Cadet Sgt Charlotte Wallace of Cambridge Detachment has been awarded an apprenticeship with The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals and presented with an Intelligence Corps Medallion at a socially distanced ceremony at Waterbeach Cadet Training Centre.
This extraordinary success demonstrates the best values that can be found amongst Cambridgeshire cadets, including maturity, commitment and leadership, and comes on top of an extremely successful cadet experience that has seen Charlotte Wallace become a Master Cadet and take a leading role at her detachment.
Two years ago, Cambridge Detachment was welcomed into the Military Intelligence (MI) family with a re-badging ceremony attended by ACF Honorary Colonel, Brig Tim Seal TD DL VR, Lt Col Fairweather, Commanding Officer 3 MI Battalion, and (then) Cadet Commandant Colonel Mark Knight MBE. The relationship between the detachment and the Intelligence Corps has continued to grow ever since, and in early 2020 Detachment Commander 2/Lt Houghton was approached by The Corps with an offer for older cadets to apply for an apprenticeship with their affiliated Livery company, the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals.
The WCoSP is one of the principal security-based organisations in the UK, with members drawn from the security industry. The object of the Apprenticeship is to take a young person with an interest in Security and The London Livery, (London’s ancient and modern trade associations and guilds), and to encourage that interest through participation in events, meetings and functions over the course of their Apprenticeship.
Sgt Wallace receives a medalion from Colonel Mclean. Picture; Doug Stuart
To the delight of her Detachment Commander, colleagues and friends, Sergeant Charlotte Wallace was accepted for the four-year apprenticeship, the second person ever to do so.
Sgt Wallace joined the ACF in 2016, and during this time has progressed through all levels of the army cadet training syllabus and has recently achieved the status of Master Cadet, as well as achieving a BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Teamwork and Personal Development and is working on her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award after completing her Bronze last year. Charlotte has regularly taken advantage of the opportunities presented to her by the ACF, from attending STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) camps to spending a week learning to ski.
Some moments from Sgt Wallace's cadet career.
She said she applied because; ‘ I thought it sounded like a great opportunity and could be good for me to find out more about career options. I had to complete a number of application forms. My Detachment Commander had to endorse these, and complete a statement, along with Colonel Mclean, (Corps Colonel Reserves, Intelligence Corps). This then had to go through a selection process. I think I was successful based on these statements and the commitment I have shown within cadets, and my career interests, which include forensic science.’
Sgt. Wallace is currently studying Uniformed Services at Cambridge Regional College. Her new apprenticeship is a distance-based apprenticeship/mentor ship with the WCoSP, meaning she can continue with her present studies.
Sgt Wallace is enthusiastic about the new possibilities available to her. ‘I am very excited by this opportunity and gaining the chance to meet interesting people and visit places not always accessible to anyone. It is based around all aspects and opportunities with the modern security sector. Over this time, I will have to attend at least 6 events. I will get the chance to visit and speak with people working in many aspects of security, for example members of the Police Force and possibly the London mint. There will be some social events to attend. Each month I will have contact with my assigned mentor and have to chance to ask many questions and gain support and information. My first event will be in November, in London for my official enrolment.’
On 21st September, Sgt Wallace attended a short (socially distanced) ceremony at Waterbeach CTC which was attended by Colonel Mclean, formerly Corps Colonel Reserves Intelligence Corps, and now Deputy Commander Reserves Sandhurst Groups. Also present was Cadet Commandant Colonel Fraser-Hitchen, along with other senior officers and Cambridge Detachment Commander 2/Lt Houghton. The Colonels both congratulated Sgt Wallace, and Colonel Mclean presented Sgt Wallace with an Intelligence Corps commemorative medallion.
The ceremony at Waterbeach. Picture: Doug Stuart
Colonel Mclean said; ‘Our congratulations go to her, and we wish her all the best in the future, whichever path she chooses.’
Cadet Commandant Colonel Fraser-Hitchen said; ‘For me, Charlottes achievements are the epitome of all that is good about the Army Cadet Force, she is only the second apprentice to be picked up by this scheme which sees her being mentored by a number of professionals for the next four years. She has only been able to do that of course, with the significant training, experiences and activities that she’s been able to gain from her service in the ACF. She’s done really well, she’s put the effort in, she knows exactly where she is going, so very, very well done to her.’
Text by PI Stuart and 2/Lt Houghton
