Day One of Annual Camp
Cadets left their company designated pick-up points at 1100Hrs, arriving at Crowborough Training Camp, in East Sussex about 1430Hrs.
Once they unloaded their kit. They were given a briefing by the RSM before being processed through to their respective cadres.
Usually, our cadets are familiar with their detachment and company personalities (Cadets and Adults) but on Annual Camp they form up in cadres. The reason for this is so the cadets can train with other cadets at the same Army Cadet Syllabus (ACS) level.
For the younger ones it may be a bit daunting to have new instructors, but quickly realise they don’t bite. It’s also an opportunity for cadets to meet other cadets from across the county of Wiltshire and expand their friendship group.
For the more senior cadets who have been on annual camps before they will have met the other instructors and other cadets. They have already made friends with other cadets from previous camps or county-led courses and quickly begin to rekindle and enhance those friendships.
Once all the administrative actions have been fulfilled, we have our customary “Drumhead Service”.
“A Drumhead service is a traditional Army ecumenical service held in the field in which the Regimental drums are placed on top of each other to form an altar.
Wiltshire ACF currently has 3 Padres. Although they hold a military commissioned rank, they are all affectionately known as Padre Jo, Padre Alan, Padre Lorraine. Today they formally gave the service, but their normal role is welfare. We’ll see more of the padres throughout the week, including one of the cadet’s favourites ‘Padres Palace’
The commandant Colonel Britt Haggerty gave a welcome talk and an insight into what our cadets had to look forward to.
