Annual Camp 2026: A Week to Remember
Annual Camp 2026: A Week to Remember
What a week! Around 280 cadets and adult volunteers from across North Wales came together at Swynnerton Training Camp in Staffordshire for seven days of challenge, adventure, friendship, learning and achievement – and what an incredible week it was.
From fieldcraft and navigation to paintball, tag archery, laser tag, air rifle shooting and expeditions, there was something happening from morning until night.
Cadets challenged themselves, learned new skills, supported their friends and discovered that sometimes the biggest achievements come when you push just a little further than you thought you could.
Challenge, Adventure and Plenty of Fun
Annual Camp is all about giving cadets experiences they will remember, and Swynnerton certainly delivered.
A, B and C Companies followed busy and varied programmes, developing practical skills through fieldcraft, navigation, first aid, CIS and expedition training.
Cadets headed into the field, built bashas, conducted reconnaissance tasks, navigated across unfamiliar terrain and put their teamwork to the test through tactical exercises, break-contact drills, fire and manoeuvre, attacks and ambushes.
There were also plenty of opportunities to let off steam!
Tag archery, laser tag, paintball, laser shotgun and air rifle shooting brought out plenty of friendly competition, laughter and determination while developing accuracy, communication and teamwork.
Every day brought another challenge – and our cadets rose to them brilliantly.
Remembering and Learning
Amongst all the action, there was also time to pause, reflect and remember.
Cadets visited the National Memorial Arboretum, exploring the site and discovering the stories of those who served and sacrificed.
The visits provided a powerful reminder of the importance of remembrance and helped cadets understand the history and traditions that form such an important part of their Army Cadet experience.
Our Cadets, Their Voice
Annual Camp also provided a fantastic opportunity for cadets to meet senior leaders and share their experiences.
Visitors from 160th (Welsh) Brigade, RFCA, Honorary Colonel Cadets Wales, the County Honorary Colonel and ACCT UK Wales spent time seeing cadets in training and talking to them about their experiences.
Colonel Cadets Wales, Colonel Ian Holmes, took time to listen to cadets, hear their views, discuss what they enjoy about being a cadet and find out about their ambitions for the future.
And, of course, our visitors couldn’t resist getting involved themselves!
Tag archery, air rifle and laser tag gave them the opportunity to experience a little of the fun our cadets enjoy – and demonstrated just how much enthusiasm and energy there is across the Force.
Operation Ice Cream – The Sweetest Surprise!
Just when everyone thought they knew what the next training serial was going to be…
Operation Ice Cream arrived!
The unmistakable vehicle rolled into the training area during a busy day, bringing a very welcome surprise for our cadets.
Thanks to BFBS, hundreds of hardworking cadets were treated to a well-earned ice cream.
After fieldcraft, paintball, tag archery and all the other challenges of camp, it was fair to say that the ice cream went down extremely well!
Sometimes the best camp memories are the completely unexpected ones – and Operation Ice Cream certainly created plenty of smiles.
Finishing on a High
As Annual Camp entered its final stages, the hard work continued.
Cadets completed assessments in drill, CIS, first aid and other core skills, while fieldcraft exercises reached their exciting conclusion with final attacks and ambushes.
Throughout the week, cadets demonstrated outstanding commitment, resilience and teamwork.
There were also some very special moments of personal achievement, with promotions, star gradings, qualifications and awards presented during camp.
Among the highlights was the appointment of Grey Bygrave as the new Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major, marking another important milestone in her cadet career.
A Finale to Remember
And then came a truly memorable finale.
The final parade saw the formal dedication of the new Clwyd & Gwynedd Army Cadet Force Banner and Union Flag, marking an important moment in the history of the County.
The occasion also saw the dedication of the Jim Hewitt Memorial Drums, presented to the Corps of Drums in memory of the late Major Jim Hewitt, a former Cadet Executive Officer whose service and contribution to Army Cadets in North Wales is fondly remembered.
A special drum altar was prepared for the ceremony, with the new Banner and Union Flag proudly displayed before the assembled cadets.
The dedication and blessing were conducted by the Senior Chaplain, Rev (Major) Elfryn Jones, before the newly blessed Banner and Union Flag were presented to the cadet Banner Party under the direction of Cadet RSM Grey Bygrave.
Accompanied by a section of the Corps of Drums, the Banner Party proudly paraded past the assembled cadets.
It was a spectacular and emotional finale – bringing together tradition, remembrance, service and the future of our young people.
More Than a Training Camp
Annual Camp was about much more than completing training.
It was about confidence, resilience, friendship, leadership, teamwork and opportunity.
It was about discovering new talents, overcoming challenges, helping others and creating memories that will stay with our cadets for years to come.
There were muddy boots, tired faces, competitive battles, and nights in the field, new experiences, huge smiles and plenty of laughter.
And, of course, there was ice cream!
Behind every successful day was an incredible team of adult volunteers, staff, instructors and supporters who worked tirelessly to provide our cadets with the very best possible experience.
To every cadet who took on a challenge, every volunteer who gave their time, every instructor who delivered training and every supporter who helped make the week possible – شكرًا.
You all played a part in making Annual Camp 2026 something very special.