Cadet Success on the Senior Cadet Instructors Course

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops, GMACF, with additional pictures by SI Keith Terrill, Cheshire ACF

Congratulations to the many Cadets from ACF Counties and CCF Detachments from across the North-West of England, who recently invested their half-term breaks on the challenging SCIC, hosted by the North-West Cadet Training Team at Warcop.

The course, aimed squarely at the older Cadets with several years’ Cadet experience under their belts, sets out to develop basic leadership skills and instructional ability against a setting of section and platoon exercises. Frequently hosted at Altcar Training Camp on Merseyside, the first two SCICs of 2017 were centred on Warcop Training Camp in Westmoreland, most usually the haunt of Regular and Reserve forces engaged in live-firing or battalion-level exercises. It’s pretty, but it’s rugged and the Pennine weather always able to turn the screw a little.

Having said that, those who stayed the course all had a good time, reinforcing existing knowledge, developing new skills and above all, making new friends, some of whom will last a lifetime. All will return to their parent detachments eager and competent to make a contribution to bringing forward another generation of younger Cadets.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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3 (Somme) Company on Weekend Camp

3 (Somme) Company on Weekend Camp

By SSI Debbie Callaghan, Media Team, GMACF

Holcombe Moor Training Centre (HMTC) is possibly one of the busiest cadet training centres in the country, with so many different activities on offer each weekend. The weekend of the 17-19 February was one of these.

The major unit on the camp was No 3 (Somme) Company, led by Major Steve Heyl for whom, this was his final camp with the Company, before he takes over the Adult Training for GMACF from the 1st March. Minor unit was No 5 (Anzio) Company led by Major Rob Macdonald.

The training for over 100 cadets on the camp included, Adventurous Training, with the cadets wearing kit supplied by Gift Your Gear, Navigation, Fieldcraft, Drill & Turnout, Shooting using the air rifle outdoors, and for the more experienced cadets, the Cadet Rifle in the indoor range. There was also paint balling out on the area. The cadets’ smiles show they all had fun.

Whilst the companies were running their training programmes interviews were taking place of new adults wishing to join GMACF.

The Executive Leadership Team held one of their regular meetings to discuss the County Development plans for the cadets and adults of GMACF.

A group of senior cadets from the different companies also arrived, ready to be taken to Warcop for the second Senior Cadet Instructors Course of the Training Year, known to most people within the ACF as the SCIC. They replaced Corporals Jade and Charley McIlhatton, who had successfully completed SCIC 1 and were at about the same time on their Pass Out Parade at Warcop. On their return to the Cadet Training Centre, they were promoted to Cadet Sergeant by Lt Col Harrison. Well done to both.

Other promotions announced by Lt Col Harrison were Cadet Sgt Major James Burns who was promoted to Cadet Company Sgt Major (CSM) of No 3 (Somme) Company.  The biggest surprise promotion for the cadets, was the Media Team’s very own SMI Chris Townson, who now moves to the Dark Side by becoming Second Lieutenant. In addition to all his work with his home Company, 5 (Anzio) Company, he is also an enthusiastic instructor with Waterloo Company and a gifted portrait photographer responsible for many of the “green” training pictures of Waterloo Company and the Cambrian Patrol. A very well deserved promotion.

Newly-promoted Cadet Sergeants Jade and Charley McHilhatton on their return from SCIC 1-17

Sgts McHilhatton were replaced at Warcop by this gang od desperadoes

… and later 2 Lieutenant Chris Townson’s well-deserved promotion was announced

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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Corporal Joshua Tang Reaches the Final Thirty of the CVQO Duke Of Westminster Award 2017

By Major Steve Heyl, OC 3 (Somme) Company, GMACF

Cadet Corporal Josh Tang of Reddish Detachment, Greater Manchester ACF has today (Mon 20 Feb 17) found out that he has reached the final thirty Cadets from across the UK to reach Stage 3 of the annual CVQO Duke of Westminster Award.

Stage 3 will take place over four days in April at the Outposts Activity Centre in the Quantock Hills in Somerset, starting on Monday 10^th April; an event which will include team building exercises and presentation sessions. Part of the process will also include the ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management.

The DoW is open to cadets from across all uniformed youth organisations and includes nominations from the Sea Cadet Corps, Combined Cadet Force, Air Training Corps, Fire Brigade Cadets, Police Cadets, St John Ambulance Cadets as well as the Army Cadet Force.

For further details visit the CVQO web site at https://www.cvqo.org/

 

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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2 (Kohima) Company Leads the Training Weekend

By the Media Ops Team, GMACF – Major Peter Hilton, SMI Chris Townson and SSI Debbie Callaghan

Defying dire warnings of impending snow-storms, 2 (Kohima) Company took over the Cadet Training Centre on the weekend 11-12 February to conduct training at One, Two and Three Star level, their ambitious plan including live firing, First Aid and Military Knowledge. From the aspect of the shooting, the cadets took the opportunity to fire outdoors and also on the Indoor Range, using the Cadet Rifle with its sub-calibre device; for many cadets on the weekend, this was their first experience of shooting and some fine results were recorded.

But this tells only a part of the story, because the Centre also hosted other activities – or at least served as a launch-pad:

1. Two Company’s Jade and Charley McIlhatton were passing through en route to join the SCIC- the Senior Cadet Instructors’ Course at Warcop
2. Another group of Cadets were passing through on their way to Preston for interviews and briefings about this year’s exchange with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets
3. The County Shooting Team continued their preparations for the forthcoming competition season

Alongside the resident 2 Company, the County’s Cambrian Patrol squad continued their training for this year’s competition, to be held later this year in time-honoured tradition on the picturesque Sennybridge Training Area. On Saturday morning, the team conducted continuation training under Corporal Sam Wilde from the Royal Fusiliers Recruiting Team, running through Section Battle Drills, harbour areas and tactical obstacle crossing drills.  Moving swiftly on they then enjoyed a session of pairs fire and manoeuvre using paint ball markers; this included a little friendly competition on paintball individual marksmanship and adopting different positions.  The day concluded with a session on the ranges on to complete a check zero.

More fieldcraft training followed on Sunday, before the March and Shoot with the cadets completing two laps of the course and straight to the 400m point.  The Shoot consisted of sprinting from 400m to the 300m firing point, dropping into the prone position and firing 20 rounds at the target.  After a Make Safe, the team then sprinted down to the 200m point firing another 20 rounds from the sitting position. The last phase was a sprint to the 100m point and another 20 rounds fired from the kneeling position.

 

Just passing through – Jade and Charley McIlhatton en route to the SCIC

En route to Preston for interviews for the RCAC Exchange

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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Waterloo Company Adds Variety to its Training

By Major Peter Hilton, GMACF

No Cadet training weekend at Holcombe is ever dull (which is more than can be said for the late January weather), but for inventiveness and variety, Waterloo Company takes the award so far this year.

It had been hoped to conduct shooting on the outdoor ranges, using rifle and LSW, but the prevailing foggy conditions called an early stop to that idea, so an alternative programme was quickly implemented:

• The main body of the Company occupied the main hall where they focused on Saturday morning on Weapon Handling Training and assessments, on both rifle and LSW
• A smaller group of senior Cadets were meanwhile preparing hard for the forthcoming Senior Cadet Instructors’ Cadre, or SCIC, under the tender guidance of SI Andy Boswell and Cadet Sergeant Major Cumston, a recent graduate of the same course
• And meanwhile, outside in the swirling Pennine mists, the County’s Cadet Cambrian Patrol continued its preparations for the 2017 competition, concentrating on patrolling, ambush skills and casualty evacuation
• On the Saturday afternoon, most of the Company, less the die-hards of the Cambrian Patrol (who apparently don’t rate being warm and dry), were gathered together for a presentation by our new Commandant Colonel Paul Irvine
• Though the foggy conditions persisted into Sunday, the Company pressed on spear-headed by the Cambrians who competed in a March and Shoot competition. Though it wasn’t possible to shoot on the outdoor range as planned, they did manage to use the Indoor Range to conduct some marksmanship revision.

Despite the meteorological challenges placed before the Company, this was a successful weekend, in no small way helped by assistance from 1 RRF and 4 LANCS whose joint training team did so much to prepare and challenge the would-be Cambrian Patrol squad, for which we’re all grateful.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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The Final Training Weekend of 2016

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

Greater Manchester Army Force’s Training Centre at Holcombe Moor hosted its final training weekend of the year when Waterloo Company turned up for weekend training. The majority of the company focussed on First Aid Training, whilst a smaller, elite, group began their preparation for 2017’s ACF Cambrian Patrol exercise.

While this was going on, the County also held its annual Carol Service at the Cathedral Church of St John the Evangelist in Salford, presided over by the County’s Chaplaincy Team of Father Gerard Fieldhouse-Byrne, and the Reverends Paul Sumsion and Hugh Bearn.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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North-West Cadets Enjoy Challenging Training

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

As the temperatures sank and the daylight hours dwindled, a party of 41 intrepid senior Cadets, drawn from the ACF and CCF, from across the North-West, attended the Senior Cadets’ Instructor Course at Altcar Training Camp on Merseyside.

The course was facilitated by a team from 42 Brigade’s Cadet Training Team, led by Course OC, Capt Norman Mustard. Comprising highly experienced former Regular Army Warrant Officers and SNCO, the team’s mission is to support Cadet training in the North West and to provide challenging courses like the SCIC, which is hugely challenging course, attended only by the most experienced Cadets who have spent years working up to this point and who may go on to become Cadet CSMs and RSMs, and from there, in some cases, careers in the regular forces.

The Cadets, drawn from Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside ACFs and Lancaster Royal Grammar School were entertained by(?), subjected to(?) a varied diet of training sessions and methods, covering the core elements of the Army Cadet Training Syllabus:

• Practical sessions, e.g. foot drill and weapon handling
• Lectures – on Leadership, Battle Procedure, Training in Woods and Forests (TIWAF), Patrolling, Ambushes and the preparation and delivery of Orders
• Preparation and delivery of training sessions

It’s not an easy week, even for experienced Cadets – and it’s not designed to be. The working day begins at 0630 – a bit of a shock for Cadets, who otherwise might be spending their half-term at home, just generally chilling and getting up in time for tea. And though the days formally ends at 2000, those with kit and lessons to prepare will toil on beyond that, sometimes working individually, sometimes as small teams to drive each other forward.

The week’s activities culminate in a 48-hour Field Training Exercise, Exercise DIAMOND SWORD, which deposits the Cadets in a secret Patrol Base nestling in Altcar’s sand dunes from where they take it in turns to participate in, and lead, small unit operations, culminating in a Platoon Advance and attacks against a ruthless and wily enemy (actually Cadet Force Adult Force Volunteers, but that doesn’t imply that they’re lacking in ruthlessness and guile).

Finally, on the final day, there’s a graduation ceremony, where those who have been successful can celebrate their achievements with their proud families. For these Cadets, returning to their scattered detachments will see them employed as assistant instructional staff, working alongside Adult Volunteers to bring the next generations forward, until it’s their turn to attend SCIC.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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Last Media Releases from Annual Camp 2016

Over the next few hours the final releases from Annual Camp 2016 will be made on YouTube and Facebook.

These include three videos:

• The Blessing of the new County Standards
• The County March Past
• The Commandant’s Farewell – though he’ll be around for a few more months yet, this was his last Camp after only 40+ years (where’s his backbone?)

There will also be three photograph albums appearing on Facebook:

• A compilation of pictures from Waterloo Company’s Range Day, Drill and the RA visit
• Waterloo’s Final Parade of Camp’16
• Pictures from Gibraltar

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

 

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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More Annual Camp Media Releases

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

If you head over to the GMACF YouTube Channel in the next few hours, you will find new videos from Camp appearing showing the Drill Teams from the following Companies competing in the Inter-Company Drill Competition:

• 2 (Kohima) Company
• 4 (Korea) Company
• 5 (Anzio) Company – you might want to make a brew and get some biscuits before this one, since the team commander was determined to enjoy his moment of fame.

There will be further videos and some photo albums over the weekend as coverage of Camp draws to a close and many of you prepare to return to School. Yay!

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

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Annual Camp Media Releases

By Major Peter Hilton, Media Ops Team, GMACF

Over the next few hours, there will be three more media releases showing GMACF activities at Annual Camp 2016:

• A photo album showing the equipment display laid on by 3 SCOTS on the Sunday of Camp; this has been delayed out of respect to the Battalion following the tragic accident on the ranges which happened the day after the display
• Two more videos:
  • “Waterloo Company Has Talent”
  • 6 (Quebec) Company’s Drill Team demonstrating their skills during the Inter-Company Drill Competition

 

 

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet 

… at our official ACF Web Page at:

https://armycadets.com/county/greater-manchester-acf/

… on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterACF

… on Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/gmanacf

on YouTube at:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPYwSoMWLE8hN8CBkdim0Q

on SoundCloud at:

https://soundcloud.com/gmacf-891255911

 

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