Page 40 - Cadet review Summer 2022

HSY ACF
ARMY CADET
FORCES
HSY ACF
EXERCISE ARES
CHALLENGE CYPRUS
FIRST BIG OVERSEAS ADVENTURE POST-LOCKDOWN
By 2Lt Mary Hood
Foreword by
Colonel Steve Emerson
Exercise Ares Challenge, named after a Greek god of war and the obvious association to Cyprus, has been taking place since 2013 and is fast approaching its 10th anniversary. The exercise first started as a Scarborough College CCF trip and has since become a combined ACF and CCF event with Humberside and South Yorkshire (HSY) ACF taking the lead for this year’s exercise. In its time, the exercise has seen cadets from Scarborough College, Read School, Yorkshire North and West (YN&W) ACF and HSY ACF. Our future aspiration is to continue to run Ex Ares Challenge on an annual basis with the lead role swapping between HSY and YN&W.
The main focus of the exercise was to deliver
the “Cadet Experience” on a broader front whilst operating in a different climate rather than purely the delivery of the Army Cadet Common Syllabus; although this occurred naturally during the 2 day field training package and the range day, albeit the latter was confined to the Dismounted Close Combat Trainer due to the range being out of action.
The exercise could not run without the fantastic support offered by Headquarters British Forces Cyprus and, in particular, our sponsors, the 2nd Battalion of The Yorkshire Regiment. There were many other units who supported us whilst on-island and many of these will be mentioned in the following article together with the detail of a very packed itinerary. It would be remiss of me not to mention the brilliant support that we have had from the Yorkshire and the Humber Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (YH RFCA), our own Permanent Staff and 4X Cadet Training Team in the guise of our Training Safety Advisor. Finally, the generous financial assistance provided by the Army Cadet Charity Trust and the Yorkshire Cadet Trust which is sponsored by YH RFCA.
On behalf of all of the Adult Volunteers and Cadets, I would like to say a sincere and enormous thank you.
Our future aspiration is to continue to run Ex Ares Challenge
on an annual basis with the lead role swapping between HSY and YN&W
Exercise Ares Challenge had been two years in the making so when Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force (HSY ACF) with a small party from Yorkshire North and West ACF headed off to Cyprus over the Easter holidays it was with an air of pure excitement and adventure. The Exercise saw 36 cadets and 14 Adult Volunteers having an amazing time whilst gaining experiences that they would not normally have access to.
Once settled into their accommodation in Episkopi, cadets contemplated an exciting and action packed week ahead and to help everyone get to know
each other the cadets were split into two platoons allowing skills and experience to be shared and new friendships forged. Here are some highlights from the Exercise and personal experiences of the week from Emily Bone, Lily Roper, Megan Livingstone, Evie Nock, Sgt Mackay, and Cpl Robinson.
Visiting the Military Working Dog Troop, (1st Military Working Dog Regiment) gave cadets the opportunity to witness military working dogs
in action; in patrol, arms explosive search and
40 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2022