SMI Debbie Callaghan, County PRO Greater Manchester ACF
Commandants Weekend 2022
Day one
The day begun early with the Commandant, Col Catherine Harrison, welcoming everyone to the weekend. Col Harrison discussed and delivered her Directive for Greater Manchester ACF, this involved the staff getting into groups to discuss one of the 9 priorities from the directive and then feedback on how they will implement their plans. To read the Commandants Directive 2022 please click here.
The next presentation was on Easter Camp 2022 by Capt Wayne Harrison and Lt Jordan Battye. This was followed by Lt Col Steve Heyl, who spoke in detail about the plans for Annual Camp 2022.
This year’s camp will be at Otterburn, Newcastle Upon Tyne. A fantastic camp experience has been put together for the cadets which includes, Adventurous Training and Fieldcraft with an overnight ‘sleeping under a bashar’, out on the huge training area of the camp. More information on both camps to follow.
After a break we returned to presentations & promotions by our Hon Colonel Sharman Birtles MBE JP DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant. A huge well done to the following staff.
Cadet Force Warrant
SMI Paul Quinn
SMI Colin Dawson
Commissions
Newly Commissioned Officers
2 Lt Sajid Hussain
2Lt Peter Jackson
Commission Scrolls
2Lt Jessica Pugh
2Lt Ian Mundey
Praiseworthy First Aid – more to follow on this award
PI Andrew Titus
PI Sharon Titus
Royal Humane Society – click the link here
SMI Mark Woodward
Promotion to Lt
Lt Jordan Battye
A brilliant presentation was given by Lt Col Billy Royle on the plans for the county to celebrate the Queens Jubilee on the 2 June. I can confirm the plans are incredible and the Queen, I am sure, will be very happy with what Greater Manchester ACF has planned. More on this will follow.
Cadet RSM Tyler Holloway gave constructive feedback from the Senior Cadet Conference he attended at Frimley Park Cadet Training Centre. More on this to follow.
RSMI Douglas Craddock also gave feedback and updates from the RSMI Conference he attended.
The Senior Padre, Rev Dr Gerard Fieldhouse-Byrne, led a discussion with the Chaplaincy Team.
Padre Hugh Bearne, Padre Paul Sumpsion and Padre Daniel Valentine.
After lunch the RSM gave a presentation on Mental Health Awareness which was followed by a presentation from Kooth on mental health in young people.
The final presentation was given by police officers from Greater Manchester Police on serious issues that young people can face today leading them into crime. Scenarios was used to show examples of work they do with young people. The officers were very knowledgeable and shared resources for staff to take back to their detachments. If you would like to read more on the resources they use. please click on the following website link: https://www.fearless.org/
Thank you to PC Tom Hall, PCSO Mark Flannery and PCSO Tom Burton for your time spent with us at Holcombe Moor Training Camp.
Day two:
The day was used for refresher training/updates from the Army Cadet Syllabus. My highlight was watching the staff practicing their drill. This included the Commandant, Col Harrison, and her deputies. There were a lot of laughs at some of the 'slight' mistakes that were made. All good fun and a great day had by all.
A security update was given by SMI Richard Saville before the open forum.
The open forum was the opportunity for the staff to ask questions to the Commandant Col Harrison and her deputies, Lt Col Paul Smillie, Lt Col Steve Heyl and Lt Col Billy Royle.
The final to the day was the Commandants closing address thanking everyone for attending and thanking the permanent staff for their hard work in organising the weekend welcome to the staff, and preparing the accommodation and catering for the weekend.
To see the pictures from the weekend click the link here.
