Cambridgeshire ACF Annual Camp 2025
Cambridgeshire ACF has held another exciting Annual Camp, this time at Otterburn, Northumberland. This is the second largest training area in the Country, the landscape is spectacular, and Cambs ACF were able to make the most of it through their fieldcraft activities.
Arriving and settling is always an intense experience for new cadets – adjusting to being away from home and the strange places and people! However, the senior cadets and adults were there to help, and the Padres offered invaluable support also. Once settled, there was a parade and then the range of activities began the next day. The camp had its own shooting range, so the cadets got to do a lot of shooting, both with the L98A2 and the Skorpian air rifle. There was also the chance to do some laser clay shooting, and the opportunity to explore some local history, visiting Vindolanda Roman Fort (below) and The Roman Army Museum.
This camp however, revolved around fieldcraft, with all cadets spending time in, and camping out on, the training area. As well as having to put up their tents, cook their food and generally look after themselves, this involved plenty of team work and looking after each other. The exercises finished with a realistic attack with blank firing.
The camp was visited by several VIP guests from the Army, Colonel Lorna Ward, Assistant Commander of Joint Military Command Centre, and Brigadier Tim Seal, Cambs ACF’s Honorary Colonel. Both were full of praise for the cadets and adults alike.
The camp was especially memorable for the new adult Probationary Instructors, who were starting their basic training. For many, this was a completely new experience. They got stuck into fieldcraft training and had a great time, especially taking part in a paintball excercise (above).
Cadets and adults alike had a great camp, and all came back with new experiences and great memories. For many of the cadets, it was also a great learning experience. Cadet Sgt Major Owusu said: “The cadets have learnt self discipline and self care. They have to look after themselves a lot more, rather than having adults spoon feed them. Ive seen a lot of really good drills from cadets, good morale, uplifting, which is what we like to see.”
The camp finished with a full parade, and a chance to give promotions and awards to some of the many who deserved them. As usual, everyone packed and headed for home, sad to be leaving, but a little wiser, and with loads of wonderful new memories, experiences and friendships.
Text and photos by 2Lt Doug Stuart