Newbies' guide to Army Cadets

New cadet? The world of uniform, drill and orders may be daunting at first, but it doesn't take long to get into the swing of things. Cadet Sergeant Arwen Moses of Morrison's Academy CCF, Perthshire, has some useful tips for newbies.

Practise drill

As a newcomer, drill can appear incredibly intimidating: orders being yelled, the pressure to remain ‘in step’ and the fear of halting on the wrong foot. However, as a new cadet, you'll be taught the art by others in your detachment.

Just like dressing in your uniform, you may find it easiest to practise drill at home when you have a free moment. Waiting for the kettle to boil? Practise halting. Waiting for your food to cook in the microwave? Do a few right turns. With a little work it soon becomes second nature. Don’t be afraid to look a bit silly at home; you’ll look sharper on parade.

Practise wearing the uniform

When I received my uniform for the first time, my immediate response was to go home and try everything on. However, upon inspecting my reflection in the mirror, I wondered why I looked so different to the senior cadets in the detachment: my headdress sticking up, my shirt hanging out and my trousers spilling over my boots.

It can take time and practice to wear the uniform to the correct standard, so don’t be afraid to practise at home. Combats can be very different to the clothes we wear in everyday life, and it's easy to be baffled by badges, belts and, particularly, trouser twisters. Perfect the craft in the comfort of your own home, rather than on parade.

'It's usually easy to distinguish a young cadet from a senior, purely on the shape of their beret'

Learn the art of beret (or tam o’ shanter) shaping

It's usually easy to distinguish a young cadet from a senior, purely on the shape of their beret. A new beret has a very distinctive boxy appearance, whereas one that's been shaped correctly has a fold of material coming down from the cap badge.

There are lots of myths about how to shape the military headdress, ranging from using a frying pan to applying hairspray. However, the easiest way to do it is to dip the beret in water, pull the fabric into position while on your head and wait for it to dry. You can also use a safety pin to secure the wet beret into the correct position while drying, which will reinforce the shape. Make sure you leave plenty of time for shaping so it's fully dry by the time you need to wear it – no one wants to be the cadet with the soggy headdress.

Be prepared to meet new people

When joining a detachment you’ll meet lots of people of all ages and ranks. While this might be a bit intimidating at first, it is usually easy to make friends and integrate. When working as a team with a shared interest, conversation flows naturally.

Many people view their detachment as their extended family – it sounds like a cliché, but it's true. Be open to speaking to new people and do ask for advice as you never know where a single conversation could take you. CADET LIFE

It's okay to feel nervous around weapons

New cadets may feel a variety of emotions when undertaking weapon-handling training for the first time. Some may feel excitement, others may feel nervous: both are completely normal.

Although safety drills with weapons can seem complicated at first, they become second nature in time. CFAVs have plenty of experience in getting cadets through the famously dreaded Weapon Handling Test, so don't be afraid to ask for help or clarification of something you're unsure of. Just don't underestimate how heavy the GP rifle is!

Always take a notebook

I cannot stress the importance of this enough. Taking a notebook to every cadet activity, whether a regular meeting or a field day, is crucial. Of course, it's especially useful to take notes during lessons. When trying to remember numerous acronyms, it can be easy to confuse the meanings, so you'll be able to remind yourself of what was covered.

Don't be afraid to ask for help

Everyone in your detachment – regardless of rank – has been new at some stage. We can all remember mistakes we made and things we didn’t understand. Never be afraid to ask a question or for help from a CFAV or a senior cadet. One day it will be you teaching the lesson or getting asked questions, so make sure you soak up as much information and grasp as many new experiences as possible.