Normally held in January, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Adult Volunteers descended onto the Cadet Training Centre, Langley Lines, for a weekend in May for the Commandant’s Seminar. The Seminar is an opportunity for the County’s Volunteers to receive updates around training, procedures and so much more. Due to the restrictions still being in place, the programme of events had to become creative in order to provide every Volunteer with the full experience.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight’s Commandant’s Seminar
Finally, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Adult Volunteers have been able to get together at our County’s Cadet Training Centre for the Annual Commandant’s Seminar. The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire even joined us for the day!
Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson Esq
The event started off with an opening address from the Commandant, Col T Farmer, and awards parade of which the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mr Nigel Atkinson Esq, handed out a number of awards and medals that have accumulated during the Pandemic. These would have normally been handed out during the Summer Annual Camp. Here is the full list of Awards presented:
Commandant's Certificate of Good Service:
- SSI W Sinkinson, Normandy Company
- SI N Howe, Minden Company
- Lt M Flanagan, Dettingen Company
- RSMI A Harris, County HQ.
Brigade Commander's Coin:
- Maj A Toze, County HQ
- SMI B Legg, Barrosa Company
- SSI N Harrison, Cambrai Company
- SSI S Cowley, Normandy Company
- Cpl W Chappell (RMP), Service Helper.
Cadet Forces Medal and Clasps:
- Lt S Norman, Barrosa Company
- SSI G Light, Gallipoli Company
- SSI L Boraine, Normandy Company.
The Chief of the General Staff Commendation was awarded to Maj Jamie Richter for his services and dedication to the Army Cadets. Maj Richter was mentioned in the Queen's New Years Honours List 2020.
Once the Presentations were complete, the Volunteers broke down into their Syndicate groups ready to complete the training packages available. Each of the groups had presentations and open forums to learn and ask the subject matter experts in Motor Transport, Cadet and Adult Training, Shooting, Adventure Training, Cadet Information Systems, First Aid, CVQO, Public Relations and more!
The weather on this weekend was not the best, with heavy rain showers forecast for Saturday afternoon and throughout Sunday; but this did not stop us! Using as much shelter as possible, within the COVID restrictions, everyone who attended had the opportunity to gather as much information as possible.
"The whole weekend was a huge success, and we are now very much looking forward to our Summer Annual Camp in August”
Col T Farmer, County Commandant
Col T Farmer said “I am incredibly pleased that we managed to hold the Seminar this year. It has been a fantastic opportunity for the County’s Volunteers to get back to it, get the required updates and see one another where they haven’t in over a year! The whole weekend was a huge success, and we are now very much looking forward to our Summer Annual Camp in August”.
