Welcome to the Battalion’s Annual Review 2022-23

Welcome to the Glasgow and Lanarkshire Battalion Annual Review for 2022-23.

It has been another very successful year for the Battalion and one of which I am extremely proud. As I reflect over the year, I cannot help but be delighted with the commitment and enthusiasm shown by our cadets and Adult Volunteers.

You will see in this Review exactly what we get up to as a Battalion and the many opportunities we give to our cadets who, as a result, have achieved a great deal including DofE Awards, APC stars, vocational qualifications, sports medals and shooting success.

However, none of our achievements would be possible without the team that supports everything we do. I would like to thank our Professional Support Staff and the Training Safety Adviser who continue to ensure we have all we need to deliver safe and effective training.

I am also grateful for the support of Cadets Branch at 51 Brigade, the Lowland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association and the Army Cadet Charitable Trust.

And last, but no means least, I would like to thank all the Adult Volunteers and Non Uniform Volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the Army Cadets.

I have every reason to look forward to the next 12 months when, as a Battalion, we will once again strive to deliver the very best of fun, friendship, action and adventure for our cadets.

The Cadet Experience

The Army Proficiency Certificate (APC)

The APC is the core training syllabus for Army Cadets. It’s a progressive syllabus that gets more challenging each year. As cadets learn more about each topic and increase their skills, they move through the star levels from Basic to Master Cadet. Training takes place throughout the year during detachment training evenings. Cadets undertake more advanced and practical training at weekend and annual camps.

The Battalion has its own residential Cadet Training Centre at Cambuslang on the outskirts of Glasgow with its own ranges and training area.

Senior cadets get the opportunity to attend a range of courses to improve their military and leadership skills which may also result in additional qualifications.

Senior Cadet Instructor Cadre

The Senior Cadet Instructor Cadre (SCIC) is a 4 Star subject designed to increase the senior cadet’s knowledge of the techniques of instruction first introduced on the Junior Cadet Instructor Cadre (JCIC). The 51 Brigade Cadet Training Team deliver the SCIC in Scotland.

Master Cadet Course

The Master Cadet Course is the culmination of the APC training syllabus and successful completion is one of the elements necessary to achieve Master Cadet status and the authority to wear the sixth and final APC star. It takes place at the National Cadet Training Centre at Frimley Park in Surrey.

Cadet Leadership Course

The Cadet Leadership Course is one of the most intensive courses open to cadets. Courses are held throughout the UK and in Scotland it is normally a week at Easter in the Barry Buddon training area with the 51 Brigade Cadet Training Team.

THE APC SYLLABUS

• Drill and Turnout

• Expeditions

• Fieldcraft

• Skill at Arms

• First Aid

• Community Engagement

• Keeping Active

• Navigation

• Shooting

• Music

• Cadet Information Systems

• Military Knowledge

• Adventurous Training

The first proud achievement of APC training: Gaining their Basic certificate and badge.

In the current year 8 cadets have achieved 4 Star with 2 cadets successfully attending the Master Cadet Course at the National Cadet Training Centre.

Glasgow and Lanarkshire Bn Reporting G&L 2022-23

Military competitions

Competitions are an ideal way to develop skills and encourage teamwork.

The Cadet Training Team Scotland ran the annual Military Skills Competition in the Barry-Buddon Training Area in September. Testing a wide range of military skills including navigation, advance to contact, command tasks and deliberate attack, it was a hard fought competition.

There were 5 ACF and 7 CCF teams competing and the ACF competition was won by the Battalion as was the

In the Drill Competition for the Captain Walter Barrie Memorial Trophy, the Bn were the runners-up.

Competing in the Brigade Military Skills competition was an amazing experience. Spending training time withothercadetsfromallovertheBattalion brought us together and we all shared an enthusiasm to do well. We were thrilled to win,witheachofourdetachmentsandcompaniesbeingveryproudofus.Icouldn’thave askedtobeinabetterteam!

Adventurous training

Adventurous Training is a popular activity with cadets and can involve canoeing, climbing and hill walking. The Cadet Centre for Adventurous Training (CCAT) delivers Adventurous Training qualifications and skill based experience courses for Adult Volunteers and senior cadets aged 16 or over.

With its three centres in the UK and through overseas bases it offers a wide range of courses at all levels from basic foundation through to intermediate and leader/instructor qualifications via both the Joint Service and National Governing Body accredited schemes.

The courses include Summer, Winter and Alpine Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Winter Climbing, Caving, Open Canoeing, Kayaking (Sea & Inland), Skiing (Nordic & Alpine) and Mountain Biking.

Back at the Battalion a wide range of Adventurous Training takes place at both weekend and annual camps.

More Adventurous Training at Annual Camp on pages 18 - 21.

Gaining Additional Qualifications

The Duke of Edinburgh’s

All cadets are encouraged to participate in the Award moving from Bronze to Silver to Gold. There are a number of sections to the Award that have to be completed - Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition, and at Gold, Residential - and many DofE activities can be linked to cadet training.

Battalion recognised for DofE post Covid pandemic recovery - see page 31.

Vocational qualifications

There are many opportunities open to both cadets and cadets and may help them to progress in further education or employment.

First Aid

While all cadets are trained in first aid from Basic level, senior cadets are encouraged to undertake more advanced training and many cadets achieve a First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification which enables them to deal with more serious situations.

The FAW qualification sits on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are recognised by external employers and meet the legal requirements for first aid qualifications within a workplace.

Battalion cadets joined musicians from all around the UK for the Summer Music Camp in London. The week long camp, with periods of learning and practising, ended with a performance at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

LCpl Hayley MacCabe of B Pl RHF and SI Vivien Thorpe of 5 Pl RSB performing at the music camp

Cpl Bradley Kerr of 3 Pl RSB (left) was commended for his performance in the

Six Bn cadets performed with the bands to a Quinn, Cpl Cameron Anderson, Cdt Charlize Anderson, Smith, LCpl Hayley MacCabe.