Page 176 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

Seven Durham ACF Cadets jet off on a Lithuanian Exercise with the Baltic Guard Army Cadets
THE ARMY CADET FORCE GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE - FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE - ACCESS TO FUN, FRIENDSHIP, ACTION AND ADVENTURE
Seven Durham Army Cadets jet off for Lithu- anian exercise
On Sunday 21 July, 7 young army cadets from County Durham and South Tyneside jetted off to Lithuania for a 9 day exercise with the Baltic Guard Army Cadets. The exciting exchange, in its second year, 2018 saw 4 cadets jet off to Latvia. The United Kingdom’s Cadet Forces recognise the hard work and dedication of these youngsters to the Army Cadet Force (ACF) and their communities. These cadets are representing the North East of England on this exchange and Durham ACF is the most represented ACF County.
Durham Army Cadet’s Regimental Sergeant, RSM Callum Anderson, 17 from Chester le Street, Company Sergeant Major Joshua Gowland, 17 from Sunderland, Colour Sergeant Nicholas Robinson, 16 from Consett, Staff Sergeant Ben Harbottle, 17 from Birtley, Colour Serjeant Harvey Sidebottom, 17 from Bishop Auckland, Staff Sergeant Ethan Irwin, 16 from Blaydon and Staff Sergeant Dean Coleman 16 from Sunderland have jetted off for a nine day training and cultural exercise alongside the Baltic Guard Cadet Forces in Lithuania. Other youngsters will join them from Latvia, Estonia and Poland for Exercise Baltic Guard 2019. They were selected to take part in the first ever UK Army Cadet exchange visit to Lithuania. The chosen Durham seven will join other 33 Army Cadets from around the United Kingdom and have flown to the Baltic’s on this once in a lifetime military and cultural experience.
The lucky cadets were chosen from well over 100 army cadets in April at a national selection in Liverpool and have been preparing for the exchange locally with support from dedicated volunteers. They will learn about Lithuanian culture, partic-
ipate in military themed activities and mid-week a competition integrated with cadets from all the Baltic states, working together as teams alongside their international peers. As well as some sightseeing and shopping, obviously!
Cadet RSM Callum Anderson was selected as a Staff Cadet for his esteem efforts on the 2018 exchange to Latvia and said “to have the oppor- tunity to attend one of these exchanges is fantastic, but to take part for a second year in a new Country as a Staff Cadet is outstanding. I am looking forward to the 9 day experience in Lithuania adding another country to my places to visit worldwide courtesy of the Army Cadet Force”.
Colonel Brian Kitching, Commandant Durham ACF said “we all wish the youngsters well on their visit to Lithuania, they have all worked hard to gain their places on the exchange and will be excellent ambassadors for the Army Cadet Force. This is another wonderful example of the opportunities on offer to hard working army cadets in Durham ACF – good luck”.
To mark the Baltic Guard exchange, each cadet was presented with a medallion from Headquarters Regional Command before they departed from London.
The Army Cadet Force gives young people - from all walks of life - access to fun, friendship, action and adventure. We challenge young people to learn more, do more and try more. We inspire them to aim high and go further in life, no matter what they aim to do. With 41,000 cadets and 9,500 adults in more than 1,600 locations around the UK, the Army Cadets makes a big impact on young people, parents and communities.
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