Page 175 - Bugle Autumn 2014

award in March and immediately enrolled onto the gold award saying she was relishing the challenge that it entailed. Chelsey completed 4 star training in May and then travelled to Bisley in July with the Yorkshire N&W team with the intention of enjoying the experience and trying her best – as she always did! Little did she know what that weekend had in store? Chelsey came 49th in the cadet 100 (49th in the top 100 cadets out of 500 taking part) scoring 34.3 (34 points from a possible 35 with 3 ‘V’ bulls) and 14.1 with 3 tied shots at 300m. This was to lead to bigger and better things for our Cdt CSM as this lead to her being nominated for the prestigious Canada exchange at Connaught, Ottawa the following year. A 7 week coaching course and international shooting competition.
Only 14 cadets get selected nationwide to attend and represent the United Kingdom Army Cadet Force.
As we left Bisley buoyed by Chelsey’s success we went straight to Frimley to drop Chelsey off at Frimley to attend the Cadet Leadership Course (CLC), with one of her instructors commenting “Cdt (then) Sjt Gray has a steadfast determination not to accept defeat” those words describe Chelsey to a T. The CLC is one of the most demanding courses open to any cadet, both mentally and physically. What makes this feat even more remarkable is that Chelsey went to Frimley straight from her feat at Bisley, and, just to add to the mix, she came home from Bisley and went to annual camp 2 days later! Now, there’s dedication for you! This dedication and hard work was rewarded
in October 2012 with promotion to Cadet Colour Serjeant. In December Chelsey was presented with the Emily Parker trophy. This award is given to the E Company cadet that has achieved most in that year and commemorates the life of Emily Parker. Emily was an E Company cadet who was
a very popular member of the company shooting team. Sadly Emily was killed
in a canoeing accident and the trophy is presented annually by Emily’s parents.
2013 proved to be the most memorable in the ACF career of our heroine. Cadet C/Sjt Gray completed her gold Duke
of Edinburgh award in February having traversed the 3 peaks at annual camp in 2012 for her gold qualifying expedition. Soon after Chelsey was informed that she was to attend the Cadet Training Centre at Strensall for a selection weekend to decide if she was to be selected for the Canada trip. Chelsey took part in the county skill at arms meet and as well as walking away
with champion cadet, she won the Johnson Jug, donated my Major Barry Johnson
(R) and presented to the cadet achieving the highest score at the greatest distance. Chelsey was awarded a BTEC level 2 diploma in public services with a distinction grade in June that year. We waited in nervous anticipation for the call to say whether or not Chelsey had been selected for Canada. The call came sometime around March from the county shooting officer, Lt Andrea Brazil. She was almost as excited as us, as Chelsey had been selected to represent the UK Army Cadets at the upcoming Canada trip in July!
dedication. This only goes to show that you get out of cadets what you put in. To say I’m proud of Chelsey, both as a cadet and my daughter is a huge understatement. I’m overwhelmed at times as to her achievements.
Chelsey has to retire from the ACF on July 10th this year as she has reached the age that all cadets (currently) have to leave – 18 years & 9 months. Will she miss it? I’m sure she will. Will it miss her? Of that I’m positive. She has been a mentor to many junior cadets and is admired and respected by all that know her, adults and cadets
alike from her detachment commander, SI Andy Gillings right up to the commandant
Cadet C/Sjt Gray was promoted to Cadet CSM in June 2013, just
in time for Canada, and
travelled to Bisley in
July full of anticipation
for the weeks ahead.
She had yet another
eventful weekend on
the ranges narrowly
missing out on a
second successive cadet 100 by 3 points and 1 place. This did little to dampen her enthusiasm and she was all smiles until we came to leave on the Sunday, as she was staying behind in order to prepare for the trip to Canada the following day. Chelsey has said that the following 7 weeks were an amazing experience, meeting new friends and visiting wonderful places such as Niagara Falls, riding through them on the famous Maid of the Mist. Cadet CSM Gray returned from Canada in the August and was duly nominated as Lord Lieutenants Cadet for West Yorkshire in September. This was closely followed by a trip to London in October – on her birthday no less – to collect her gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award, in the presence of Prince Phillip himself as this was the 500th occasion that the award had been presented. All in all, 2013 was a very busy year for the young lady from Holmfirth.
During her time in the ACF, Cadet
CSM Chelsey Gray has represented
her Company, County and Brigade at sporting events, achieving medals every time. She has represented her Company and County at shooting, culminating in
her representing the UK Army Cadets at international level. She has achieved a gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award and a BTEC level 2 diploma in public services. She
has been made Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet
for West Yorkshire and won many trophies and awards along the way. All of this has been down to her hard work and selfless
Col. Malcolm Render MBE. From the cadets at her detachment, to those she has met at county, brigade and international level, she will be missed!
I’m sure you’ll agree that Cadet CSM Gray has embraced the ACF life and values and
is the ACF motto epitomised. Not only
has she been inspired to achieve, but she, herself has inspired many others to achieve!
E (The Rifles) Company and Yorkshire North & West ACF will lose one of its greatest role models in a just over a week, but not after she has taken part in her greatest love within the ACF as she will shoot- one last time – for Yorkshire (N&W) at Bisley. I have no doubt there’ll be a few tears, but at the same time I’m sure Chelsey will give 100% on the range (as with everything else) and go out on a high!
Good luck for the future Chelsey, from all the adults and cadets in E (The Rifles) Coy
Captain Graham Wood writes: Young adventurers will soon be following in the footsteps of Bear Grylls and Ray Mears thanks to a grant from the police. Wakefield Area Army Cadets were given £750,
which was seized from criminals under
the proceeds of Crime Act (POCA), to buy new camping equipment. Captain Graham Wood said: “We were able to buy four very good quality tents, four sleeping bags and four gas stoves”. They will be used by those cadets who are taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. “Not all of our cadets’ families can afford to buy the expensive equipment that is needed, so this means everyone can take part in the scheme.” I would like also like to thank Sgt Mark Foulds and all the staff from the Wakefield Central NPT for their help in securing the grant.
2013 proved to be the most memorable in the ACF career of our heroine
THE RIFLES
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