New recruit success for D Company
16.01.12
D Company saw their biggest Basic Cadre to date, over the weekend of 13-15 January, when 86 new recruits successfully passed their tests.
Operating out of the Cadet Training Centre on the Friday night and Saturday, with satellite training stands for drill, first aid and shooting at Colchester TA Centre, the Basic Cadre ran like clockwork, thanks to the pre-planning and co-ordination of the Training Officer, Capt Lee, Staff Officer, Capt Adams and the effort put in by all of the CFAVs plus SSgt Charlotte Hutchinson, SSgt David Roberts and Cpl Zach Schwingen, the Cadet Directing Staff.
It certainly was an excellent weekend for all concerned, including over 200 family and friends who attended Sunday's parade - planned and conducted by SMI (CSM) Lester, and Enrolment Ceremony.
After the ceremony, CEO, Maj Caiger and D Company's own CAA, Capt Holmes, presented two of the platoons with their Basic badges and ACF Achievement Log Books.
All in all, a fantastic start to a potentially fantastic ACF career. Little do they know now, but many of them will go on to achieve more than they could ever have dreamed in the coming years, thanks to the tireless efforts of the PSS and D Company's inspirational CFAVs.
As if that was not enough, our trusted Signals Officer, SI Watts also ran a Cadet Radio User's Course, based out of the TA Centre with the assistance of 2Lt Hall. These were more-than-ably assisted by LCpl Jack Wiltshire and LCpl Courteney Edwards, D Company's Blandford qualified Cadet Assistant Signals Instructors.
County Signals Officer, Lt Brian, also assisted with the testing on Sunday. Many of the 17 cadets who passed the course are now aiming to take part in the County Crossed Flags Course in February and hope to follow this up with a signal course at Blandford to achieve their CASI qualification - the highest qualification in the ACF world of Signals.
2012 could not have started better!
