Welcome
Colonel Leona Barr-Jones
Colonel Cadets (East Midlands)
Our young people are the future and all our Cadet organisations around East Midlands play a huge part in setting Cadets up for lifelongsuccess.ThehardworkofourCadet Force Adult Volunteers is rewarded with developing young people to become the bestthattheycanbe
OuramazingCadetslearnvaluesandstandards,theylearn lifeskillsandbuildconfidence
They achieve this with fun, friendship, adventure and belonging.
OurCadetsareinspiredtoachieve,challenged,andofferedamazing opportunities.Youcanseeinourlatestmagazinesomegreat examplesoftherecentCadetactivitythatreally highlightsthebrilliantfun,achievements,andexperiencesour Cadetshavehad.Enjoy!
Cadets from around the East Midlands have had an exciting start to the year filled with activities, achievements, and adventures. In this newsletter, we feature a wide selection of what they have been getting up to over the past six months
NEWS CADET
Planets, rockets and Tim Peake selfies
Cadets embarked on a journey through time and space as they took over the National Space Centre, in Leicester. The space explorers travelled to the edge of the universe thanks to the centre’s cinema-like planetarium dome, came face-to-face with astronauts, and explored the inside of a 42m-high rocket. Organised and sponsored by East Midlands RFCA with the help of dozens of volunteers, the trip aimed to inspire Cadets and develop their awareness and understanding of careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
ARMY CADET FORCE ARMY CADET FORCE
Derbyshire ACF go to camp
Derbyshire ACF go to camp
April2023sawDerbyshireArmyCadetForceCCompany visittheCadetTrainingCentreatSwineyWayfortheir Companyweekendcamp
WithAnnualCampfastapproachinginAugust,the companyweekendsawtheCadetslearningandtesting inordertopassofftheirsubjectsintheACFsyllabus,such asFirstAid,MilitaryKnowledge,Navigation,SkillatArms andshooting.
Mixingthecompanydetachmentsintotheircadresmade fortheopportunitytomakenewfriendswhousuallyend upbeingbestfriendsforlife!
Top county in the UK Top county in the UK
LincolnshireACFhasbeenawardedaspecial‘quaich’ trophyforbeingnamedthetopperformingcountyinthe countryforDukeofEdinburghawards.Acrossthelastyear, thecounty’sCadetshaveachieved97awards–66bronze and31silver.Afterfinishingrunners-upoverthelasttwo yearsin,LincolnshireACFwillbeaimingtocementtheir placeatthetopagainin2024–andtheyhaveevery chanceas202CadetshavesignedupfortheDofEAward.
Life-saving skills put into action
ACadetfromtheBourneDetachmentof LincolnshireACFwaspraisedfortheircourageafter applyingfirstaidskillslearneddaysbeforetosave alife.
InFebruary2022,CadetStaffSergeantWilliam
Amotorcyclisthadbeenthrownfromhisbike, whichthencaughtfire,andwasleftunconscious andnotbreathing Withouthesitation,William administeredfirstaidtothemotorcyclist,having completedhistrainingwiththeCadetsthe weekendbefore Williamrestoredthecasualty’s breathingandconductedsurveyswhilstwaitingfor theemergencyservicestoarrive.Thecasualtywas takentohospitalandhassincemadeafull recovery
TheArmyCadetCharitableTrustawardedWilliam witha‘PraiseworthyActionCommendation’in recognitionofhisoutstandingefforts.
staff Cadet Dyer heads to India
StaffCadetRSMDyerfrom Leicestershire, Northamptonshireand RutlandACFwasselectedfor the2023Indianexchange programme Afteralong95 hourflight,theCadetssettled intotheirhotelinNewDelhi.
Thefirstfivedayswerefilled withsightseeingstartingat IndiaGate.Havingaglimpse ofwhatatraditional Rajasthanivillageislikethe Cadetsgottowitness traditionaldancesandmusic, seesomeelephants,camels andhorses,andhaveawalk aroundthedifferentbuildings andstalls,andgettingataste oftraditionalRajasthani cuisineinthetemple
Coffee and cake for all
RothwellDetatchmentACFof Northamptonshire,were recentlyinvitedtothe DesboroughRoyalBritish Legioncoffeemorninghosted intheHeritageCentre
Fromtakingordersfortea, coffeeandhotcrossbuns,to sharingstoriesandwashing up,Cadetshelpedtoensure asuccessfulmorning One Cadetsaid:"Ireallyenjoyed theevent.Itwasnicetomeet thelocalcommunityof Desborough."
CadetsandCFAVsfromB(Tiger) Squadronassistedwiththe Leicester10kcharityrunandwon plauditsfromorganisersfortheir enthusiasm
CadetWhitehousehasbeen
NottinghamshireFireandRescueService offeredCadetsfromDSqn(SRY)the chancetovisittheirstationatDaybrook.
srecognisedforapplyingfirstaid killsonamanwhowaschoking.
RAF AIR CADETS
WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN UP TO?
Seeabove:
2160(Sleaford)Squadroncelebrate HRHKingCharlesIII'sCoronation
Seebelow(Toptobottom):
CWOThomasandFltSgtMcCaffreyattendHRH KingCharlesIII'sCoronationinLondon. TrentWingundertooklivemarksmanshiptraining atBeckinghamranges.
CplWrightatWindermereforadventuretraining
RED 5 inspires next generation
CadetsfromacrossNorthamptonshireand Leicestershirehadanunmatchedopportunityto enjoyameetandgreetwithRedArrowspilotFlight LieutenantPatrickKershawat422(Corby)
Squadron Morethan100cadetsfromneighbouring unitscametohearRed5speakabouthisjourney intotheRAFandpathwaytobecomingaRed Arrow.Afterwards,hespenthalfanhouranswering questionsfromtheCadetsandthoseaspiringto jointheRAFandotherArmedForces
CIMichaelDeTorre,90,was presentedaDefenceLetterof Appreciationfor58yearsservice totheRAFAC
a First for 1947 (Birstall) Squadron
AirCadetFlightSergeantMorganMcCaffrey attendedaninterviewon18thApriltocompete foraplacetobecomethenominationto representtheCentralandEastRegionforthe mostprestigiousawardintheRAFAirCadets, TheDacreSword.
TheDacreSwordisanannualcompetitionto identifythebestcadetintheCorps,thefinal roundofinterviewswillbeina“Dragon’sDen” stylescenarioheldatRAFCollegeCranwell.
Morgan,whoiscurrentlysittingA-levelsin maths,furthermaths,physicsandcomputer scienceatBeauchampCollege,Oadby, Leicester,saidhewasdelightedtohavebeen selected
TrentWinghavebeenbackouttaking partinDukeofEdinburghBronze QualifierExpeditionsandGoldPractice Expeditions
Hesaid:“It’sarealhonourtohavebeenselected fromalloftheCadetswhohaveapplied.Iknow thatthecompetitionwasfierceandI’m immenselyproudtobethefirstCadetfrom Birstalltobenominated.”
A weekend of competition for the East Midlands RAFAC Squadrons
SquadronsfromTrentWingandSouthandEastMidlandsWingcompetedintheirrespectiveAthleticsChampionships Withadayfilledwithfieldeventsand races,CadetsdidalltheycouldtoscorepointsfortheirSquadrons.Cominginat numberonewere:126(CityofDerby)SquadronforSouthandEastMidlandsand204(CityofLincoln)SquadronforTrent
SEA CADET CORPS
A farewell and a warm welcome as changes occur in Leicestershire District
Lt(SCC)ShaneDalyRNRhassteppeddownafter morethan10yearsincommandatMarket Harborough,beingreplacedbyPO(SCC)Anna Harbidge Thearea'snewestunitatBroughtonAstley alsosawPO(SCC)ColinHurleystepdownandPO (SCC)JinnyDoggetttakethehelm Welldoneto bothandcongratulationstothenewestOfficersin Charge.
NorthamptonSeaCadets takePartinHMSLaforey MemorialParade2023
uSeaCadetsfromLeicestershire ndertakeBronze,SilverandGold practiceandqualifyingexpeditions
Areturntoboatingat WelbeckSailingClub forWorksopSea Cadets.
Northampton Sea Cadets learn fire safety
SeaCadetsacrossNorthamptonshirespentaweekatHMSRaleigh, Torpoint,Cornwall.TheCadettookpartinvariousactivities,including visitingthedisasterrecoverycentrewheretheyworkedtogetherina simulationtofixandstopawarshipfromsinking.Theyalsolearned aboutfiresafetyandthedosanddontswhentacklingafireona warshipatthefirstfightingtrainingcentre.Duringtheweek,Cadets spenttimeatthesubmarineschoolwheretheymetsomeserving submarinerswhotoldthemabouttheirjourneythroughtraining They alsospentadayinDevonportonboardtheNewhavenbeforetraining tosurviveatsea
SeaCadetstravelledtoBeckinghamfor thefirstareashootingweekendofthe yearinMay
CongratulationstotheColourPartyteamfortheir performanceattheDistrictDrill&PipingCompetition. Theyfinishedasrunners-up.
Thisisagreatachievementandatestamenttotheir hardworkanddedication.TheCadetsshouldbeproudof theirperformance.Welookforwardtoseeingwhatthey willaccomplishinthefuture.
Lincolnshire celebrate The coronation
SeaCadetsacross Lincolnshirecelebrated KingsCharlesIII's Coronationweekendon thewaterbygiving Cadetsacrossthe Districtthechancetotry newboatingactivityat BrayfordWharf.
a weekend on the water
SeaCadetsfrom Nottinghamshire&Derbyshire havetakentothewaterata Districtboatingweekend hostedbyBurtonOnTrent CadetsandInstructorswithin theDistrictcametogetherand gainedaraftofqualifications, fromrowing,powerboating, kayakingandpaddleboarding Sixstaffmembersalsogained qualifications.
Northamptonshire learn to survive at sea
Northamptonshire
DistrictSeaCadetshave undertakentrainingon howtosurviveshould theyfindthemselvesin thewateroutatsea.
All Aboard T.S John Jerwood
SeaCadetsfromLong Eatonhaverecently returnedfromaweek aboardT.S.JohnJerwood offthesouthcoast. TheCadetsspenttheweek learningtheartof seamanship,navigation andwhatittakestokeepa shipatseaasafunctioning memberofthecrew.
COMBINED CADET FORCE
Kettering Buccleuch Academy complete their first static line jump
KetteringBuccleuchAcademyCCFtravelledtoNetheravonAirfield,Wiltshire,fortheirfirststaticlineparachutejump. Theinitialbadweatherdidn'tdampentheCadets'spirits,withtheprospectofbrighterweatherleavingthemoptimistic thejumpwouldbepossibleThefirstdaywasthereforespentsolelyintraining,withanintroductiontothekitandsome 12hoursofintenselearning.Attheendoftheday,thelearnersweretestedoneverythingtheyhadbeentaughtand everysingleonepassedwithflyingcolours
Daytwobeganwithsomeearlyrevision.Thecloudswerelowandafteranervouswait,thegroupwasgiventhegreen lighttoproceedwiththejump.Supportedbyfamilyandfriends,allsevenCadetsandoneCadetForceAdultVolunteer completedthejump,displayinggreatlandingskillsintheprocess Everyonewaslefteagertoorganisethenextone!
Fundraising for Charity
InJanuary,TheKingsSchool GranthamCCFpresentedacheque for£200toAirAmbulanceHQ.12 Cadetshadtheopportunitytogo andmeettwopilots,twodoctors andaparamedic.Ahighlightofthe daywasviewingthehelicopterand variouskitstheteamuses. Emergencyvehicleswerealso displayedfortheCadetstoview.
A Visit to remember for Oundle School CCF
ThosewerethewordsofCadet HarryRumfittonavisittoHMS
QueenElizabethwith12other CadetsfromOundleSchoolCCF.On atouroftheship,theCadetswere showntheengineroom,bridge, flightdeck,operationsroomand thethehanger.
“Seeingtheaircraftcarrierwas incredible!Iwasoverwhelmedby thesheersizeoftheship.”
Hitting the right notes
TwotalentedmusiciansfromKing’sSchoolGranthamCCFtook advantageofopportunitiestotaketheirpractisetothenextlevel earlierthisyear
CadetJamesDiamondattendedtheRAFACNationalConcertBand campatRAFCranwellovertheEasterholidays Theweekwasspent practicingandrehearsingasafullbandandassmallerinstrument sections.Attheendoftheweek,afinalconcertwasheldina concerthallinRAFCollegeCranwell,whichwasagreatsuccess andattendedbyAirCadetsCommandantTonyKeeling
Elsewhere,CadetEddieLerescheHandsjoinedaspecialtripto WellingtonBarrackstowatchtheBandoftheGrenadiersGuards play Theywerealsoabletoplaywiththemandbeconductedby theband'sDirectorofMusic.
Thetriptookplaceoverseveraldays,withotheractivitiesontheprogramme,and culminatedinaconcertatRAFHolton’schurch.
TRIP TO WELLINGTON BARRACKS
CadetsfromKingsSchoolGranthamweregivenaninsight intotheHouseholdDivisiononaspringtriptoWellington Barracks,Westminster
ThedayincludedavisittotheGuardsChapel,avisittothe RegimentalMuseum,andthechancetonotonlyseethe ChangingoftheGuard,buttomeetthemafterwards
ItwasanenjoyableandinformativetripfortheCadets.Cdt SgtStevenssaidthemostinterestingfacthediscoveredis thatthebearskinwornbyguardsmencomesfrom1656 whenCharlesIIsaidtheycouldweartheheaddressofthe enemyafterthe1stDivisionFootGuardsdefeatedthe FrenchFirstImperialFootGuards
TofeatureinthenexteditionofourCadetNewsletter, makesureyoutagusinyoursocialmediaposts orgetintouchwithLaura,CommunicationsSupportOfficer, givingussomedetailsabouttheeventandsomephotos togowithit.
Get in touch with Laura:
M: 07809 338456
E: em-commsso@rfca.mod.uk
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