Essex ACF Cadets Secure 3rd Place in Challenging Fieldcraft Competition
At the beginning of April, nine cadets from Essex Army Cadet Force (ACF)—representing A Company (three cadets), B Company (four cadets), and D Company (two cadets)—took on an intense two-day Fieldcraft competition Combat Cadet against 16 other teams. Battling through a range of military-style scenarios, Essex ACF demonstrated remarkable skill, adaptability, and teamwork to secure an impressive third-place finish overall.
The competition tested cadets in a variety of real-world-inspired challenges similar to those faced by the British Armed Forces. These included house clearance operations, deliberate attacks, close target reconnaissance, search and rescue missions for a downed pilot, battlefield first aid and casualty evacuation, compound defence, and section attacks. Adding to the challenge, cadets navigated both day and night conditions—experiencing warm, clear skies during the day before braving near-freezing temperatures of 4°C in Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) at night.
One of the standout moments occurred during the patrol lane, where Essex ACF stunned assessors by successfully navigating a previously thought-to-be-impossible route. Expecting the team to return the conventional way, the assessors were caught off guard when they found the cadets already positioned in herringbone formation, ready to advance.
In another light-hearted highlight, the cadets enjoyed hotdogs on Saturday evening—cheekily telling other teams that they had come straight from their ration packs!
Looking ahead, Combat Cadet 26 looms on the horizon, bringing further opportunities for training and competition. With several weekends of preparation in store, Essex ACF cadets will undoubtedly sharpen their skills and aim for even greater success.
Their recent achievement is a testament to their dedication, resilience, and teamwork—qualities that will continue to serve them well in future challenges. Congratulations to the cadets for their fantastic performance!