Page 94 - RSDG Year of 2022 CREST

102 EAGLE AND CARBINE
West Lowland Battalion Army Cadet Force
The West Lowland Battalion Army Cadet Force has 2 detachments who are proud to wear the grey beret and cap badge of the SCOTS DG – Garnock Valley and Saltcoats Detachments, who together make up a quarter of Balaklava Coy. The Battalion also has detachments in Girvan and Chalmers Rd in Ayr wearing the SNIY cap badge.
The year 2021/22 was certainly one of re-launch after COVID. Cadet numbers at both SCOTS DG-affiliated detachments were hugely impacted due to the natural “ageing-out” process combined with not being able to recruit for such a long period of time. Saltcoats Detachment numbers pre-COVID were 24 Cadets, this fell to 2, but at the time of writing, numbers were back up to 22 Cadets parading.
In Sports, Saltcoats Cadet Airran Taylor achieved success at National Level in Cross Country and 1500m.
Annual Camp is always the highlight of the year, and 2022’s Camp was even more eagerly anticipated, being the first full one in 3 years. In July, around 300 Cadets and Adult Instructors headed North to Barry Buddon for 2 weeks of fieldcraft, first aid, navigation, paddle boarding and motorbiking.
West Lowland Battalion at Thiepval Memorial
In October, Cadets were privileged to travel to the Normandy Beaches and visited the Thiepval Memorial, Pegasus Bridge, Saint Mer Eglise and Vimy Ridge amongst others.
Angus and Dundee Battalion Army Cadet Force
The two week Annual Camp in 2022 for Angus and Dundee Battalion was held within the Cadet Training Centre at Barry Buddon Training Area as many other Army camps were busy due to operational commitments. Although this is our Headquarters, and the Cadets visit the Training Centre on a regular basis, they had what can only be described as an amazing time.
Annual Camp began with the cadets working through the Army Cadet Syllabus within their training starboards. This is a major component of the cadet experience, training on fundamental disciplines such as, drill and turnout, navigation, fieldcraft, first aid and skill at arms. Range packages were delivered at Royal Marine Condor, Arbroath in their Dismounted Close Combat Training facility with an additional short-range package at Leuchars with the Regiment and a long range packages at the Barry Buddon range complex.
Military training was broken up by an adventure training package delivered over 3 days by local companies. Wilowgate at Perth provided water- manship including kayaking and paddleboarding, there was climbing at Vertical World in Dundee using their indoor climbing wall and Go Ape allowed the cadets to experience aerial slides in the treetops of Dunkeld.
Weapon Handling at camp