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 Boots were shining and uniforms ironed to perfection when a group of proud Cambridge army cadets were inspected by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire Sir Michael Oliver on 1st April at the official opening of the very first ‘closed’ detachment in the county.
The cadets, aged 16 – 18, are all students on the National Diploma Uniformed Public Services course at Cambridge Regional College, in Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge - and to support their efforts Cambridgeshire Army Cadet Force created an exclusive detachment at the college. The National Diploma course gives the students an insight into careers in the Armed Forces, Police, Fire Brigade, Prison Service and Ambulance Service and their studies will now be closely allied to local army cadet force training. Sir Michael inspected the parade before going on to hear from the students themselves about their experiences on the course and the opportunities available to young people at the college. He was joined at the event by Councillor Captain Victor Lucas RN (Retd), Colonel Roger Herriot, Commandant of Cambridgeshire ACF and local Company Commander Major Tony Scales. The new ACF detachment is run by Staff Sergeant Peter Hockey and a team of enthusiastic volunteers drawn from the teachers within the college. He said: “The college detachment is open to all students studying on the National Diploma Uniformed Public Service course. Our focus is adventure and enjoyment. Attendance is purely voluntary and the cadets have the opportunity to work towards nationally recognised academic and non-academic qualifications including the Duke of Edinburgh award and a BTEC National Diploma in Public Services.” In addition to regular weekly meetings at the college the cadets can also attend weekend training trips and annual camp to train and socialise with army cadets from across the county. They also receive instruction in basic military skills such as drill, navigation, field-craft, signals and leadership. Debbie Casey, Head of Academy at Cambridge Regional College said: “I welcome the addition of the detachment to the College. It will enable the students to develop their sense of responsibility and the qualities of self-reliance, resourcefulness and endurance; all traits we see amongst the Armed Services today.”
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