RSMI Mac Leod left and Major Cassidy right with Certificates of Meritorious Service alongside Lord Lieutenant of Inverness shire Mr James Wotherspoon

Volunteers recognised by Lieutenancy

Two Adult Instructors have had their service within the Battalion recognised. Major Iain Cassidy (67) and Regimental Sergeant Major Instructor Gordon MacLeod (42) were both recently awarded with Lord Lieutenant's Certificates of Meritorious Service.

Volunteers recognised by Lieutenancy

25 May 2022

  • 1st Battalion The Highlanders ACF

Both adults received their certificates last night in a presentation, held at Culloden Detachment, by the Lord Lieutenant of Inverness-shire Mr James Wotherspoon.

Major Cassidy who is currently the Detachment Commander of Aviemore Detachment, as well as the Company Commander of Inverness Company, has held several key appointments within the Battalion. Iain has been the Battalion’s Adventure Training Officer, where he was responsible for planning Adventure Training activities for the cadets, to being appointed the Battalion’s Training Major, where he was responsible for planning the Battalion’s Training Programme for the year as well as the Battalion’s two week Summer Camp. Between 2014-2020, Major Cassidy was appointed as the Battalion's Commandant, where he was responsible for all Officers, Adult Instructors and Cadets within Battalion and is responsible for training and administrating the Battalion effectively.

RSMI MacLeod has been with the Army Cadets since May 2005, where he started as an instructor with Forres Detachment and was later appointed the Detachment’s Commander in 2007. In 2013 he transferred to Culloden Detachment to take over the role as Detachment Commander, where he later dual rolled as the Company Sergeant Major for Moray Company. As the CSM he was responsible for standards and discipline of the cadets as well as representing the views of the younger adult instructors of the company and highlighting any matters up through the Chain of Command. In 2019 he was appointed as the Battalion’s Regimental Sergeant Major, where he is now responsible for the discipline of all Adult Instructors within the Battalion and representing the views of all those adults to the Battalion’s Commandant.

The presentation saw the Lord Lieutenant present Major Cassidy and RSMI MacLeod with their Certificates of Meritorious Service alongside Sgt Elisabeth Davies, of 161 (1st Highland) Squadron Royal Air Force Air Cadets, and Leading Cadet Rebecca King, of Inverness Sea Cadets, who were presented with their Certificates of appointment as the new Lord Lieutenant's Cadets of Inverness-shire.

RSMI Mac Leod left and Major Cassidy right with Certificates of Meritorious Service alongside Lord Lieutenant of Inverness shire Mr James Wotherspoon

RSMI MacLeod (left) & Major Cassidy (right)