Page 103 - QDG 2023

Dyfed and Glamorgan ACF
1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards 101
With 2023 drawing to a close, we look back at the accomplish- ments managed by all Cadets and CFAVs (Cadet Force Adult Volunteers) within E Squadron. This year has pushed everyone to their limits, and every challenge was met with determination and smiles. Reflecting through the months, here is what we accomplished!
Kicking off the year, our cadets attended Pembrey to conduct Navigation, three-star Drill, and First Aid. This was followed by two weekends of Girls Football in Wrexham where one of our cadets went through and obtained her County Colours! We had CFAVs on both the Mountain bike leader course and First Aid at Work, Army Cadet Syllabus (ACS) training day at Haverford- west ARC (Army Reserve Centre) and Senior Cadet shooting on the GP Rifle (5.56mm) and Target Rifle (7.62mm). We also conducted our first Sqn Basic Training Cadre with a parade at the end where parents were invited which was a huge success. This was followed up with the Rugby Nationals at Altcar Camp, a Study Day to further CFAVs training and CPD (Continuous Personal Development) and further Target Rifle Training for cadets. We also conducted Fundraising in preparation for our South Africa trip for which we had a donation from the QDG Mess – many, many thanks! We had the opportunity for a visit from 160 Brigade Cadet Engagement Team,
the “Wings Over Carew” event at Cheriton Control Tower and then moved onto Annual Camp 2023, where due to Longmoor Camp being removed for Priority Operational Training, we needed to revert to CYG Camp (Cwrt Y Gollen), Castlemartin Ranges (Merrion Camp), and Templeton Training Area, where we weathered the storm during our FTX (quite literally!) and delivered the best training we possibly could for our cadets – thank you to the QDGs for supplying assistance during this event! CADSAAM (Cadet Skill At Arms Meet) was next where E Sqn supplied at short notice a Team and two of our Cadets from the Tenby Detachment Cadet L/Cpls Priestlly and Hughes
between them achieved a selection of Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals! A Commemoration Service was then held in Tenby for Belgium soldiers that were stationed there during the Second World War with the QDGs in attendance along with Ceremonial Guards, Farrier Major, L/Cpl Jones the Mascot and a Jackal Reconnaissance vehicle. We also attended both Orienteering and X-Country Competitions in Altcar Camp. As we get closer to the end of the year, our cadets attended a 160 Brigade Pan-Wales event, where Senior Cadets attended Four Star CIS (Communication Information Systems) and Four Star Fieldcraft training including TIBUA and TIWAF (Tactics In Built Up Areas and Tactics In Woods And Forests) which was a resounding success! At the same time we had cadets attend The RCN (Royal College of Nursing) Prince of Wales Nursing Cadet Scheme. E Sqn then began several weeks of Poppy selling for the Royal British Legion raising £1,000s for the great charity that it is and attended no less
than 11 Remembrance Parades across Pembrokeshire. We have also just completed a Cadet JCIC (Junior Cadet Instructional Cardre) at Bridgend HQ, Healthy Minds Awareness Course, ACS Training, 5.56mm Shooting at Cawdor Barracks during a Training Weekend. E Sqn HQ also held their first Sergeants Board (Congratulations to Cadet Sergeants Lemon and Measey) in many years and numerous local Council Christmas Events were supported by the Cadets and CFAVs across Pembrokeshire. After all of our hard work, we held our first E Squadron Cadet Mess Dinner at Milford Royal British Legion to celebrate the years successes including Trophies and Shields for Detachment of The Year (Narberth Detachment), Cadet of the Year (Cadet Sergeant Measey) and Best Drill Detachment (Neyland) as well as the Shooting Trophies and Medals which were awarded to Cadet Wilton (3rd place - Pembroke Dock), Cadet Mattson (2nd Place - Haverfordwest) and Cadet L/Cpl McLaren (1st Place - Pembroke Dock). Well done to all of you ! Phew! What a year!
All of us would like to thank the Cadets, Parents and Guardians as well as the 1st Queens Dragoon Guards for your assistance with our events throughout the year. Without the commitment from all involved, we would not be able to accomplish all that we have. We would also like to acknowledge all the E Sqn CFAVs time they give to make all these events happen – there are too many of you to list you here – “thank you” to each and every one of you!
Summer Sports at Crickhowell Camp and several
Senior Cadet Navigation and Expedition Exercises
in the Brecon Beacons. This was then followed
by several E Sqn CFAVs (SSI Bowler, SI Rhys
Howells and SMI Thomas Thomas) celebrating
their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award with a visit
to Buckingham Palace – well done! Cadets also
had the chance for a Military Studies event along
with contect for BTEC qualifications and attend a
Battlefield Study at Ypres, Belgium and conducted
a memorial Service at the Menin Gate, had further
National Athletics, conducted Duke of Edinburgh
Bronze and Silver expedition training and assess-
ments and entered the Bisley shoot. 1ST Queens
Dragoon Guards treated us with visits to various Detachments, we had a FTX Weekend (Field-
craft Training Exercise), the Milford Haven Civic
Service and then In preparation for our Annual
Camp 2023, we conducted all pre-requisites
including SAA (Skill At Arms), swim tests etc and then several lucky E Sqn Cadets embarked on their journey to South Africa where they had the opportunity to attend Exercise KwaZulu Natal Ddraig - 72 Cadets and 15 CFAVs from Wales attended the overseas expedition - this involved Adventurous Training, Battlefield Tours (including Rorkes Drift and Isandlwana) and Safari activities over the period 23 Jul – 11 Aug 2023. The cadets were split between three groups of Giraffe Field Study, Zulu Trail expedition and Tugela River Decent. This once in a lifetime opportunity allowed the cadets to challenge themselves by learning about South African culture and wildlife. We supported
This year
has pushed everyone to their limits, and every challenge was met with determination and smiles
JB