Captain Cathy Dewar TD, Area Staff Officer, A Company
What motivated you to join the Army Cadets as a female volunteer, and how has your experience been so far?
When my son joined as a cadet, I saw a need for more volunteers, and I had previous experience in the TA that I thought might handy. Within 18 months of joining, I was a Detachment Commander and it’s been non-stop ever since.
In what ways do you believe the Army Cadets empower young women and promote gender equality within its ranks?
We offer the same opportunities to male and female cadets and encourage them all to take every experience and it make it their own. We help to build confidence in the young person amongst their peers, younger cadets and instructors.
We show the young women how much there is that they can do if they just persevere and have confidence in themselves.
Can you share a memorable moment or achievement you've had while serving as an adult volunteer in the Army Cadets?
One of my proudest moments was watching a senior female cadet in my detachment become County RSM and Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet. She had arrived 4 years earlier as a quiet, uncertain, and fairly timid young woman who had used all the skills we had taught her to blossom into an incredibly self-assured and confident leader.
What advice would you give to young women considering joining the Army Cadets, but may be unsure or hesitant?
Just do it, the worst that can happen is that you don’t like much and you can leave, but the best is that you will make new friends from around the county and possibly the world. It will open doors and give you opportunities you never dreamed of.
