DATE 25-03-08    

NEWS

No ordinary holiday this Easter!

The cadets show off the new ‘Tait’ batteries !

Successful signalers with Lt Col Jackie Allan TD (centre)

HIGH winds, rain, low temperatures and even a layer of snow did nothing to prevent over 120 Cambridgeshire youngsters enjoying an Easter Camp overflowing with interest, excitement and activity between 21^st and 26^th March - and some of their number actually travelled to Snowdonia for adventure activities in a true mountain environment.

The local element of the action packed programme of events for army cadets aged 12 to 18 was held at purpose built cadet training centres at Waterbeach near Cambridge and Bassingbourn near Royston.

The newest cadets mastered safety procedures under qualified instructors before experiencing target shooting on the range at the Territorial Army Centre at Cherry Hinton and enjoying introductory sessions on many other aspects of cadet training with the purpose of developing leadership and social skills in the young. 

“This is just so cool” said new recruit Mark Hardy (14) from Sutton. He has been in the cadets for just three weeks and loves every minute of it. Mark’s latest friend, Harry Thomson (13) from Stretham, totally agreed. “I didn’t think that there was anything as good as this for kids our age” he said.

Whilst Mark and Tom concentrated on earning their essential ‘blue star’ recruits badge at Waterbeach, the more senior cadets were engaged in higher levels of training at Bassingbourn cadet centre leading to qualifications such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the BTec certificate in Music.

The combined Corps of Drums, comprising young musicians from all over the county, had the privilege of training in the rehearsal rooms of the Minden band – the army band of the Royal Anglian Regiment – in preparation for a short concert in front of parents and junior cadets on 22 March at which the Commandant, Colonel Roger Herriot was presented with his birthday cake and Lance Corporal Rebecca Lovell (18) from Peterborough received her 4 star training badge !  Band CO Captain Lynn Herriot said, “Music training in the ACF is available to everyone and no previous experience is necessary. Training on several instruments is given by our own instructors free of charge, and the cadets can then look forward to being involved in military and civil events throughout the year”.

A short distance away county first aid adviser, Sergeant Major Les Edwards was supervising first aid training. “We have the top team of young first

aiders in the country.” he said. “This is a skill for life and something the young can take with them wherever they go in life”   -   and the youngsters were certainly enjoying it – coping in emergencies was top of the agenda together with the basics in a wide range life saving techniques. Final assessment of the cadets’ skills resulted in the award of St Johns youth first aid certificates and badges – a new qualification for the first time being awarded in Cambridgeshire.

Further a field at Capel Curig in North Wales fellow cadets applied themselves to mountain climbing, canoeing and kayaking under the leadership of Captain Bob Tonkins. “We aim to provide a full range of challenging outdoor pursuits for the young and have a rolling programme of activities to suit everyone throughout the year”, he said  -  and to prove it the programme also included micronavigation and hill walking.

Each year at Easter Cambridgeshire ACF provides a signals training course for cadets seeking to achieve the prestigious ‘crossed flags’ signals badge in radio knowledge and procedure. This year county signals officer Tony Hall and his team taught 20 young people with the ‘Tait Orca’ hand held radio as well as more traditional army communications equipment.

Several new batteries were donated for the training by Huntingdon company Tait Radio Ltd, ensuring that the right equipment was to hand. On the final day of the challenging course, badges and certificates of achievement were presented to the cadets by Lt Col Jackie Allan, TD, Deputy Secretary of the Eastern Region Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.

Speaking at the conclusion of all of the training, Lt. Colonel Mark Knight MBE, Deputy Commandant of Cambridgeshire ACF said, “Much has been provided this week to occupy the minds of young people and present them with challenges and opportunities which will benefit them throughout their lives.” “The activities we offer are available to all - not just the young - and we welcome anyone aged 12 upwards who is looking for something extra in life.”

Recruits Mark Hardy (14) and Harry Thomson (13) from Ely receive their kit.

Cadet Corporal Rob Evans (16), from Fletton, leads the music