Army Cadet Force - News

Champion Cadet 2011 receives trophy

2011-10-31T09:51:37+00:00

Perth’s eighteen year old Cadet Staff Sergeant Bradley Anderson of the Black Watch Battalion ACF, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and winner of the Championship Cadet Competition, was presented with the Claire Shore Trophy today (28 Oct) by Brigadier Ted Flint at Cadet Training Centre Frimley Park Surrey. The presentation was made in front of his proud family and fellow cadets on the Master Cadet Course.

Cadet Staff Sergeant Anderson joined the Perth Viewlands detachment in 2006, and having impressed his instructors soon rose through the ranks, while at the same time helping fellow cadets to achieve. He is now studying Sports Science at Aberdeen University.

The ACF Champion Cadet Competition is an annual event held since 2001 at the CTC, Frimley Park, for those ACF Master Cadets selected as being the best in year. The entry is limited to 20 cadets. The competition, which lasts just over 24 hours, tests both physical and mental aptitude, and requires the cadets to compete against each other both individually and as members of a team in a range of activities. These include Command Tasks, Weapon Training, Map and Compass skills (including night navigation), Foot Drill, First Aid, Logical Problem Solving and a comprehensive test of the entire ACF Army Proficiency Certificate Syllabus. There is also a Panel Interview.

Throughout the competition, the assessors are looking for signs of leadership, teamwork, self discipline and unselfishness; all attributes that are developed through membership of the ACF. The winner of the Competition is the cadet deemed by the Selection Committee to be the year’s most inspiring example of the Master Cadet.

London-based volunteer receives bravery medal

2011-10-21T14:38:34+00:00

Twenty five year old Army Cadet volunteer leader Michael Haughey went to Buckingham Palace yesterday (20th Oct) where HRH Princess Alexandra presented him with the rare and prestigious Bronze Medal of the Royal Humane Society.

Michael saved the lives of over forty young Army Cadets and staff travelling by coach to their annual camp in Wiltshire last August. His citation reads, “…for having, on 15th August 2010, at very great personal risk saved the lives of over forty cadets and officers of the Army Cadet Force, when the driver became ill and lost control of the coach they were travelling in, on the southbound lane of the M3 motorway between junctions 3 and 4.”

Along with two other supervising members of volunteer staff Lt Victoria Coles and Sergeant Major Instructor Clive Clahar, Michael acted swiftly when the coach driver lost control - Michael steering the veering coach to a safe halt in the emergency lane of the opposite carriageway. As a result no one was seriously injured. The cadets were able to continue and enjoy what is the highlight of the cadet year – annual camp.

A Police Officer at West End, Michael commented “It’s very nice for this to be recognised, we were very lucky and of course it was not just my actions but that of others which brought us to safety. In some ways I just happened to be at the right place at the right time to do what was needed.” After the ceremony Michael accompanied by his partner Emma Clark and both their fathers said “It was fantastic being here at Buckingham Palace, really cool”

In his teens, Michael both a cadet at the vibrant Acton Detachment and returned to serve as an adult volunteer, receiving a commission in February 2010. He is now Training Officer for the whole of 20 Company which includes a large part of North West London. He lives in Camden.

First Aid is an integral part of the Army Cadet syllabus, as is leading and dealing confidently with unusual situations, demonstrated by Michael's actions on this occasion. He has also received a commendation from the Metropolitan Police.

Eastern region win national swimming championships 2011

2011-10-15T14:36:07+00:00

On Saturday 15th October, on a wonderfully bright autumn day at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, hundreds of cadets from all ten UK sporting regions gathered to compete in the national ACF swimming championships. Several records were broken; two cadets each broke two records (Vickers and Wray, both from Eastern region).

Scotland (51 Bde) provided strong competition throughout the event followed closely by NW and SW, but Eastern (49Bde) proved, as they do so often in sport, to be the dominant sporting region, winning by over 50 points from the next team.

The event was managed for the first time by Hants & IoW ACF and in particular by Lt Col Andy Dawes. It went spectacularly well largely through their efforts.

Next year the event will be held at Sandhurst on Sat 13th Oct 2012

Army Cadet named Radio 1 Teen Hero

2011-10-11T11:17:06+00:00

Congratulations to Pippa Haines from Hampshire and Isle of Wight ACF who was named Radio 1 Teen Hero 2011 at their annual Teen Awards celebration at Wembley Arena on Sunday 9 October 2011. Pippa was one of three teenagers selected from 1000s of nominees to receive her award at the ceremony, in front of a crowd of thousands.

Pippa was nominated for being a young carer to her mother, for her active role in the ACF and also for voluntary work she does for Southampton Council. She received her award from Ed Sheeran and also received a personal message of congratulation from none other than Britney Spears.

Check out Pippa’s nomination film and watch her receive her award.

Essex Army Cadet named British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen 2011

2011-10-10T11:29:27+00:00

Congratulations to Jacob Rice of Essex Army Cadet Force who was named Humanitarian Citizen 2011 by the British Red Cross at a ceremony in London on Saturday 8 October. Jacob was one of four Army Cadets being honoured at this prestigious event for using their first aid skills in real life emergencies.

Last year Jacob and his friend Stephen were riding their BMX bikes in a local car park when Stephen fell off his bike and hit his head on a kerbstone, resulting in a five-inch gash from the top of his head down his forehead, that caused serious loss of blood. Remembering his first aid training from the cadets, Jacob gave immediate assistance to stem the bleeding by applying pressure to the wound. He called on passers-by for help, located a mobile phone and called 999 giving the emergency services accurate information about their location and his friend’s injuries. Jacob remained calm and kept control of the situation, maintaining pressure on the wound until the ambulance arrived.

Stephen required 54 stitches to the wound and has also had plastic surgery.

The British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards exist to recognise the many ways in which young people help others. Awards are presented in four categories:

Community action
First aid
Volunteering
Fundraising

The four Army Cadet Force winners were all in the first aid category. They were:

Jacob Rice, Essex Army Cadet Force, for helping his friend after a serious cycling accident.
Dale Thomson, 2nd Battalion The Highlanders Army Cadet Force, for going to the assistance of a semi-conscious man lying in the street with a head injury.
Augustina Eburay-Anteson, Middlesex and North West London Sector Army Cadet Force, for assisting a girl at school after a fall and also helping with a choking incident on a bus.
Michael Brown, Sussex Army Cadet Force, for managing the aftermath of a motorcycle accident.

Jacob was presented with a trophy as winner of the first aid category, and then a second trophy as overall winner of Humanitarian Citizen 2011. He also received a digital camera and printed and two tickets to a match at Fulham FC.

Champion Cadet 2011 Named

2011-09-27T14:53:37+00:00

Congratulations to Cadet Staff Sergeant Bradley Anderson of the Black Watch Battalion ACF who has been named this year's Champion Cadet. Bradley triumphed in a typically fiercely contested weekend at CTC Frimley Park this September.

The runner-up was Cadet Company Sergeant Major Connor Beddow of Durham ACF.

ACF Adult Volunteer Voucher Book

2011-09-27T14:32:52+00:00

The NEW Army Cadet Force Adult Volunteer Voucher Booklet is out NOW!

It's packed full of super discounts and special offers that have been selected especially for ACF Adult Volunteers.