Cdt Sgt Amelia Long, from St Neots Detachment in 2 Company, recently completed her Senior Cadets Instructor Cadre (SCIC).

SCIC is a 4-Star optional course designed to increase your knowledge of the techniques of instruction and give you early experience of the art of leadership. To qualify for the SCIC, you must have sound knowledge of all subjects up to and including 3-Star level and you must have proved, by your performance on the Junior Cadet Instructor Cadre (JCIC), that you are a potential instructor. You will learn how to instruct up to and including 2-Star standard cadets in drill, turnout and military knowledge; skill-at-arms; fieldcraft; and navigation.

Here is Sgt Long’s experience on the course.

“On Friday 9th February, I arrived at Beckingham Training Camp for my SCIC training course. I was the only cadet from Cambridgeshire ACF, which felt strange as I didn’t know anybody. That evening we had a briefing where we were split down into our sections and I was placed into 4 Section along with 11 other ACF and CCF cadets who were all very friendly. As the week went on and I got to know people, I realised that I was the youngest cadet on the course, but I was never treated differently because of it.

During SCIC, each cadet has to plan and prepare 3 lessons, 1 theory and 2 practical, although they may only teach 1 of each. I was given '24hr clock' for my theory, and 'saluting to the front' for my practical. I also had to prepare 'duties of a sentry', but I didn’t have to teach it. We also participated in a fieldcraft exercise on thursday morning. 3 & 4 section prepared firing points the night before on each side of the woods, ready for 1 & 2 Section to push through. After the exercise, we deployed back to camp to clean weapons, followed by drill rehearsals for the pass off parade on Friday. In the evening we had a quiz, where each section was split into fireteams, and enjoyed some pizza and garlic bread.

On Friday morning, while the parents were arriving, we had a final drill rehearsal. When all of the parents were on the parade square, we completed the pass off parade. 4 cadets were selected for best cadet in their section and were awarded with a prize. Afterwards, we marched back to the starting area and said our goodbyes to each other. SCIC was a very interesting course, I made lots of new friends and I’m extremely grateful for the experience.”

SSI Dale Irving, Detachment Commander at St Neots, said: “We are incredibly proud of Sgt Long for achieving her SCIC, it’s a fantastic achievement. All her hard work preparing and practicing lessons at Detachment has paid off. The SCIC is a great qualification and a great benefit to the detachment and company. Its all great to have seen her confidence grow through the process.”

Text by Cdt Sgt Amelia Long and SSI Emily White.