seen a lot of interest from units around the UK. Courses have been run with Beds & Herts ACF and Wiltshire ACF, and we have dates in the diary with Humberside and South Yorkshire ACF, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Battalion ACF and 2nd (NI) Battalion ACF.”

FIND OUT MORE For further details, visit cvqo.org/yla

ON 5 APRIL, 83 ACF and CCF cadets plus 30 adult volunteers assembled at Cwrt-y-Gollen Cadet Training Centre to take part in Exercise Oak Leaf, the national selection event for the Canadian Exchange 2018. Over the weekend, the cadets took part in a wide range of challenging activities at local training (AT) facilities throughout Crickhowell, culminating in a Sunday morning Canadian Fitness Test. Colonel Derek Hudson, ACOS Cadets at HQ Regional Command, said: “Well done to the 46 cadets selected. I am confident they will be superb ambassadors for the Army’s Cadet Forces.” The successful cadets will travel to Canada for six weeks in July and August, attending leadership and training camps in the Rocky Mountains, Alberta, at Whitehorse in Yukon and at Argonaut in New Brunswick. This year, a fitness and sports instructors’ course will also be available for 10 cadets. During the selection event, cadets had a chance to meet Capt Zanna Baker, one of the six British Army women to ski across Antarctica on Exercise Ice Maiden. Visit armycadets.com for more photos and information about the exchange.

WINNERS

CVQO Westminster Award 2018 THIS YEAR’S SELECTION event, involving 40 cadets, took place in April in Somerset. Visit cvqo.org to see the finalists who will be invited to a lunch at the House of Lords and a two-week trip to South Africa in July.

THE BRIEFING

ACF AWARDS

The following have been recognised for their commitment and dedication to the ACF CADET FORCE MEDAL

VOLUNTEERING

Sovereign’s Medal for ACF first aid Huge new honour for the ACFA and the ACF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS The Duke of Gloucester, Grand Prior of the Order of St John, has approved the award of the Sovereign’s Medal of Merit to the ACFA with effect from 21 March. The award is a huge honour for the ACF and ACFA and recognises the organisations’ excellence in delivering first aid training to cadets and adults across the UK. Alan Sharkey, ACFA Honours and Awards Coordinator, commented: “This is quite a remarkable and historical event!

The Sovereign’s Medal has only been awarded once before, to the Defence Medical Welfare Service in 2016. “The award was instituted in 2012 and one medal can be awarded annually, if of sufficient merit. It has to meet with the personal approval of both the Duke of Gloucester and Her Majesty the Queen.” An investiture, for the ACFA to collect the award, will be held on 2 October at the Priory Church in Clerkenwell.

FIRST AID ‘MBES’ THREE ACF VOLUNTEERS became Members of the Order of St John (MStJ) at an investiture on 20 March at the Priory Church of the Order of St John in Clerkenwell. The MStJ is broadly equivalent to the MBE and awarded for exceptional service to the objects of the Order. Major Chris Pickin from Staffordshire and West Midland North Sector ACF and Major Dennis Outram from Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire ACF, both members of the National First Aid Panel and Brigade First Aid Advisers, attended the ceremony to receive the honour. SMI Bill Cadman from Dorset ACF also received the honour, but was not able to attend and will have his investiture at a later date. The ACF recipients were joined by Squadron Leader Alistair Ridland, the first member of the ATC to be recognised by the Order since Major Chris Pickin (left) and Major Dennis Outram (right) with 2000 when the ATC implemented Colonel Chris Young, Chairman of a comparable first aid training the ACFA First Aid Panel programme with help from the ACFA.

LT LT SSI MAJ 2LT SSI SMI CAPT CAPT SSI LT SSI SSI SSI CSMI AUO LT CAPT SI SMI CAPT SSI SMI SSI SSI LT CAPT SI SMI SMI LT SI SSI MAJ LT 2LT MAJ SSI SMI CAPT SMI SSI SSI SMI SMI SMI

AS WJ WE L EM KEE AL N AC DJ A DW L JC D ED J W N PB SR SA CL JL MD LE M AT DR JM KJ KP PJ TW C AJ SD JAJ D MW A WM VH PA MJ S

SSI SI SSI LT SSI SSI SMI SSI SI CAPT 2LT SMI SMI SSI SSI REV CF3 CAPT SMI SMI SMI SSI SMI SSI

AJ AJ JA JR VY L S JD AD ME JM WG S M SA I SA AC S ID I K MT

ANDREWS AYRES BARKER BEBBINGTON BISHOP BOLTON BOWERS BOWLER BROOKER BYRNE CHAPMAN COMPTON COWIESON CRIMES CROCKER EAMES EDWARDS ELLISON EVANS FITZPATRICK GARDNER GASKELL GEORGE GROVES GULLIS HILLMAN HONEYBELL HOOD HOWICK HUTCHINSON JAMES JAMES KALLEND KIRKPATRICK LEDGER LUND MADELEY MALINS MARTIN MCANDREWS MCCOURTY MCINTOSH MORRISON MUGLESTON O’DELL OSBOURNETAYLOR PULLEN PYE SEDDON SHAW SHAW SLATER SMITH SPEIGHT STAGG STUDD TAYLOR TOWNLEY TREVOR VERARDI WALKER WARWICK WATT WEBSTER WHITE WILLIAMS WILSON WISHART WOODWARD

SMI SI

J ED

YARRICK ZULU

SMI CAPT SSI SI LT CAPT SSI MAJ COL SMI MAJ LT SMI LT SMI MAJ 2LT CAPT MAJ SMI SMI

M T L P A T N L S SL WKA RW AA EL NC TA P MJ SW CM D

SMI SMI CAPT SMI MAJ MAJ SMI CAPT CAPT SSI CAPT MAJ LT MAJ SMI CAPT CAPT CAPT MAJ LT COL CAPT

MA IR T GR AL ML PS WCR TC SJ MP JRP J N AE ME ME RG WT JD DM

MAJ SMI COL

AJ GS NW

SMI SSI MAJ CAPT COL SMI

S KDJ IM MR C GK

COL MAJ CAPT

D P E

1ST CLASP BARRON BAUER CARSTAIRS CHALLIS CHAPMAN COOPER DILLEY DIXON ETTINGHAUSEN HARLEY HAWKINS LEONARD MATHERS MATTHEWS NELSON NUGENT PENTECOST PEPPER RAMSEY SWEET THOMAS

2ND CLASP BULL COOK COOPER EVANS GEYSER HALL HODGKISS HUSBAND LEATHER MCCAGUE MCCLUSKEY MEADS MILLER NICHOLAS OATES RIDLEY ROBERTS SUMMERS WELSH WILSON WINSOR

3RD CLASP ELDERTON HEATON-WARD SARLING

4TH CLASP BADICS BISNEY COFFIN JONES RILEY SMITH

5TH CLASP FULLER JOHNSON LANNON

FOR A FULL LIST OF AWARD WINNERS VISIT ARMYCADETS.COM/ACFAWARDS

ARMYCADETS.COM 5

THE BRIEFING

The Lord Lieutenant of Gwent’s cadets for 2017

IN THE MEDIA

ACF luminaries making headlines

TRAINING

Senior cadets learn the art of leadership Week-long instructor course shows senior cadets how to instruct juniors

uring half term, 64 senior cadets from across Great Britain attended a one-week Senior Cadet Instructor Course (SCIC) at Altcar Training Camp near Liverpool. The SCIC is designed to increase cadets’ knowledge of the techniques of instruction and give them early experience of the art of leadership. HQ NW CTT Commander Maj Alex Sanders said: “To qualify, cadets need a thorough knowledge of the syllabus up to and including 3 Star level. We run four courses throughout the year in the North West, and the SCIC remains the most popular route for cadets aiming to achieve their 4 Star award.” Alex added: “Not everyone realises that cadets do not need

to attend the course delivered by their local CTT. They can apply to attend any SCIC.” Cadets learn how to instruct junior cadets (up to and including 2 Star standard) in drill, turnout and military knowledge, skill-at-arms, fieldcraft and navigation. To prepare, cadets should prove they are potential instructors by observing senior cadets delivering lessons, writing lesson plans and delivering a lesson to basiclevel cadets.

Hereford and Worcester ACF: Worcester News highlighted how local cadets raised £724 for Help for Heroes during a two-day collection at the St Peter and Warndon branches of Tesco. The collection, part of the cadets’ Cadet in the Community activities, was organised by Lt James Edwards, Detachment Commander of Worcester Troop, Hereford and Worcester ACF. Clwyd and Gwynedd ACF: Denbighshire Free Press reported on the annual awards event, hosted by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Henry Fetherstonhaugh at Bodelwyddan Castle, during which he appointed a special trio as Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets for 2018. Pictured is 17-year-old Cadet Sergeant Megan Wright from Clwyd and Gwynedd ACF, with her fellow LordLieutenant’s Cadets from the Air Cadets and the CCF. Somerset ACF: Bridgwater Mercury featured the story of Kezaya Nichols, 15, one of the cadets selected for the six-week Cadet Leadership and Marksmanship Course at

FIND OUT MORE Search Westminster for details of all available SCIC courses. Alternatively ask your local CTT for a copy of the programme, or volunteer to support an SCIC as a CFAV. Megan receives her award

6 ACF SUMMER 2018

Connaught, near Ottawa. Kezaya is part of a 14-strong team of ACF cadets who are heading to Canada this summer. Wiltshire ACF: Wiltshire Times reported how 20 helpers, including army cadets, police cadets and local councillors, collected 26 bags of rubbish from the banks of the River Biss. Cllr Geoff Whiffen commented: “There were all sorts of things down there, but I think we did a really good job and showed great teamwork.” Oxfordshire ACF: Forces Radio BFBS Brize Norton broadcast a feature on some of the amazing opportunities offered to cadets, with help from Oxfordshire ACF PRO Lewis Norwood and cadets Matthew Case and Matilda Warwick from Henley and Carterton detachments. Yorkshire North and West ACF: Keighley News reported on the weekend camp, the first of the year, attended by D Company, Yorkshire North & West ACF, at Strensall Barracks in York. The unanimous verdict from cadets and adults alike was that they had a fantastic weekend and can’t wait until the next one!

THE BRIEFING

ACTIVIT Y PACK S Command tasks are getting easier to organise with the roll-out of customised MTA STEM kits

page 14

NATIONAL COMPETITION RESULTS Results for football and rugby

National Boys’ Football Ten regional teams took part in the National Boys’ Six-a-Side Football Championship and the National Girls’ Six-a-Side Football Championship at Altcar on 10 March. Player of the tournament for the boys was Cpl Tyrone Longton from Lostock Hall detachment, Lancashire ACF (Juniors). National Girls’ Football Player of the Tournament was SSgt Taran Fitzgerald, Chepstow detachment, Gwent & Powys ACF (Seniors). National Rugby This was the first year the ACF has held a National Girls’ Rugby 7s Championship alongside the Boys’ Championship. The Championships took place at Altcar on 31 March. Unfortunately poor weather and logistical issues led to the Championships being halted without a winner announced. Well done and thank you to all teams that took part.

JOINING FORCES

N AT I O N A L B O Y S ’ F O O T B A L L SENIORS FINAL

JUNIORS FINAL

North West South East

1 2

JUNIORS SEMI-FINAL

North East West Midlands

0 4

SENIORS SEMI-FINAL

North West 3 Northern Ireland 0

Eastern North East

1 3

West Midlands South East

West Midlands Scotland

2 0

1 3

JUNIOR CHAMPIONS

South East

SENIOR CHAMPIONS

West Midlands

NATIONAL GIRLS’ FOOTBALL JUNIORS FINAL

Scotland South East

SENIORS FINAL

3 4

JUNIORS SEMI-FINAL

Scotland London

4 5

SENIORS SEMI-FINAL

West Midlands Scotland

2 4

Scotland Eastern

3 1

South West Eastern

2 0

London North East

4 3

JUNIOR CHAMPIONS:

South East

SENIOR CHAMPIONS:

London

Orkney & Shetland ACFs’ future secured THE FUTURE OF the Orkney and Shetland cadet movement has been kept alive with the amalgamation of the two islands’ independent Army Cadet units. Orkney Independent Cadet Battery ACF and Shetland Independent Cadet Battery ACF merged with 1st Battalion, The Highlanders Army Cadet Force on 1 January. The Battalion now covers the Highlands, Moray, Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland, making it the ACF’s largest cadet county in terms of territory. The amalgamation has been welcomed by all three cadet organisations. The change means the ACF is now organised into 55 UK counties. Pictured below are Orkney and Shetland Battery Commander Major Barton, Brae Detachment Commander 2Lt Cheryl Haynes and Captain Bruce Durrand, the Battery’s new Training Officer.

GET IN TOUCH The National Boys’ Six-a-Side Football Championship

E: marketing@armycadets.com facebook.com/Armycadetforce @ArmyCadetsUK cadetsarmy

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THE DRILL TIPS, ADVICE AND COMMENT

ACRONYM AID

JARGON BUSTER THIS ISSUE: Es AND Fs We continue to work through the alphabet, helping to decipher some of the acronyms you come across most often. What do they mean? EAM EASP

TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE

When working with young people, their safety should always be a top priority, advises Melanie Marriott, SO2 Safeguarding at Cadets Branch

SAFEGUARDING ADVICE 1. Stay vigilant Thinking that ‘things like that don’t happen in places like this’ can be very dangerous. Unfortunately, they can happen anywhere, so remain alert and on guard. 2. Report a concern to the CEO or a police officer if it requires an immediate response. If you aren’t sure how important something is and think you might be overreacting, speak to the CEO first for their guidance. You won’t ever be wasting anyone’s time where a child’s welfare is concerned. 3. Small things can add up If a cadet reports something that doesn’t seem to you to be a major concern, it is still best to report it. Other CFAVs may have information relating

8 ACF SUMMER 2018

EBIS ECO EFAW EHIC ES F&A FAA FRAGO FTRS

Exercise Aide Memoire Exercise Action and Safety Plan Electronic Booking Interface System Exercise Conducting Officer Emergency First Aid at Work European Health Insurance Card Equipment Support Familiarisation and Assessment First Aid Adviser Fragmentary Order Full Time Reserve Service

to the cadet or the issue in question that you’re unaware of, and it could all add up to something more serious. 4. Don’t put yourself in vulnerable situations where actions or intentions could be misinterpreted. As well as being ACF policy, you should avoid spending time alone with cadets or adding them to your social media in order to protect yourself should any misunderstandings arise. 5. Remember how much your cadets trust you The best way to maintain and build that trust is to act on any concerns that you have about them or issues that they report. Respect them, listen to them and report for them.

COMING SOON

FIELDCRAFT GUIDE F18 FRAMEWORK A new, fully illustrated guide to fieldcraft training, explaining all the activities in the F18 Framework, will be available in the autumn. See the magazine back cover for more details.

THE DRILL

R AISE YOUR SIGHTS

How the ACF is helping cadets develop their rifle shooting skills page 22

HOW TO : COMMEMORATE THE WWI CENTENARY died, and where they were laid to rest. Engage with your detachment’s cap badges to find out if and how their regiments were involved in WWI. It’s likely they’ll be able to bring even more colour to the centenary commemorations and help cadets with their research projects. Research projects can be tied into cadet progression and may even contribute towards the DofE skills section. Perhaps look at completing a Cadet in the Community project SIGN UP NOW on the role of local people Counties can still in WWI, and presenting the take part. Contact findings to members of the town armistice2018@ or village. It’s a great opportunity cadetmail.mod.uk for cadets to bring together their knowledge of the military in action and the local community.

There are many ways in which cadets can get involved in Centenary commemorations

n October, 5,000 cadets will head to France for a unique battlefield experience built around this year’s WWI centenary commemorations. But whether or not your detachment is participating, there are things you can do to help cadets get involved in this important year of remembrance. Lt Col Anthony Shallow, Deputy Commandant of Wiltshire ACF, has these tips. If you’re visiting a battlefield, encourage the cadets to find out as much as possible about what went on there. There’s plenty of information online, including maps to show where events took place and how the battles progressed. It’s great to be able to stand at a site and visualise what actually happened there, to understand how complex the situation was, and what tactics were at play. Making it personal brings learning to life and allows for greater reflection. Ask cadets to research whether members of their families or people from the local town or community fought in WWI. A visit

to the local library can help here, as can the Commonwealth Graves Commission website. This provides information on individual soldiers, including their regiment, rank, where they fought and

Do you have more ideas that you would like to share with other CFAVs? Tell us about them at marketing@armycadets.com

A WORD FROM MICHAEL MORPURGO War Horse author Michael Morpurgo writes to ACF cadets and adults taking part in battlefield tours this year: “We hear the words ‘we will remember them’ repeated every Remembrance Day, and see them inscribed on war memorials all over the country. But, except for the very few, we do not remember them. They may be family, they may have grown up in our town, our village, in the very house we live in, but we did not and cannot know them. We can

remember them only now for what they did. “One important way to remember is to go to these places in Belgium and France and to see the rows on rows of memorials, beautifully kept by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. “To honour them, and what they did, without any longer having had the benefit of knowing them is difficult. But there is a way, there are many ways. We can tell our own stories, tell it out in plays, in songs and concerts, in art and in dance, and in so doing forge anew

our connection with them and their times. “There is no right or wrong way for each of us to make our connection with them. For me, and for many, the more we learn about that war, and indeed all wars, the more important it becomes to sing about peace.”

ARMYCADETS.COM 9

THE DRILL

TR AIN TO GAIN Everything you need to know about the new King George VI Leadership course page 24

Cadets from Merseyside ACF

PRACTICAL TIPS

THE NEXT STEP When cadets are ready to make their next move, you can help to ensure they stand out from the crowd

hrough the activities cadets take part in during their time with the cadet force, they develop a whole range of skills and personal qualities that are incredibly attractive to employers and educational establishments. Encouraging cadets to really make the most of the opportunities available, such as STEM camp, will benefit your cadets and help to convince their parents they should continue to attend. It’s important to help cadets communicate these positive qualities and experiences and this can be achieved to a large degree through the cadet Record of Achievement (ROA). You can also help direct them to sources of further information on careers advice, including the National Careers Service, UCAS and the government apprenticeship website. See the ACF website for more on the ROA and careers advice. Taking part in DofE or vocational qualifications, available free of charge through CVQO, can be particularly valuable when cadets look to take their next steps. Volunteers can help cadets explore the

10 ACF SUMMER 2018

options and ensure they’re aware that much of the work they are doing as part of the APC syllabus also contributes towards these awards and qualifications. Former cadet RSM Eve Salter of Merseyside ACF completed one of three BTEC qualifications available through CVQO, on teamwork and personal development in the community, as well as the ILM in leadership in management. “They were both useful when applying for jobs, as employers want to see evidence of teamwork skills and leadership experience on your CV,” she says. “The wonderful thing about doing a CVQO-led qualification through the cadets is that you can do it alongside your cadet training.” For further information on enrolment in CVQO courses, speak to your county VQ officer or contact CVQO. For careers advice, visit armycadets.com/ join-cadets/cadet-skills-qualifications/careersadvice. If a cadet expresses an interest in an Army career they can find out more at apply.army.mod.uk/how-to-join/entryoptions

Photo: Geri Burns-McCombe, Merseyside ACF

Liz Green helps cadets with DofE

PROFILE

Liz Green DofE Development Manager AROUND 8,000 ACF cadets currently take part in DofE and each year some 2,000 cadets receive an award. As the ACF’s new DofE Development Manager, Liz Green would like to see these figures rise. More than 1,000 adult ACF volunteers help to run DofE and it’s Liz's job to ensure they have the infrastructure, support and training they need to deliver the award effectively. “Technology can be a barrier,” she says. “The awards are managed online, so if a volunteer doesn’t have access to the internet, they might need a little extra help. We need to find ways of ensuring that everyone has good access to IT, and that they’re confident using the online eDofE system.” Liz also hopes to raise awareness of how a DofE award is achieved and its value to employers and educational institutions. “Many activities cadets are doing with the ACF also count towards DofE, so it’s about making sure people are aware of that,” she says. “Doing the award does take some extra effort, so we also need to communicate the benefits to cadets and parents.” With only a quarter of ACF cadets taking part, the sheer scale of the challenge is daunting, but exciting. “That’s a huge number of people we could encourage to get involved,” says Liz, “and a lot of volunteers we’d need to train to help them through it.”

THE DRILL

GETCONNECTED

Add Army Cadets to your professional profile by following us on LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/company/army-cadets-force

S PEA K O U T : YOUR LETTERS, EMAILS, TWEETS & POSTS ICE MAIDEN’S MESSAGE TO CADETS Capt Zanna Baker, one of the six British Army women to ski across Antarctica, visited cadets during the final weekend selection event for the Canadian Exchange. She said: “I’m struggling to express quite how impressed I was at all of the cadets in the audience. In spite of what must have been a tiring few days, they remained engaged, and their questions were intelligent and humorous.

I was truly touched by their enthusiasm. I wish them all the best, and I’m very jealous of what they have ahead of them. I wish that I’d been able to join the cadets when I was at school!”

Capt Zanna Baker recently met cadets training for the Canadian Exchange

GET IN TOUCH Send your letters, comments and ideas for future conversation starters to marketing@armycadets.com

FRONTLINE ON FACEBOOK

TOP TWEETS ACF in the Twittersphere

We asked “which ACF activity makes you happiest?” Kyle Thomas: All the cadets at the end of camp making new friends and achieving things they never thought possible. I love my ACF family. Michelle Sanderson: Seeing the children in high spirits after a very cold weekend, ending it with a snowball fight. Tabitha Cook: First aid competitions: seeing everyone come together to show off their skills. Julie-Ann Morgan: Seeing my son happy and enjoying learning new skills. Learning in Cyprus

The first ever Cyprus ACF cadets

Not everyone knows that we have a detachment in Cyprus. We shared the news of their first anniversary on Facebook...

Nigel Foster: Great to see the ACF Dets in the SBA doing well in their first year; long may the units continue. John Read: Congratulations Cyprus ACF on your first year! John Daley: Well done to everyone involved in making this happen. Larkhill Detachment, Wiltshire ACF: Congratulations on your 1st year. From all at Larkhill Troop, Wiltshire ACF.

@MaryHoo81826270 E(THE RIFLES) Army Cadets Yorkshire @ArmyCadetsUK had a successful & sunny @DofE expedition around Emley Moor this weekend @StortfordACF The detachment giving 3 Cheers after the news of the Royal birth today. We all hope mother and baby are doing well. @KensingtonRoyal @ArmyCadetsUK @StortfordACF Here are the three @BedsHertsACF cadets at @CTCFrimleyPark on their Master Cadet course. Well done to all three for successfully completing the course. Now to await those course reports! @ArmyCadetsUK

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BT ET S ITT P A UR DA E CSTUI CR EV E Y

BEST PRACTICE

COUNTY FOCUS 26 GOLD DofE PASSES FOR DERBYSHIRE ACF, AND CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACF TELLS US WHAT MAKES FOR A SUCCESSFUL VISITORS’ DAY

Derbyshire ACF Three years ago, Derbyshire ACF was struggling to achieve five DofE passes in a year. In 2017, however, the county came second nationally, behind Essex, achieving 180 awards, 26 of them gold. The change came when Capt Jon Lang joined as County DofE Officer. He and Lt Jo Moody worked closely together to put in place a strategic approach to running the award. “It’s important to encourage people to sign up to DofE,” says Jon, “but equally we need to ensure that those who have signed up are supported throughout and complete the award.” One of the main stumbling blocks tends to be a lack of opportunities for cadets to take part in expeditions, something that Derbyshire ACF was keen to address. “We came up with a series of expeditions, four bronzes and four silvers, throughout the year that would help to focus the cadets and give them plenty of opportunities to fulfil their DofE requirements,” says Jo. “Good communication is

12 ACF SUMMER 2018

also key to our approach and successes are celebrated on Facebook to help inspire others.” To keep the momentum going, Jon and Jo make regular visits to each of the 32 detachments within the county, helping cadets to get online and ensuring that they’re supported as much as possible. These visits also provide an opportunity to share the benefits of taking part in the award with the detachment as a whole and to encourage more to sign up. “We want to get across to cadets that DofE is nothing to be scared of,” says Jon. “In fact, much of the knowledge and many of the skills that they’ll be acquiring as part of the APC syllabus will contribute towards the award. Think of it as getting two for one.”

DERBYSHIRE: THE STATS HQ: Army Reserve Centre, Derby Army Cadets: 850 CFAVs: 170 Detachments: 32

“I’VE MADE LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS” BEN CUTTS, a cadet at Ticknall detachment, is one of 20 cadets from Derbyshire ACF heading to Buckingham Palace in May to receive his award. “I received little help organising my bronze expedition, so I was keen to complete my gold as part of a youth organisation. Within a week of joining the ACF, I’d attended a DofE

information presentation and signed up. Canoeing as part of my gold award expedition was a major draw. It has been incredible fun and I’ve spent many days learning rescues and paddle techniques. Working towards completing my volunteering, physical and skills section, meanwhile, I’ve made lots of new friends and learned some great life skills.”

BEST PRACTICE

Flash

Visit the DofE Facebook page for inspiring stories and more information www.facebook. com/theDofE

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: THE STATS HQ: Denny End Road, Waterbeach Army Cadets: 735 Visitor days are a great way to showcase the ACF

Cambridgeshire ACF “To hold a successful visitors’ day, you have to plan well in advance and try to make it as enjoyable and memorable as possible,” says Col Mark Knight MBE, Commandant of Cambridgeshire ACF. “That means thinking about what you’re trying to achieve, who your audience is going to be and how you can cater for their needs and engage with them.” When Cambridgeshire ACF held a visitors’ day at their 2017 annual camp at West Tofts, there were ACF demos, support from affiliated cap badges from Regular and Reserve units, as well as fun activities provided by a third party. ACF displays

YOU HAVE TO TRY TO MAKE IT AS MEMORABLE AS POSSIBLE Col Mark Knight MBE

included first aid, basha construction, camouflage, a climbing wall and even a tasting session of compo rations. But as well as the ACF-related activities, there were those aimed purely at ensuring that everyone, including the youngest visitors, had fun. These included remote-control Land Rovers, a bouncy castle, a photobooth with an army helicopter backdrop, and a laser pigeon shooting range. Col Knight explains that while the county also holds recruitment events, visitor days are aimed at a captive audience. “We try to kill two birds with one stone,” he says, “as we invite key figures from the local area – mayors, civic leaders, teachers and business people – in the morning, and then cadets and their parents in the afternoon. The VIPs tend to know very little about the ACF, so it’s nice to be able to give them exclusivity, have our senior officers show them around in small groups and treat them to lunch before everyone else arrives. Introducing them to what the ACF is all about may lead to sponsorship opportunities,

CFAVs: 153 Detachments: 28

raises awareness of the ACF and builds stronger links in the community.” 400 parents attended the event at annual camp and experienced first-hand some of the activities that their young people can get involved with as cadets. “Some parents may start to consider becoming instructors themselves,” adds Col Knight, “as several did after that particular event.” Careful planning of large events such as these is essential. “That takes time,” he says. “We tend to send invitations out in advance and request that parents RSVP, so that we can gauge how many adults and small children might turn up. That enables us to ensure there is sufficient parking, security, entertainment and catering. If you want the event to be a success, you can’t second guess anything.”

FIND OUT MORE Would you like to see your county featured here? Email marketing@ armycadets.com and tell us about some of the great work you do.

ARMYCADETS.COM 13

NEW RESOURCES

STEM KITS COMMAND TASKS ARE GETTING EASIER TO ORGANISE WITH THE ROLL-OUT OF SPECIALLY CUSTOMISED MTA STEM KITS ACROSS ALL ACF COUNTIES

TRY OUT THE STEM ACTIVITIES Lieutenant Raymond Bell from Glasgow and Lanarkshire ACF used one of the kits for a week to prepare for an adult study day and to try out the activities with his cadets. He found it very easy to use, and recommends spending time to fully understand the STEM side of the activities. “The tasks range from making up a compass to using levers and pivots to develop a catapult,” he says. “They come with facilitators’ notes and worksheets to help you evaluate the progress and input of each team member, give positive feedback and help cadets understand the STEM concepts that they’ve been using.” Both CFAVs and cadets (pictured) took part in the same activity, which involved building a wheelbarrow to transport water from A to B without spilling any. “Both groups loved the kit,” says Raymond, “and it was a bit different from the standard command tasks, as it required more interaction.” Chris Peacock, Training Officer with Glasgow and Lanarkshire ACF, also saw the kit in action. “It’s similar to running command

14 ACF SUMMER 2018

BOOK THE KIT AND OFF YOU GO. IT’S A WINNER Lt Raymond Bell

tasks, but a hundred times easier,” he says. “One of the big benefits is that there’s no need to fill in a risk assessment, so it’s something you can pick up with minimal planning time. Also, because all the tasks are timed, if you’re in the detachment and need to fill a time slot, it’s easy to bring out the kit and find something that fits.” Chris sees other benefits as well: “The kit is great for indoor activities and when you want to get a few groups of cadets working on different tasks independently. It also has more longevity than traditional command tasks, as there’s scope to customise the 24 activities in the kit to make quite a few more. I can see it being used at a parents’ evening, as it’s the sort of thing the cadets could run and get the parents to take part in.”

REAL PRACTICAL BENEFITS Chris and Raymond also see some real practical benefits to the kit. “Components for traditional command tasks can be difficult to store and bits go missing,” says Chris, “so it’s good to have something that can be packed up and stored quickly and easily.” Raymond adds, “As far as paperwork goes this is perfect. You book the kit and off you go, so it’s a winner from the start.”

FIND OUT MORE

To find out more about the kits and how to borrow them, speak to your County Training Officer.

Photos: Maj Walter Kerr, OC Normandy Company

ach of the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) kits contains three sets of activities, at introductory, intermediate and advanced level; user manuals for each set; and all the components needed to carry them out. All of this is packed into four sturdy storage bags. “ACFA offered to buy every county a STEM activity kit and all accepted,” says ACFA’s Richard Walton. “Some counties were so impressed with the kit that they’ve ordered more.”

Cadets from Glasgow and Lanarkshire Battalion ACF tried out the STEM kit

NEW RESOURCES

All STEM parts come packed in a sturdy bag

Fitting parts together takes teamwork

The final results are worth the wait!

ARMYCADETS.COM 15

WELFARE

WELLBEING

HEAD STRONG

THE ACF TAKES THE WELLBEING OF ITS CADETS VERY SERIOUSLY AND THAT INCLUDES EMOTIONAL WELFARE

hildhood and adolescence are, for many people, difficult times. The mind and body are developing rapidly and young people suddenly have to deal with a barrage of new academic, social and emotional challenges. The media and today’s fast-paced, super-connected society are not making life any easier. Presented with unrealistic ideals and constant means of comparison, young people face social pressures the like of which some adults may not fully appreciate or understand. “Children and young people today face a range of pressures, including stress at school, bullying, body image issues and the pressure that comes with being part of the online world,” says Nick Harrop, campaigns manager at Young Minds.

16 ACF SUMMER 2018

A 2014/15 Childline review found that of all the calls it received, those about low self-esteem and feeling sad or lonely were the second most common, with family issues, such as divorce and separation, coming top of the list. Abuse, and in particular the growing problem of emotional and online abuse, and bullying also ranked highly. All of this means that now more than ever, the emotional wellbeing of children requires as much attention as their physical health.

Breaking down barriers The scale and importance of what has been called a mental wellbeing ‘crisis’ has been well publicised in recent years, but progress still needs to be made towards removing the stigma that surrounds these issues. “It is entirely normal to feel emotional distress after some kind of trauma, whether

WELFARE

ARMYCADETS.COM 17

WELFARE

THE AVERAGE YOUNG ADULT HAS FOUR PEOPLE TO TURN TO FOR HELP SURVEY BY YOUTH CHARITY UK YOUTH

One in 10 school children

is affected by a mental health problem (Mental Health Foundation) An environment of trust exists within the ACF

One in 6 young people

will experience an anxiety-related problem (youngminds.org.uk)

2% of children under 12 will experience depression (youngminds.org.uk)

70% of young people

who experience a mental health problem do not receive the appropriate support (Mental Health Foundation)

18 ACF SUMMER 2018

that’s a major life event or bad experience, or something smaller, but when that issue is misunderstood and left untreated it can become more serious,” says Col Philip Harrison, Commander at Headquarters North West. “We have cadets who simply don’t have a trusted adult in their home lives because they are looked-after children, have been abused or come from dysfunctional families. Some are shouldering a great deal at a young age.” Young people may also be confused, upset and embarrassed about what they are feeling and many are afraid to open up because they feel they won’t be understood or might be considered weak. Those who do speak out, meanwhile, may not always find the support they need. Parents and carers are having to work harder and longer than ever before, and as a result have less time to spend with their children, which they often so desperately need. A survey by charity UK Youth found the average young adult has just four people they can turn to for help, and more than half of those who have someone to approach have felt ‘fobbed off’ or ignored in the past. “It’s concerning to see just how long young people spend feeling worried or stressed and how many of them have to go through these issues alone, without anyone to turn to for advice and guidance,” says Anna Smee, CEO

of UK Youth. “For many, their local youth organisation is the only place that provides them with a trusted adult to confide in and access to the advice, support and guidance needed to feel safe.”

All ears That environment of trust certainly exists in the ACF, says Col Chris Young, ACF’s national first aid adviser. “There’s a great connection and a lot of respect between the adult volunteers and the cadets they see each week.” Any adult that has contact with a young person can make a huge difference to a child, whether simply by listening without judgement; helping them to understand, handle and get over a negative event; or, where appropriate, helping them to access professional support for whatever they are facing. These skills are included in the safeguarding training that all CFAVs receive, and across the country they are being put to good use. “The volunteers do a great job providing emotional support to the cadets,” says SO2 safeguarding in Cadets Branch, Melanie Marriott. “What we see most often is that the cadets simply want someone to talk to. They’ll share what’s going on in their lives or open up about emotional upheavals that they’re

WELFARE

“Part of the training that the MSOs will undergo will be on mental health awareness, covering how to spot the signs that a cadet or adult is suffering from stress or another emotional wellbeing issue and how to find appropriate help for that individual,” says Chris. “It’s a varied role that will encompass everything from promoting greater awareness of emotional welfare issues and briefing and supporting the CFAVs, to resourcing and record-keeping. As we develop the role further and MSOs receive even more training, I believe they will become of huge benefit to both cadets and volunteers.”

Resilience skills

experiencing at home, and that tends to be dealt with very well within the detachments. “There are occasions, though, when something more serious, such as self-harm, comes to light,” she adds. “In those instances, it’s essential that CFAVs feel confident that they have the right support and that there are clear mechanisms in place for them to escalate the issues and find the right professional help where necessary.” Chris agrees that supporting volunteers in reporting and escalating issues is essential. “We have to be careful to draw a very clear line in the sand for what we can fairly expect of them,” he says. “I’m a paramedic and a big part of the job is to recognise issues and refer them appropriately, and the same applies to ACF volunteers. Volunteers are not trained social workers and so shouldn’t feel the burden of having to deal with potentially life-changing interventions on their own.”

New MSO role The ACF’s processes have been refined further by the introduction of a new senior role at county level, the Medical Support Officer (MSO). The MSO will champion cadet welfare, including mental and emotional wellbeing, and ensure that it’s being considered all the way through to detachment level.

Equipping volunteers with a better understanding of the emotional issues that cadets might be facing is also important if they are to help them develop stronger resilience and bounce back from the challenges that life throws at them. The ACF can play a particularly valuable role in this, because it is a safe and supportive place in which to learn and be challenged, away from the everyday pressures of school and home life. Creating an environment where mental wellbeing issues can be discussed openly and without fear of judgement or embarrassment is key. Adult volunteers can also help cadets to develop resilience as part of their normal interactions and activities, by nurturing optimism, teaching them to think about and articulate their feelings, and by letting them know that they have confidence in their ability to cope with life’s inevitable troughs. Encouraging cadets to draw on their banks of positive experiences and achievements, teaching positive thinking skills, and challenging their notions of success and failure can all help to build their levels of selfconfidence and self-belief, essential for their mental and emotional welfare.

HOW WE DEAL WITH WELLBEING ISSUES When a cadet discloses to a volunteer an issue relating to their mental or emotional wellbeing, the majority currently ask for advice or share their concerns with other staff in their detachment. With the introduction of the new MSO role, however, volunteers now have a single, consistent and continuous point of contact for all matters relating to emotional wellbeing issues. This will be of particular help when they need advice and support during annual camp, where the usual lines of escalation may not be possible.

OPENING UP In the North West, volunteers are being offered a dedicated two-day course to help improve their understanding of emotional wellbeing issues. The course helps volunteers to understand the kinds of issues their cadets might be dealing with, to spot some of the signs of concern, know what they can do to help and, most importantly, how they can assist young people in getting professional help. “Having already established a similar awareness campaign for our armed forces, it was a natural next step to look at doing something similar in the cadet force,” says Col Philip Harrison, Commander of HQ North West. “The aim isn’t to turn volunteers into part-time social workers or psychiatrists,” he adds, “but to raise awareness and understanding and make it part of the conversation. When you destigmatise mental health issues, it enables both adults and young people to open up, rather than suffering in silence. “The cadets place great trust in our volunteers and we know that they want to do everything they can to help them. This course shows them how much we value them, have confidence in them and want to invest in them.”

WHERE TO GO FOR HELP youngminds.org.uk; rethink.org/YoungPeople/Information

ARMYCADETS.COM 19

RECRUITMENT

MEETING THE CHALLENGE 9,000 AMAZING VOLUNTEERS ENSURE 39,000 CADETS REALISE THEIR POTENTIAL, BUT AS MANY VOLUNTEERS AND CADETS LEAVE US EACH YEAR, WE NEED TO WORK HARD TO BOTH RETAIN AND RECRUIT

here is no single solution to meeting this challenge. Recruitment for detachments in rural Scotland or Wales is likely to be very different than for inner-city locations like Belfast or Bradford. Commandants and other senior volunteers at county level are best placed to understand the needs of their ‘patch’, to identify the best ways to engage with potential volunteers and cadets and to help manage their induction into the organisation. Over 20 counties are now involved in the Grass Roots county recruitment programme, which provides coaching to help counties develop action plans, to become more visible in the community and to get the message out to the right people in a way that will encourage them to join up. At the start of the programme, counties are asked to set up their own recruitment

WE NEED TO LOOK AT WAYS TO BROADEN OUR TEAMS OF ADULT VOLUNTEERS

20 ACF SUMMER 2018

team drawing together the knowledge and experience of a wide variety of volunteers and staff from County HQ and their RFCA. Local recruitment activity can be supported by the ACF national marketing and communications team, which supplies a range of useful marketing materials through the Brand Centre, and can provide advice and funding to help support local and regional marketing initiatives. To grow the ACF, we need to look at ways to broaden our teams of adult volunteers and make more effective use of the people we already have. One way to do this is to promote the role of civilian assistant (CA). In many counties, this has proven to be an effective way of freeing up instructors and detachment commanders from a range of support tasks. There should be at least one CA in every detachment and new leaflets are being prepared to help counties to recruit more CAs.

TRACKING NEW RECRUITS A new applicant tracker system is being trialled in 13 counties to help admin officers see how many applicants they have at each stage, communicate with prospective CFAVs and help applications progress quickly. Work is also under way to review and improve the cadet application process. The goal is to ensure we get cadets to detachments as quickly as possible, gather all the data and permissions we need in a timely way and avoid asking parents for the same information unnecessarily.

SHARE YOUR STORIES A huge amount of work is already being done locally to promote the benefits of joining the ACF. Please share what’s working for you at marketing@armycadets.com

1st Battalion NI cadets get ready for an open night event

RECRUITMENT

5 TOP TIPS FOR RECRUITMENT Kent CFAVs regularly take part in open evening recruitment events advertised on the county’s Facebook page

Increasing awareness and providing information to prospective cadets and volunteers is vital if we want them to engage with the ACF before they commit to taking the next step. Here are some great ways to attract new volunteers and cadets:

1st Battalion the Highlanders cadets get ready to meet the public

• Invite family and friends to visit their local detachment to find out what goes on

FIND OUT MORE

• Provide information about ACF activities they might be particularly interested in

The ACF Brand Centre provides lots of useful information, downloads and guidance on a wide range of marketing issues, including recruitment. Access it at armycadets.com/brand-centre

Cadets from Holsworthy detachment in Devon meet the public at an open day event

LAURA PEREZ PARDON AGED 16, FROM BEESTON DETACHMENT, A COMPANY THE RIFLES, NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ACF LAURA WAS RECRUITED successfully after visiting her local detachment. Having heard about the ACF from friends at school, Laura and her mum went on the visit with the detachment commander. She was

introduced to one of the senior cadets, who talked about the friendships she had made in the ACF and how important a part of her life it had become. Laura was then invited to attend parade nights for a few weeks,

In terms of recruiting adult volunteers, it’s important to make it clear that you don’t need prior military experience. Everyone who shows an interest in volunteering is invited to an induction evening, held once a month, where there is a presentation about the ACF and they receive all the information they need about

• Look for ‘easy wins’ – tell family and friends about CFAVs • Retain the enthusiasm of potential volunteers by involving them in detachment activities as they go through the recruitment process

before completing her enrolment form. She is now an active cadet. “My detachment made me feel very welcome straight away – they made the activities exciting”

MAJOR (RETD) EAMONN CHARLES COOGAN MBE R IRISH, CEO, THE ROYAL COUNTY OF BERKSHIRE ACF IF YOU HAVE a recruitment stand, it tends to be the cadets that sell the ACF to potential recruits rather than the adults present. If the cadets look smart and can articulate all the experiences they’ve had with the ACF, young people will engage and start to look more closely at the literature you have available.

• Use social media and community networks to spread the word

the training and responsibilities involved. The training isn’t hard, but where we do tend to lose people is about six months in, when the reality of the commitment kicks in. Providing as much information up front as possible is therefore important in managing people’s expectations.

RECRUITMENT MARKETING COURSE This two-day course provides best-practice advice on effective tactics and strategies to boost recruitment. It is targeted at all adult volunteers, including commandants, deputy commandants, company and detachment commanders, county recruitment officers and PROs. Courses are scheduled for 2-4 November and 7-9 December in Altcar. Contact the PR Training Team for booking details.

ARMYCADETS.COM 21

SHOOTING

RAISE YOUR SIGHTS WITH THE HELP OF THE COUNCIL FOR CADET RIFLE SHOOTING (CCRS), ARMY CADETS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR RIFLE SHOOTING SKILLS AND COMPETE AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL AND BEYOND

ccording to Robert Bruce, General Secretary of the CCRS, cadet surveys indicate that shooting is one of the main reasons for joining the ACF in four out of five cases. For those who want to take it to the next level, he adds, the ACF provides a fantastic opportunity: “Whereas shooting is generally an expensive and inaccessible sport, within the Army Cadets everything is provided for young people to develop their skills in a safe and controlled environment. All the cadets need to do is show commitment and motivation, and for those who show real potential there’s the chance to progress to national competitions and even to represent their country.”

22 ACF SUMMER 2018

SHARP SHOOTER SHAUN FLANAGAN, HANTS and IoW, was a member of the 2017 BCRT team that toured Canada and recently returned from South Africa, where he competed as a member of the 2018 GB U19 team. “I first got involved in shooting competitions a few months after joining the cadets. I was invited to help the shooting team by marking targets at the Inter-Services Cadet Rifle Meeting, Bisley, but was put on the team last minute when my company shooting officer saw that I could shoot straight! “It was quite nerve wracking at first, competing against teams from all over the UK, but I felt very proud when we started

winning matches and competitions as a team,” says Shaun. “Other than the shooting itself, what I love most about the sport are the travel opportunities and the people you meet. In the last two years, shooting has taken me to Canada twice and more recently to South Africa, helping me mature into the person I am today, with friends all over the world. “My proudest moments are collecting my ‘Athelings’ tie for representing the Cadet Forces in Canada and being selected to shoot on the GB U19 team. Competing in, and winning, our international matches against the Canadians and South Africans are my greatest achievements.”

SHOOTING

Col Jeremy Field congratulates a cadet on her achievement at Easter camp

Cadet Corporal Euan Stewart, Inverness detachment, came 35th in the top 100 shooters at the 2017 Inter-Service Cadet Rifle meeting

CCRS is a charity that works in partnership with the MoD to organise and promote the sport of competition rifle shooting across the five cadet youth movements. Through the sport, it helps cadets to build core character skills, such as confidence, personal discipline and teamwork, so they can develop into responsible, resilient citizens. CCRS also organises coaching courses for adult volunteers, which equip them with the skills they need to help their cadets develop and progress in the sport. ACF detachments, companies and counties are then responsible for completion of the cadet shooting syllabus.

Aim high CCRS also organises national finals in various disciplines throughout the year, and those cadets who show a real flair for shooting while completing the ACF syllabus are encouraged to take part. Familiarisation courses in clay target shooting, run by units, culminate in an annual national championship in June, while there’s a national competition for the 5.56mm cadet-issue rifle in October. “Throughout autumn and winter, units take part in CCRS postal competitions in small-bore (.22) target rifle shooting, which are typically held on 30m ranges,” says Robert. “They send the results to us and the finals take place over a weekend in March or April at Bisley.” Arguably, the highlight of the rifle shooting calendar for cadets, though, is Cadet Bisley, three weeks of national cadet shooting competitions held every July using the full-bore (7.62mm) cadet target rifle. There are three elements to Cadet Bisley. The first is the Inter-Service Cadet Rifle meeting, which is for Community Cadets (SCC, ACF and ATC); the second is the CCF/Schools’ meeting.

NEW APPOINTMENTS MAJ MARK GEARNHEART-SMITH has been appointed as the new National Shooting Adviser. Lt Tom Rylands has also been appointed as the new Training and Coaching Lead. More details will be available in the next issue.

Each involves around 500 cadets and the reason for separation is purely the numbers involved. Finally, there are the National Rifle Association (NRA) Imperial Meeting and Cadet Imperial competition, which are run in parallel. CCRS sponsors up to 30 cadets to enter the NRA Imperial, which Robert describes as “the pinnacle of civilian target rifle shooting, attracting people from all over the world”. This provides an opportunity for cadets to experience high-level shooting challenges and to learn from accomplished international shooters. The Cadet Imperial is designed for cadets aged 14 and 15 with potential and uses the cadet target rifle (CTR); it involves about 60 per cent of the NRA Imperial matches. Cadets are coached by CFAVs to help develop their skills. Robert would like to see more cadets taking part in this competition: “It gives valuable competition experience to cadets who show promise, who may then be able to be sponsored for the NRA Imperial in the future and to challenge for international team selection.”

FIND OUT MORE For more info on competitive rifle shooting, visit ccrs.org.uk/competitions or email gensec@ccrs.org.uk

THE PINNACLE OF CADET SHOOTING For those with ability and potential, CCRS offers opportunities for ACF cadets with full-bore target rifle shooting skills to shoot at international level in the following teams: UK Cadet Rifle Team (U17) A team of 12 that competes in the Jersey Rifle Association competition British Cadet Rifle Team (U18 – The Athelings) A team of 18 that competes in the Canadian Cadet Full-Bore Championships and the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association Championships GB U19 Team A team of eight that competes in the South African Championships

TAKING PART Each year, numerous members of the ACF practise their sharp-shooting skills

2,000 cadets take part in autumn/ winter .22 competitions

280 cadets compete in the 7.62mm national competition

120 cadets take part in the 5.56mm finals

80 cadets take part in the national clay competition

ARMYCADETS.COM 23

DEVELOPING SKILLS

TRAINING

ON COURSE FOR PROMOTION ASPIRING SERGEANT MAJOR INSTRUCTORS OR CAPTAINS MUST ATTEND THE NEW KING GEORGE VI (KGVI) LEADERSHIP COURSE. WE FIND OUT ABOUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES IN ACF ADULT TRAINING FOR A DECADE

T KGVI IS ONLY ROUTE From April, the KGVI course will be the only promotional route to sergeant major instructor and captain. However, grandfather rights will apply for those who have already completed a previous qualifying course and more details will be published shortly by Cadets Branch.

24 ACF SUMMER 2018

he aim of the KGVI is to build on the skills and experience that CFAVs gain on the initial officer training course and adult leadership and management course, upskilling them in leadership and management and providing them with a better understanding of what their new role will entail. “CFAVs who are aspiring to fill these ranks will be used to running or being part of a detachment, but in their new roles they’ll be in charge of eight of those detachments, so the level of responsibility and the scale of the leadership challenge is much higher,” says Clinton Riley, ACF National Training Adviser. Over the six-day course at Frimley Park participants will receive coaching and mentoring, take part in a range of activities and discussions and learn from a number of external speakers at the highest level. “The KGVI course isn’t a ‘sit-down-and-betalked-at’ course. It’s very interactive, so participants will get as much out as they put in,” says Clinton. Rather than any kind of formal examination at the end of the course, assessment is by way of completion of a set of learning objectives for each session. It is

expected that the KGVI course will run up to five times a year.

Testing it out A pilot exercise was run in early March to help ensure that the course provides all the necessary support and skills, with SMIs and captains and those aspiring to fill these ranks invited to take part and provide feedback. Captain Bryan Swan, 2nd Northern Ireland Battalion ACF, was one of those who took part in the pilot KGVI course. “Having worked for the police force for 30 years and been with the ACF for nine, I’ve attended many courses, but this one was excellent,” he says. “As well as showing you the bigger picture in terms of your role within the ACF, it provides a fantastic opportunity to network with others in your peer group.”

Leadership qualities SMI Ruth Roberts, Detachment Commander of Leominster Platoon, Hereford and Worcester ACF, also attended the pilot. “Those attending this course will learn so much, including a great deal on

DEVELOPING SKILLS

A BRIEF HISTORY OF KGVI

DID YOU KNOW?

Coaching and mentoring takes place over six days

The KGVI course will run up to five times a year

leadership and coaching,” she says. “It really gets you to think about your own leadership qualities and how you can support and get the best from both cadets and CFAVs.” She adds that participants will also gain an overarching view of what their new roles will entail: “Be prepared to learn not just about the role you’re aspiring to, but also about the other ranks that you’ll be working closely with in company HQ. What’s great about this course is that it gives you that broader understanding.”

and have a think in advance about what you might like to ask. That way you can make the most of this incredible opportunity.”

FIND OUT MORE

The course goes back to 1955 and was originally called the King George VI Memorial Leadership Training Course. On the death of King George VI, a memorial fund was set up, with money set aside for certain projects, including youth leadership training. This course was set up to train CFAVs to lead and manage cadets and it continued in that vein until around 2000, when changes in ACF training meant it shifted to being a skills-based course for things like on-field training. With this latest iteration of the KGVI course, it has returned to its original focus on leadership and management.

In Westminster navigate to: Activities > Course Search > Saved reports dropdown > 3. Cadet Training Centre Courses

High-calibre speakers The highlights for both Bryan and Ruth, however, were the speakers. “They were of the highest calibre, which meant that when you asked a question you knew the answer was coming from the top,” says Bryan. “We got to speak with a member of the Westminster team, and with the ACFA and CVQO, so it improved my knowledge of their respective roles in the ACF and the wider experiences that are available to cadets outside of the APC syllabus,” adds Ruth. “I’d recommend to anyone attending the course that you find out who is speaking

ARMYCADETS.COM 25

WORKING WITH YOUR UNIT

AFFILIATIONS

COME TOGETHER HAVING GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR AFFILIATED REGIMENTS CAN OPEN UP INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CADETS – ARE YOU MAKING THE MOST OF THEM?

ach detachment has a local sponsoring Regular or Reserve unit, which is on hand to provide support, equipment, facilities, and opportunities for training and other joint activities with the cadets. However, additional affiliations may also exist at county, area or detachment level, and these are aimed more at enabling ACFs to develop an ‘esprit de corps’ based around the history and ethos of each affiliated unit. Whether your sponsoring unit is a regiment or corps or is affiliated in some other way, maintaining good ties is essential if your cadets are to realise the full potential of what that relationship can offer. Derbyshire is one of the few counties that has only one cap badge, with Mercian Regiment. “Being able to access their

26 ACF SUMMER 2018

support and resources means our cadets get to take part in activities that wouldn’t otherwise be possible,” says Lt Col Chris Doyle, Commandant of Derbyshire ACF. “It also brings them into contact with the Army, which is really important.”

Action stations There’s a responsibility on both sides, he says, to foster and develop the relationship between the ACF and the regiment. “We keep them abreast of what we’re up to by contributing to the battalion’s newsletter and magazine, and we both come up with ideas for how we can work together,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to contact people at your affiliated regiment – the more people you get to know there, the easier it becomes to get what you want from the relationship.” “Proactivity is key,” agrees David Chipp,

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ACF AFFILIATIONS Founded by Octavia Hill, who was nominated as an honorary colonel, the first cadet unit was the Southwark Cadet Company. It became the most senior cadet battalion in the country, numbering almost 400. The first regimental affiliation was formed when Southwark Corps became the 1st Cadet Battalion of the Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey), England’s oldest infantry regiment, dating back to 1661. The direct descendant of Octavia Hill’s Cadet Corps is the 72 Cadet Company in Greater London, South East Sector ACF.

WORKING WITH YOUR UNIT

5 WAYS TO GET MORE FROM YOUR UNIT

Don’t be shy. If you don’t ask, you don’t get! It’s likely your affiliated unit will help if they can.

Be proactive. Maintain contact and consider encouraging your cadets to write regular letters or contribute to the regiment’s newsletter.

Give something back. There may be things you can do such as fundraising for a chosen charity or providing cadet assistance at special events.

Keep it fresh. Come up with new, exciting ways to work with your regiment, rather than repeating the same activities. Competitors in the 2017 Rifles Cadet Cup competition

Commandant of Gwent and Powys ACF, which in contrast has multiple affiliations throughout the county. “We find that with most of these relationships, if we ask for support they’ll give it, whether that’s coming to detachments to help train the cadets or volunteers, or by supplying equipment, such as field kitchens. “Last year, we were at West Tofts annual camp, about half an hour from The Queens Dragoons Guard, one of our most historic affiliations,” he adds. “They were able to provide the cadets with ranges and all sorts of other activities, which was amazing.”

Great experiences David is always looking at ways to develop what the ACF can offer cadets as a result of these affiliations. He’s working with regiments such as Royal Mon RE to provide further training on their equipment and is trying to get invitations to visit regiments when they’ve been deployed or are undergoing training. Where detachments within the county are co-located with their affiliated regiments, the DCs will often take the lead, as is the

Be patient. Your regiment’s liaison officer may be very busy, but will help whenever they can.

case with Chepstow. The detachment is co-located at Beachley Barracks with 1st Battalion, The Rifles, a relationship that saw cadets observe a night exercise and operate night vision equipment. Colour Sergeant Charlene Gaunt says regular communication is important to keep the connection strong. “You have to keep in contact or it can get swept under the carpet,” she says. “Like all detachments in Gwent and Powys, we also work with our local Legion. The cadets get a lot from that relationship, not least when the men from the Legion share their memories of being at Beachley when it was an apprentice college.” “It’s important to keep things fresh Cadets from Nivelle Company, Oxfordshire ACF, recently spent and come up with new ideas, rather than a day with the Royal Engineers repeating the same activities,” adds Eloise McCauley, DC of Monmouth ACF. “Our BEING ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR SUPPORT cadets recently got the chance to see how an AND RESOURCES MEANS OUR CADETS GET infantry support bridge TO TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES THAT is constructed and to WOULDN’T OTHERWISE BE POSSIBLE have a go themselves – that was an incredible Lt Col Chris Doyle experience for them.”

ARMYCADETS.COM 27

HISTORY

WOMEN IN THE ACF IT IS 40 YEARS SINCE THE ARMY CADET FORCE ANNOUNCED THAT WOMEN COULD ENTER AS ADULT VOLUNTEERS...

n 1978, it was announced in the ACF magazine that counties would be allowed to recruit female adult volunteers for the first time. It was a move spearheaded by Col WMS Jeffery, Commandant at Merseyside ACF, who had carried out a trial in 1976. By the end of the trial, Col Jeffery was adamant that admitting women to the ACF was the right thing to do.

Positive response Giving more details on how Merseyside initiated the trial, he said: “We felt it would be advisable to have a suitable lady to coordinate activities and training. Luck came our way in the form of Capt Aileen Moran, who was about to retire from the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps and who assumed the role with enormous enthusiasm and effect.” Support from the local press, along with

28 ACF SUMMER 2018

A QUESTION OF NUMBERS THE INTRODUCTION OF women and girls into the ACF happened slowly. Detachments needed female CFAVs in order to introduce girl cadets, but it was difficult to get female instructors without girl cadets already in place. As late as 1984, the ACF Manual stated that enrolment of female cadets (and recruitment of female CFAVs) was “subject to the consent of the cadet commandant” concerned. Detachments could have a maximum of two female CFAVs where girls had been enrolled, and one where only male cadets were present. In 1984, the ACF Manual stated that within detachments female cadets should not exceed 40% of the total strength, and that “the total number of female cadets in a County ACF is not to exceed 25% of the total strength”.

Today, there are no such quotas on how many female cadets or female CFAVs can be recruited, however detachments still have to have enough female CFAVs to accompany female cadets on trips away.

cadets 25.2% female in 2011 cadets 32.6% female in 2017 CFAVs 26.8% female in 2011 CFAVs 28.6% female in 2017

Images: Courtesy of Geri Burns-McCombe, PRO, Merseyside ACF

Recent cadets from Merseyside ACF, the first ACF county to welcome female CFAVs

G EN ES AT T IDTEURD IES S U R VEY

CFAVs inspire the next generation of girl cadets

SI Michelle Busby during an annual camp expedition

CASE STUDY: FORMER CFAV MICHELLE BUSBY Michelle Ledger (nee Busby) was taught by some of Greater Manchester’s first female CFAVs in Hulme. “I was brought up with two brothers, so I was a proper tomboy,” she says. “We lived near the detachment so I went down by myself and joined up in 1986.” Michelle reached the rank of Cadet CSM and at 18 years old joined up as an adult. “As a cadet and in my early years as a CFAV, there were very few female volunteers and the view was that they would be

GIRLS ARE OFTEN MORE DEDICATED TO GETTING UP THROUGH THE RANKS Michelle Busby, former ACF Major

advertising, resulted in a rush of enquiries, with potential recruits later whittled down to just 11. They were a group with mixed levels of experience, some having been part of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, Women’s Royal Army Corps and TA; some had no previous experience at all. During the trial, Merseyside was keen to see whether women would fit in with mess life, whether husband and wife combinations could work, if women would be willing to take a full part in training and if they’d work well with cadets. The magazine reported: “The detachments where ladies are on strength are going well, when cadets are asked what they think, the usual answer is ‘smashing’ or ‘great’.” Merseyside recommended that county establishments should be amended to read that a certain percentage of adults should be women. The county also recommended that conditions of service should be exactly the same as for male adults.

Teething problems Admitting female volunteers meant some practical changes had to be made, such

administrators, look after the NAAFI or take Female cadets take part in all activities on offer

on the role of nurse, rather than teaching fieldcraft or being instructors. I did the same courses as the male volunteers, but was still

as providing washroom facilities and kit, which led to delays in recruiting women in some areas. This lack of female volunteers unfortunately meant it was difficult to admit girls as cadets too, as they could not take part in weekend activities without the required female instructors. The setbacks attracted the attention of the press. On 26 June 1999, a Scottish newspaper printed an article headlined “Girls told about turn by ‘Sexist’ Cadet Force” after a Scottish county ran a recruitment campaign, but turned away girls as they did not have facilities for them.

Women in the ACF today We do not suffer from any such setbacks today and female cadet recruitment is an easy process. Michelle Busby (profiled right), an early CFAV, admits, “I think a difference I’ve seen between boys and girls is that the girls are often more dedicated to getting up through the ranks and more determined to achieve. I’ve enjoyed teaching all my cadets, but it’s been a great pleasure for me to encourage girls to push themselves.”

regarded as the first aider initially.” As a volunteer, Michelle encountered practical issues in taking girls on exercises. “We could often only take small numbers of cadets, as there weren’t enough female washing facilities. When I took cadets over to Germany, we were put in blocks alongside Regular soldiers and they locked us in overnight to keep us secure!” Michelle has now left the ACF after 32 years as a cadet and a CFAV. She reached the rank of major and became a county training officer. “The ACF gave me the confidence to stand up in front of people, to be more outgoing and give things a go.”

Capt Busby with Maj Mike Brotherton, her first DC as a cadet

GET IN TOUCH Are you one of the first female CFAVs? Share your story with marketing@armycadets.com

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

NEW REGUL ATIONS

Data handling is changing

his month sees a big change in the way we handle personal data. You will hopefully have already read about the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the new Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA18), so a lot of this will not come as a surprise. But with such changes to the way we collect and handle data in the ACF, it is worth taking some time to recap and cover the key points. The first question everyone asks is ‘what is personal data?’ The Data Protection Act 1998 defined it as information that relates to a living individual who can be identified from information either on its own or in combination with other information. This could be names, addresses, dates of birth, telephone numbers, bank details or National Insurance numbers. The new regulation extends the definition to include online identifiers such as computer IP addresses.

Why does DPA18 matter? The new rules will set a higher standard for consent to use personal data than before. Consent must be unambiguous and taken from a positive opt-in action by the individual. It needs to be separate from other terms and conditions and what consent is being given should be clear. A right to withdraw consent at any time should also be offered.

How does DPA18 affect cadets? Cadets aged 13 and above (at the time of writing, this is awaiting confirmation in the Act) may need to provide consent to their data being stored and processed in the same way as adult volunteers. Parents and guardians will still be required to consent to cadets taking part in activities though.

30 ACF SUMMER 2018

What is the ACF doing to implement the new rules? We have published new direction and guidance, covering key areas that impact the ACF, including joining forms and processes. We are also reviewing the data we hold on Westminster to ensure we only hold and process the minimum needed to deliver the full range of activities.

Why is there so much interest in digital channels? The use of social media for communications has exploded over the past two decades, and is readily accessible to cadets, volunteers and the wider public. This means IP address data could be held on various platforms. We need to have a list of all official digital channels this could happen on – in data terms, an asset register. This will not stop you using digital channels for communicating.

What can I do to prepare? Read the guidance notes on the Defence Gateway. Luckily, most of us in the ACF do not hold much personal data, as most is held securely on Westminster, but we need to be aware of how we treat that data and what to do if something goes wrong. Go back over the data protection training available on the Defence Gateway, as this covers what to do if data gets lost.

UP DAT E

ACF OFFICERS

The following have been selected for a commission by CFCB PRV RNK

SURNAME

INITIAL COUNTY/BATTALION/SECTOR

SSI

HAYNES

1ST BN THE HIGHLANDERS ACF

AUO

BOYLE

SSI

WRIGHT

1ST BN THE HIGHLANDERS ACF

AUO

OSMAN

GWENT AND POWYS ACF

SSI

LAWTHER

2ND (NI) BN ACF

SMI

RUSSELL

GWENT AND POWYS ACF

AUO

LAIGHT

2ND (NI) BN ACF

SSI

SUMNER

GWENT AND POWYS ACF

AUO

EVERETT

BEDFORDSHIRE AND HERTFORDSHIRE ACF

SALMONS

HAMPSHIRE AND IOW ACF

AUO

FRY

BEDFORDSHIRE AND HERTFORDSHIRE ACF

CATHERSIDES

HAMPSHIRE AND IOW ACF

AUO

ELLIOT

BLACK WATCH BN ACF

AUO

COOPER

HAMPSHIRE AND IOW ACF

SLOANE

BRISTOL (CITY AND COUNTY OF) ACF

AUO

ALLEN

MJW

HAMPSHIRE AND IOW ACF

AUO

THOMAS

BRISTOL (CITY AND COUNTY OF) ACF

AUO

LAMONT

HAMPSHIRE AND IOW ACF

AUO

CHERRIMAN

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ACF

AUO

BLAKEMORE

HEREFORD AND WORCESTER ACF

AUO

HALL

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE ACF

SMI

MARSHALL

HUMBERSIDE AND SOUTH YORKSHIRE ACF

AUO

WILLIS

CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACF

AUO

HAZLEWOOD

KENT ACF

SSI

JACKSON

CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACF

SSI

BLUNDELL

CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACF

SSI

BAYLEY

LANCASHIRE ACF

BLUNDELL

CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACF

AUO

WAINWRIGHT

LEICESTER, NORTHANTS AND RUTLAND ACF

SMI

ELLIS

CHESHIRE ACF

SSI

HOWARD

LINCOLNSHIRE ACF

RIGDEN

CHESHIRE ACF

SSI

WALKER

LOTHIAN AND BORDERS BN ACF

AUO

EASLEY

CITY OF LONDON & NE SECTOR ACF

AUO

KINGHORN

LOTHIAN AND BORDERS BN ACF

AUO

MOORE

CITY OF LONDON & NE SECTOR ACF

AUO

HANNANT

NORFOLK ACF

JUKES

CLEVELAND ACF

SSI

ALDERSON

NORTHUMBRIA ACF

AUO

WATSON

CLEVELAND ACF

SMITH

NORTHUMBRIA ACF

JONES

CLWYD AND GWYNEDD ACF

ALDERSON

NORTHUMBRIA ACF

SSI

WEBB

CORNWALL ACF

SMI

STREET

NORTHUMBRIA ACF

CASSIDY

NORTHUMBRIA ACF

MCCORMELLA

NORTHUMBRIA ACF

DEVON ACF

SMI

ELLISON

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ACF

DEVON ACF

AUO

PARRY

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ACF

NORWOOD

OXFORDSHIRE ACF OXFORDSHIRE ACF

SI AUO AUO SMI

MOTTRAM BATTERSBY BARBER HIGGS

D CM RA HA

CUMBRIA ACF DERBYSHIRE ACF

PRV RNK

SURNAME

INITIAL COUNTY/BATTALION/SECTOR GREATER MANCHESTER ACF

AUO

PARRIN

DEVON ACF

AUO

BOYNE

DEVON ACF

SSI

THOMPSON

DEVON ACF

SMI

NORTON

SHROPSHIRE ACF

JENKINS

SHROPSHIRE ACF

AUO

METCALFE

SSI

PREVETT

DEVON ACF

AUO

PARKER-BROCK S

DEVON ACF

GILBERTSON

SHROPSHIRE ACF

AUO

TILSED

DORSET ACF

SSI

WHEELDEN

SHROPSHIRE ACF

RSMI

METCALF

DURHAM ACF

AUO

LANCEY

SOMERSET ACF

DART

DURHAM ACF

SSI

WELLMAN

SOMERSET ACF

AUO

TWIST

DURHAM ACF

SAMPSON

SOMERSET ACF

SSI

SHEFFORD

DURHAM ACF

AUO

HALE

SOMERSET ACF

AUO

Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;HEARNE

DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF

AUO

CURTIS

SURREY ACF

AUO

LITTLEFORD

DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF

FREEMANTLE

SUSSEX ACF

AUO

DAVIES

DYFED AND GLAMORGAN ACF

AUO

PIETRZAK

AUO

DENCH

ESSEX ACF

WARWICKSHIRE AND WEST MIDLAND (SOUTH SECTOR) ACF

BOAG

GLASGOW AND LANARKSHIRE BN ACF

ANDREWS

WEST LOWLAND BN ACF

SSI

KIRKWOOD

GLASGOW AND LANARKSHIRE BN ACF

SSI

CHARITY

WILTSHIRE ACF

AUO

HILL

GREATER LONDON SE SECTOR ACF

AUO

WARDLAW

YORKSHIRE (NORTH AND WEST) ACF

AUO

ADANIJO

GREATER LONDON SW SECTOR ACF

NORMINGTON

YORKSHIRE (NORTH AND WEST) ACF

TYLDESLEY

GREATER MANCHESTER ACF

AUO

GREENWOOD

YORKSHIRE (NORTH AND WEST) ACF

ARMYCADETS.COM 31

G A L L E RY

IN THE FIELD

KEEP IN TOUCH BY SENDING US YOUR PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD. WHETHER THEY’RE SELFIES OR ACTION SHOTS, DRILL OR FUNDRAISING, EMAIL THEM TO EDITOR@ARMYCADETS.COM

IN THE PHOTOS: 1: Cdt RSM Robert Jackson, Royal County of Berkshire ACF, is this year’s Champion Cadet. He received the Claire Shore Trophy from Brig Simon Banton, Chief of Staff Regional Command. 2: New national senior drum major cadet, Cdt Sgt Jasmine Marriott from Staffordshire and West Midlands ACF, received an award at the Music Concentration held in Altcar in April.

3: Cadets from Essex ACF took a break from a busy day of litter picking during April’s Community Week. 4: Cadet Tom Wigley from Yorkshire N&W ACF performed emergency first aid on an injured cyclist. 5: Col Hilary Williams, Col Cadets Army HQ North West, presented medals to the winners in the National Football Championships in Altcar. 6: With support from the Ulysses Trust, 26 cadets and four adults from Shropshire ACF enjoyed a week of alpine skiing in Ofterschwang, Bavaria. 7: Oxfordshire ACF hosted a Cadet Introduction to PR Course in March for cadets from Somerset, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. 8: Cadets from Egypt Company, Lancashire ACF, took part in a tough navigation weekend in Lancaster. 9: Col David Hammond, Col Cadets of 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales, presented awards for the Exercise Cadet Cambrian Patrol 2018. 10: Surrey ACF battled teams from across the South East to win the 11 Infantry Brigade Military Skills. 11: Cadets in action during the Cadet Leadership Course at Barry Buddon in March. 3

32 ACF SUMMER 2018

Photo: Cadet Owen Knight from Bishops Hull Platoon, Jellalabad Company, Somerset ACF

THE GALLERY

We want to see your images of ACF life. Send pictures of your detachment’s activities to us by the end of June 2018

SHARE YOUR PHOTOS 10

Whether you’re at camp, doing command tasks, or any other fun or adventurous activity, send your images to editor@armycadets.com

ARMYCADETS.COM 33

D AY I N T H E L I F E

Believe in yourself and anything is possible

Sandy skied up to 43km each day

‘Ice Maiden’ Sandy Hennis trekked across Antarctica and now shares her story to encourage young people to challenge themselves On January 20, a team of six female Army women completed a 1,062-mile trek across Antarctica, becoming the first all-female team to do so by muscle power alone. Sandy Hennis was part of the ‘Ice Maiden’ team, spending 62 days on the ice and skiing up to 43km each day.

08.00 We left at this time every morning, having taken the tents down and packed everything up. We’d ski for 75 minutes at a time, with eight-minute breaks in between, and we’d do that for 10 hours each day.

06.30 Since returning, I’ve worked full-

for the presentation. This will include equipment from the expedition, such as the 80kg sledge we pulled, cooking stove, clothing, goggles and skis. If there’s room, I’ll even set up the tent. It really brings the experience to life.

time visiting schools and youth groups to share our story. After breakfast, I take the dog for a walk, then get the car packed up with everything I’ll need for the day ahead.

06.30 We had strict military timings on the expedition, so we’d get up at the same time every day. We’d spend 90 minutes eating our rations (we had to eat 5,000 calories a day) and melting snow, so we’d have enough water for the day.

SHARING THEIR INSPIRATIONAL STORY The ACFA is one of the two charities supported by the Ice Maiden voyage and, since her return, Sandy has visited ACFs, including Northumbria and Durham, to meet with cadets and share her incredible story. “It was great to meet the cadets, and they were really engaged and asked some great questions,” she says. “They got to try on the equipment and have their photos taken. The level of interest in our expedition has been wonderful. I think the message – that if you challenge and believe in yourself, you can achieve anything – has really struck a chord.”

34 ACF SUMMER 2018

10.00 On arrival, I’ll set up my equipment

11.00 I’ll speak to up to 200 children at a time, and the aim is to inspire them and challenge them to think about what they might achieve one day. I emphasise the fact that all of the Ice Maidens were just normal people, and we’d never been or done anything like that before; some of us had never put on skis before. Their eyes light up when they see videos of us jumping into freezing cold water or into crevasses as part of our training.

MEET SANDY Sandy Hennis Rank: Major Role: Leadership and development Day job: Before the expedition, I worked in leadership and development, taking school groups of up to 20 on trips to countries such as Peru and Ecuador. We’d spend up to a month at a time, primarily engaged with community project work.

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

18.00 Our skiing done for the day, we’d set the tents up and melt snow to rehydrate our evening meals.

19.30 Each night we’d have a team meeting to discuss what we’d achieved that day and what we wanted to achieve on the next, and to check everyone was well enough to continue skiing. Then we’d collapse into bed!

Sandy Hennis

ARMY CADET VOLUNTEER

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COMING UP IN THE AUTUMN ISSUE

ANNUAL CAMP A round-up of activity across the UK Cadet Fieldcraft Manual A new approach to teaching cadets fieldcraft Safety Management System Helping volunteers with risk assessment to deliver cadet activities