Kohima News - Issue 4

KOHIMA NEWS Kohima Company Newsletter, West Lowland Battalion

In This Issue 

Promotions



Achievements



Annual Camp in Pictures



Diary Dates

Issue 4, September 2015

Kohima News Thanks for taking the time to read our newsletter. This issue will let you see what we got up to at annual camp as well as highlighting some of the achievements.

Please feel free to forward this to any of your contacts and if you have any suggestions or comments to make please contact us at KohimaPR@gmail.com

Going for Gold Cpl Ross Dow from Irvine detachment was presented with the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in presence of HRH The Earl of Wessex at an awards ceremony held at the prestigious Holyrood Palace.

He worked through the five different sections to gain this award doing a diverse set of activities including volunteering with the ACF, learning new skills by taking up the bagpipes, improving fitness by weightlifting, assisting with an outreach programme to help disillusioned youngsters for his residential and completing expeditions in the Galloway Hills and Yorkshire Dales.

Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Ayrshire & Arran, Evelyn McCann also recognised this achievement by coming to make a presentation at the Detachment.

The DofE award offers many transferable skills and is an award which is recognised throughout the world, you can shape the award yourself but the great advantage for Army Cadets is that most of these requirements are cross-related with activities covered in the Cadet syllabus. It’s only £16 pounds to enrol and open to all cadets aged 14+

4 Star Connor Gemmel and Rose Connolly were presented with their four star certificates and badges from Lt Col Middleton following successful completion of their SCIC in April along with another progressive subject.

Reaching 4 Star is a great achievement and has involved many years of hard work and dedication.

Each year ACF Commandants are asked to nominate their best Master Cadet for the Champion Cadet Competition. The staff at the Cadet Training Centre, Frimley Park then shortlist the top cadets and invite them back to Frimley for a weekend to compete in a series of events and interviews, at the end of which one is announced the Champion Cadet.

Champion Cadet

This year CSM Blair Nugent from Giffnock Detachment was selected to take part in the competition which was held from 31 July—2 August following his excellent performance on October’s Master Cadet Course.

The competition involved a number of physical and mental challenges designed to find the best of the best in the country. Being selected for this competition was a phenomenal achievement by Blair who was presented with his certificate in front of the battalion

by Lt Col Middleton who then promoted Blair to Cadet Under Officer, an honour that has only been bestowed on two other occasions within the Battalion

Blair Nugent with the other Champion Cadets at Frimley Park and being promoted to Under Officer

Six cadets from Kohima passed a Cadet Lineman Course in August.

Cadet Linesman Course During the course, cadets were required to lay and recover field cables, have a working knowledge of their construction and communicate using field telephone networks. Cadets also learn how to repair and maintain field cables.

The successful cadet lineman are: Sgt Mark Johnston, LCpl Rebecca Smith, LCpl Ciaran Docherty, Cdt Michael Muir, Cdt Adam Bryden, Cdt Robert Moir

Lineman Course

Kohima Dinner Night

In the middle of annual camp cadets and adults from the company had their annual formal dinner night at Formby Hall Golf Resort. This is a chance for everyone to get our of kit, get their glad rags on and get off camp for an evening.

Our former company 2IC, Lt David Walker joined us as the guest of honour. After enjoying the three course meal Lt Walker was presented with a miniature infantry sword to commemorate his time with the company. Blair Nugent was given a presentation pacestick as the outgoing Cadet Company Sergeant Major.

The final presentation was to the winners of the best detachment competition which runs throughout the year. The 2015 winners were Paisley Royal Engineers and Sgt Andrew Murdoch collected the trophy.

Major Brough presentation to CSM Nugent

Paisley RE presented with the Brough Cup

Promotions and Appointments CADET PROMOTIONS Blair Nugent, Giffnock Cadet Under Officer Rose Connolly, Kilmarnock RA Staff Sergeant Chris Elliot, Kilmarnock RA Sergeant Nadia Chowdry, Giffnock, Sergeant Nathan Carroll, Paisley RA Sergeant Mark Johnston, Johnstone Sergeant Bruce Wards, Johnstone Corporal Steven Shankland, Barrhead Corporal Ciaran Docherty, Barrhead Lance Corporal Grant Rennick, Giffnock Lance Corporal Andrew MacAlister, Paisley RA Corporal

ADULTS Linda Green was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and appointed Detachment Commander at Paisley RA Dougie Black promoted to Sergeant Major Sgt Jamie McVeigh was appointed Detachment Commander at Barrhead Sgt Liam Harper was appointed Detachment Commander at Johnstone Sgt Iain Martin was appointed Detachment Commander at Paisley RE PI Wilma Woods was appointed as an adult instructor at Paisley RA PI Kelly Jardine was appointed as an adult instructor at Barrhead

SCIC

Senior Cadet Instructor Cadre

Six cadets from the company spent the first week of annual camp taking part in a Senior Cadet Instructor Cadre (SCIC).

The SCIC was delivered by the Cadet Training Team which is made up from regular soldiers from 51 Brigade whose job it was to inspire the senior cadets to pass on their knowledge to younger cadets and increase their knowledge of instructional techniques.

Andrew Murdoch, Tierney Right, Graeme Milloy, Steven Shankland, Chris Elliot, Subhan Din

APC ACHIEVEMENTS 1 Star

2 Star (Cont)

Jordan Kilburn, Paisley RE Rebecca McIntosh, Paisley RE Louise Kerr , Paisley RE

Dylan Strathearn, Paisley RA Michael Muir, Paisley RE Jamie Welsh, Kilmarnock RA Zak Sharpe, Kilmarnock RA Lucas Sharpe, Kilmarnock RA

2 Star Amy Jamieson, Barrhead Jack Radford, Barrhead Ciaran Docherty, Barrhead Rachel Ward, Barrhead Kris McTaggart, Barrhead Robert Moir, Giffnock Bruce Wards, Johnstone Kyle Forrest, Johnstone Liam McKenzie, Paisley RA

3 Star Nadia Chowdry, Giffnock Adam Murray, Giffnock Alexander Hunt, Giffnock Mark Johnston, Johnstone Andrew MacAlister, Paisley RA Chris Elliot, Kilmarnock RA Tierney Wright, Kilmarnock RA

Our Camp in Pictures

Contact Us Give us a call for more information about our services and products Kohima Company West Lowland Battalion ACF kohimapr@gmail.com Visit us on the web at www.armycadets.com/westlowlandacf Or on our Facebook page

Dates for the Diary When

What

Where

Who

25-27 September

Military Skills Competition

Dreghorn

Mil Skills Team

17-18 October

League Display Event

Ayr CTC

Selected Cadets

23-24 October

Cross Country/Football

Edinburgh

Selected Cadets

07-08 November

Poppy Selling / Remembrance Parade

Locally

Everyone

04-06 December

Company Camp

Ayr CTC

Everyone

11-13 December

Shooting / First Aid Competitions

Ayr CTC

Selected Cadets

22-24 January 2016

Company Camp

Ayr CTC

Everyone

26-31 March 2016

Belgium Battlefield Tour

Belgium

Selected Cadets

16-31 July 2016

Annual Camp

Penally, Wales

Everyone