Page 52 - Cadet review Summer 2022

HSY ACF
EX CADET’S COMMUNITY WO
By Captain Vicki Brooks
Corporal Gemma Thomas, an ex Cadet Staff Sergeant from E Company, is currently serving with the Royal Military Police in Kenya, and has been working closely with a charity providing a safe house for women and children who have suffered from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Humberside and South Yorkshire Army Cadet Force assisted her collection and provided support and donations..
Here Cpl Thomas relives her time as a cadet:
“I joined cadets in 2012 when I was 14 years old, after my mum suggested I give it a go. It took me a few months to pluck up the courage to visit the detachment as back then I was extremely shy, and really nervous about going.
Then, I stepped out my comfort zone, and went to see what it was about. And I can honestly say,
it was one of the best decisions I made. I am truly grateful for my mum suggesting it. That first night; I remember it like it was only yesterday... the detachment was so welcoming, I didn’t know then, I’d make friends with so many people, and some of those friendships would last me a lifetime.”
I was soon excited about parade nights, and loved it when Monday and Wednesday came around, especially when I passed basic training and received
I was so proud every evening ironing my kit, polishing my boots and then standing on parade getting inspected
my cap badge. I was so proud every evening ironing my kit, polishing my boots and then standing on parade getting inspected.
I enjoyed all aspects of cadets and all subjects, my Detachment Commander said I was an all rounder as I liked it all and got pretty good at most subjects.
But at Scunthorpe Detachment, it was different. We as a collective worked not only to improve
and develop ourselves but also to give back to the community. Not just by taking part in the usual community events like Remembrance Parade, which was the yearly highlight, but by taking part in so many different things like litter picks, bag packs, charity runs for example.
We wanted to show that young people are not always trouble, and that we had pride in ourselves and our community. It was important to our Detachment Commander, the detachment and
in turn ourselves. We come from Scunthorpe and surrounding villages but we had the best reputation in E Company and within HSY ACF.
My time in the ACF came after three years, my last night was shared with my friend CSM Simpson, and it was emotional. I’d enjoyed every minute of being a cadet, I’d done some fantastic things including going
52 CADET REVIEW SPRING 2022
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