Page 113 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

CADET ACF
For action and adventure, fun and friendship, the Army Cadet Force (ACF) is hard to beat. With 41,000 cadets (aged 12-18) and 9,500 adults in over 1,600 locations in every corner of the United Kingdom, the ACF is one of the country’s largest voluntary youth organisations.
STAFFORDSHIRE & WEST MIDLANDS (NORTH SECTOR) ARMY CADET FORCE
Staffordshire and West Midlands (North Sector) ACF continues to be successful in attracting young people who have an interest in the military way of life and the skills practiced within the framework of the Army Cadet Force conventions. County numbers are presently running at 1,127 Cadets (of which 372 are female), along with 213 Adult Instructors. The County is comprised of four Company’s, each averaging ten detachments located throughout the area, with a Company Headquarters in Walsall, Wolverhampton, Stafford and Stoke.
are taught basic military skills broken down into
five levels; each level being tested and an Army Proficiency Star Badge awarded for passing (Basic, 1 Star, 2 Star, 3 Star and 4 Star). In addition to the above training, cadets are involved in community activities, taught first aid and target rifle shooting. All cadets are given the opportunity to take part in adventurous training, which could involve caving, climbing, expeditions or canoeing. Each year there is an opportunity for a number of cadets to take part in overseas expeditions to Canada, Germany,
This year, for the first
time, the Army Cadet Force
organised open day events
around the West Midlands –
giving people the chance to
come and find out what the
ACF are all about. The grand
opening event, held in Victoria
Square, Birmingham on 5
September 2015 aimed to raise
awareness of the Army Cadets
and encourage more people
to get involved. A variety of
activities were on offer to give the public a taste of life in the cadets.
As part of a very busy training programme during the past twelve months, many of the county’s cadets have been involved in both military and civil activities, and have given a good representation of themselves wherever they have appeared.
All individuals are expected to attend their detachment twice a week and a weekend camp possibly each month. There is also an Annual Camp attendance for one week, but these camps are not mandatory, although they are greatly encouraged. During all of these training sessions, the cadets
Italy or Spain.
This year’s expedition
“Exercise Corsican Dragon Venturer,” was held from the 16th to the 30th August,
in Corsica. The expedition conducted pre-expedition administration at Stafford, before travelling by coach to Birmingham airport and flying directly to Bastia, Corsica.
On arrival they travelled by local train and established a tented base camp at “Camping
Paduella,” situated on the outskirts of the small medieval town of Calvi on the northern tip of the Island. From here they conducted acclimatisation walks, purchased supplies and carried out final preparations before starting a 10-day mountain expedition to the GR20 north. To take part, the GR20 required experience of mountain walking and confidence in physical condition as a necessity.
It was not a technically challenging hike, but
did require some scrambling, use of chains and
a ladder (on the Northern section) and a sure footedness for the rocky landscape and mountain ridges. The average daily walking time for proficient
Cadets with Chelsea Pensioners, including our very own, Sergeant Jim Fellows
All cadets are given the opportunity to take part in adventurous training, which could involve caving, climbing, expeditions or canoeing
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
CADETS
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