Dear Team,
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and well.
This time last year we were in the midst of restrictions where everything we had planned for face-to-face training reverted back to the virtual world and the feeling of “Déjà vu” that 2021 promised to be the same as 2020. How wrong we were!
Thankfully with the restrictions lifted we have achieved so much over the last twelve months. A quick snapshot being:
Cadet Force Adult Volunteer (CFAV) numbers continue to grow and upskilling activities such as First Aid, Ranges, Leadership, Expedition, and Adventure training puts us in a great position to deliver lots of activities in 2022.
Duke of Edinburgh awards and Star level passes continue to increase which is brilliant.
A two-week non-residential annual camp which was no easy feat to organise and deliver by any stretch of the imagination.
A seven-day residential camp for our senior cadets and all four companies held their first residential training weekends at out Cadet Training Centre.
None of these key highlights would be possible without the commitment and hard work of our CFAVs and Permanent Support Staff to which I am and I’m sure our Cadets are grateful.
2022 is looking bright for Durham ACF with lots of activities to look forward to such as:
Company Weekends, an Easter Junior camp week, increased shooting activities, Berlin and Nijmegen overseas trips, Military skills competition, Autumn week senior camp and the highlight of the year Annual Camp in Scotland which promises to be fantastic with lots of Adventure training, Shooting and Fieldcraft which I am really looking forward to.
My last point is to all our Cadets - you know how great the Army Cadet Force is and what it has to offer. Please tell your friends and bring them down to your detachment so that they can see for themselves. As we say in Durham ACF - the more the merrier!
Everyone, have a well-deserved few weeks break to spend time with your families and loved ones, ready to come back in 2022 full of enthusiasm to get the most out of the training year.
Have a merry Christmas and sincere best wishes,
See you in the New Year,
Yours
Commandant
