Sword Company celebrate the 2023 CSM Awards followed by the Annual Company Mess Dinner
January 6th, 2024 saw Sword Company celebrate the 2023 CSM Awards followed by the Annual Company Mess Dinner
The evening had 7 nominees from within the Sword Company consisting of:
Cdt Jenson Hayes, L/Cpl Ellis Sinclair, Cpl Georgia Heath, Cpl Carys Davies, Cdt Oliver Smith Cdt Cameron Hutchins, and L/Cpl Nathan Newitt
This year's winner was Cdt Oliver Smith from Abbey Park Detachment.
This year we had 2 guest speakers Mr Jordan Wylie MBE, National ambassador for the Army Cadet Force, and Murdo Urquhart, Chief Executive of ACCT UK
Jordan gave an open, honest, and Inspiring speech. From his younger days growing up in Blackpool, through to his military career and post-military career. Engaging and supporting various youth charities, especially the Army Cadet Force.
Murdo spoke about all the magnificent work ACCT UK is doing, providing and supporting our Cadets and CFAVs, and how much they want to be able to increase their support even more across the ACF Family. With initiatives like The Cadet Challenges.
As well as our guest speakers we had in attendance Wiltshire ACF Commandant Colonel Haggerty TD and RSMI Hearn.
Capt Brinkman - RWxY, who with Squadron Sergeant Major, WO2 Walls has been a valuable supporter of Sword Company
Capt Skiffington - Rifles, who also is an asset to Sword Company and Wiltshire ACF as a whole.
Major Stokes, OC Sword Company
Cdt SSgt Stewart who in the absence of a Cadet CSM filled in superbly.
Once the main CSM Award was complete, it was followed by the Cadet CSM Award. An award presented by our Cadets to a CFAV.
The cadets nominate a CFAV and the Cdt CSM and senior cadets select their chosen CFAV.
This year there was a shortlist of 3 Nominees - SMI Martin Heath, SI Emily Hearn, and SI Charlotte White
This year's winner of the Cadets CSM Award went to SMI Martin Heath from Abbeyfield Detachment.
Throughout the evening there were other various presentations and awards.
The OCs- Best Detachment, which went Abbeyfield Detachment
Acknowledgments and gifts to the CFAVs who helped make the evening run smoothly
2Lt Wonfor and Partner Vanessa Eve who cooked the exceptionally high quality food.
Colonel Britt Haggerty for supporting Sword Company in their "crazy ideas"
4 Cadets who will shortly be leaving us for careers in the Military
RSMI Hearn for this year's and previous years' laser engraved gifts to all the cadets
Squadron Sergeant Major, WO2 Walls for his continued support for Sword Company and these Mess Dinners.
L/Cpl Hoy promoted to Cpl
Maj Tim Stokes presented a cheque for £3996.63 to Murdo Urquhart for ACCT UK from the past years' fundraising events
This award and the Mess Dinner event originated when she became the CSM. Now in its Third year, it has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the highlights of the year for our Cadets and Adults alike.
CSM Jo Hearn said "Thank you to everyone who attended the CSM Award and Mess Dinner last night. I had a great evening, everyone looked amazing, the food was awesome and our guest speakers Jordan Wylie MBE and Murdo Urquhart from ACCT UK were outstanding, and I really appreciated their attendance.
Cadet Gherendi, you were a fantastic Miss Vice and Cdt SSgt Stewart you did a brilliant job organising and presenting the Cadet CSM Award (apologies you were cut short).
Massive congratulations to all of the evening's winners,
I'm looking forward to seeing what 2024 has in store for Sword Company
