Page 84 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

Maj (ACF) Capt (ACF) 2Lt (ACF)
Jeff Hyde MERCIAN – Outgoing OC Alamein Company
Craig Keyte QRH – Incoming OC Alamein Company
Rowan Preece MERCIAN – Alamein Company Training Officer
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Hereford And Worcester ACF
Alamein Company and Gheluvelt Company (MERCIAN)
This year has been an exciting and prosperous one for both Alamein Company, formerly led by Major (ACF) Jeff Hyde MERCIAN and latterly by Captain Craig Keyte QRH and Gheluvelt Company led
by Major Burrows RA. The Year started with the Shotgun Clay Target competition
in which MERCIAN cadets from both Companies were selected to represent the County in the Regional Competition.
April saw MERCIAN Cadets from Hereford and Worcester ACF attend
a County led Field Training Exercise at Sennybridge Camp. For many of the more junior cadets this was their first experience of not only sleeping out in the field but
also learning and practising their essential basic infantry skills. The highlight of this
was to participate in a blank firing exercise in which the cadets were challenged to defend their harbour area. April also saw the appointment of the new Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet (LLC) of Worcestershire, which
for the third-year running is a MERCIAN Cadet, a Cadet Corporal from Stourbridge (MERCIAN) Platoon of Alamein Company. Sadly we must say farewell and good luck to our outgoing LLC, a Cadet Sergeant from Halesowen (MERCIAN) Platoon who has left the ACF and started her journey at university.
Both Alamein and Gheluvelt Companies geared up their training for Summer and in June conducted residential training at the County’s Cadet Training Centre, Tiddesley Wood near Pershore. This saw an influx of new recruits attending their first weekend camp to complete their Basic Cadre. During July many of our MERCIAN Junior NCO’s attended the Junior Cadet Instructors Cadre (JCIC), in which their instructional ability
was rigorously assessed by delivering two skills lessons. For many of our eager Lance Corporals the completion of JCIC also led to promotion to Corporal. Now feeling the
July Camp Basic Cadre
weight of that shiny new second stripe on their Chest many of our Junior NCOs had a chance to use their newfound leadership skills during our Annual Summer Camp in August.
Hereford and Worcester ACF Annual Camp 2022 was held at Westdown Training Camp during some of the hottest days of the year. Despite this our cadets showed great resilience and enthusiasm to continue with training where feasibly possible.
Training was delivered at every level from our senior three and four star cadets,
who participated in blank firing exercises assessing their tactics and leadership in the field, to our two star cadets who managed to master the art of fire and movement. The more junior one star cadets were tasked to carry out the duties of a sentry, clearance patrols and defence of a harbour area.
All the junior cadets had a fun and action packed first week away from home.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
Cadets Firing Shotgun