(Egg)cellent training at the CTC

Over the Easter holiday period HSY ACF delivered 2, 4 day Junior Camps for over 180 one star training cadets from across the County. The aim of our Junior Camp is to give our cadets an exciting and challenging training experience to work towards achieving their ACS star level, while introducing them to the wider cadet experience and longer periods of time away from home. This prepares them for future Army Cadet activities by giving them a solid foundation to their training.

Across the four days the cadets participated in ACS activities including Skill at Arms, Shooting, First Aid and Drill and Turnout. The highlight of the week for many of the cadets was the Adventurous Training package that took place at Welton Waters, where the cadets enjoyed a multi-activity training day including raft building, paddleboarding, team games, rafted canoeing, and topper racing. Other activities included the Field Gun Run, Tag Archery, Laser Shot Gun, Command Tasks and a STEM challenge. In the STEM challenge the cadets had to work as a team to build a catapult, which they could use to ‘splat a CFAV’ if they were successful in building a working machine.

For many of the cadets attending, this was the longest period of time they have stayed away from their homes without those who usually care for them. This poses unique challenges to both the cadets and the CFAV, who support the cadets to build their confidence and resilience. The cadets showed incredible support to each, demonstrating daily the core values and standards of the ACF.

With over 700 individual ACS subject passes, you could say that HSY ACF Junior Camp 23 was a huge success. However, the impact the Junior Camp experience has upon our cadets is always the biggest achievement. Feedback from cadets, parents and carers demonstrates this, with parents commenting “my son really enjoyed his time there, he feels a lot more confident in himself and the staff were fab” and “My son had a blast and voluntarily told us all about it when we got home”. Cadet Edwards said this is “my favourite camp so far”.

As always, this event could not have happened if we didn’t have skilled, motivated and caring Cadet Force Adult Volunteers who plan and deliver the training. There was a real mixture of talented volunteers from across HSY from PI’s through to experienced commissioned officers who gave up their time to give our Junior cadets this great experience.

Captain Hollie Troughton, Training Officer Junior Camp , said “I am so proud of the team and all of the cadets who have attended Junior Camp across the two-week period. Both the adult volunteers and the cadets worked extremely hard to achieve what we did over the two camps, and it was amazing to see efforts of everyone come together so the cadets could have this brilliant experience”.

Colonel Owen, Commandant said: "Junior camp provides our cadets the opportunity to access a range of adventurous and challenging residential activities. Over this period, they will gain self-confidence, experience adventure whilst developing bonds of friendship with each other. This opportunity provides the foundation for their future cadet experience and develops personal resilience for their future. Our Cadet Force Volunteers who are role models and mentors take time away from work and family to provide a wonderful experience, and to those ‘’voluntheroes’’ I send my heartfelt thanks for their service".

Over the two weeks awards were given out on final parade to our cadets and adult volunteers. Congratulations to the all the winners:

Week 1:

Best Cadet in Platoons – Cdt Campbell, Cdt S Hill, Cdt Matthews, Cdt Coultas

Most Improved Cadets in Platoons – Cdt Hague, Cdt Fullard, Cdt Kavanagh, Cdt Hallam

Platoon commanders award – Cdt Mitchell, Cdt Kendle, Cdt Carvill-Belt, Cdt B Hill, Cadet D Ortton, Cdt Blanchon, Cdt Snelson and Cdt Mullen

OC Special Recognition Awards – Cdt Cannom and Capt. R Williams

Week 2:

Best Cadet in Platoons – Cdt Hobson, Cdt Lukey, Cdt Hovarth, Cdt Christian

Most Improved Cadets in Platoons – Cdt Marshall, Cdt Prasad, Cdt Comins, Cdt Whur, S

Platoon commanders award – Cdt O’Neil, Cdt Edwards, Cdt Bulman, Cdt Fuller, Cdt Grange, Cdt Richardson, Cdt Chester, and Cdt Ogden.

OC Special Recognition Awards – Cdt Pawsey-Anayat and SSI Tomlinson