I know and yet many of our Essex ACF Companies and Detachments are doing great work with keeping in touch and virtual parade nights. Get onto Facebook and check out what they are up to. I would like to thank the whole Essex ACF team of adults and senior cadets for all of their hard work and dedication during this difficult period. I know that a lot of work has gone into planning and preparing for some training activities and events which will sadly now not go ahead as with effect 17 March all Face 2 Face ACF activity has been cancelled until the end of May.
With schools closed, there will be extra pressure on families, where people are working from home and trying to home school at the same time. As we now go into Easter holiday, our cadets will be looking for how to spend their time without annoying their parents and family who are on work conference calls. Luckily there are lots of online options for everyone. Use this time to get onto the Cadet Portal, signed up for iDEA, get all the DofE and BTEC homework up to date and keep looking out for the #VirtualACF activities that Army Cadet HQ are arranging.
During difficult times is when we stand out by our own personal values and standards. I therefore call on all of Essex ACF to show the courage to do the right thing and Stay At Home, the discipline to stay active and alert, the respect for others, especially when all living under one roof, the integrity to do the right thing even when no one is looking, the loyalty to check in with all of your family and friends and the selfless commitment to help everyone you can, especially at home, whilst staying safe and abiding by the rules.
Many of our amazing CFAVs and their families are key workers and emergency services workers and some of our team are being mobilised to help support the effort and all of us must take a leadership stance and actively ensure we all #StaySafe #StayAtHomeSavesLives.
I would like each of you to think what can you do to help us keep the flame alive for all of us as adults and for our cadets – update a training lesson plan or PowerPoint and share it, make a video, record a podcast, write a blog, write a How To Guide or simply ring up your ACF buddy and check in on them. Keep sharing and keep driving forward. I look forward to hearing what you have all been up to - to keep our Cadets and our Adults motivated.
We are Essex ACF – the best County in the country at so many different things – let’s be the best at making our ACF Online and Virtual and be the best at keeping in touch with each other.
L I Barr-Jones
Colonel
Commandant
