G And D Apr 06

Alnwick Detachment, Northumbria ACF

The George and Dragon Northumbria Special points of interest:

17th April 2006

Volume 1, Issue 4

W Coy Triumphant in County Athletics

• Annual Camp update. • Cadet Vocational Qualifications and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. • Latest from the County, Company and Detachment. • Adult profile: SI Ralph Brown of Broomhill Detachment. • Army Medical Services. • Forecast of events.

Inside this issue: Cadet Vocational Qualifications.

2

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme.

2

News from Around the Company.

2

Army in Focus: Army Medical Services.

3

Forecast of Events.

3

News from Around the County.

3

Adult Profile: SI Ralph Brown.

4

Alnwick Detachment News.

4

STOP PRESS: For the first time in many years W Company were victorious at County Athletics held at Monkton Stadium on 15th April 2006. The Company Commander would like to thank all of the cadets who took part and made a huge effort on the day. It just goes to prove, although we a few in number we are real contenders for this year’s Champion Company. Keep up the good work in your APC training and the annual camp competitions.

Annual Camp Update First of all the dates have changed (incase anyone has been living in a cave and hasn’t read the noticeboards recently). This is because the Army need to use Otterburn for pre-deployment training (not that Otterburn has any sand or camels mind you). Cadet dates are now Wednesday 16th August to Friday 25th August 2006. Please note that camp now

finishes on a Friday: not Saturday as previously published. The camp open day will now be on Saturday 19th August and spookily coincides with visiting senior officers. Camp will cost £35. Please pay the camp fee to the DC ASAP. A camp bank will also be available: it is up to you whether you use it or not, but it is recommended. Any spending money you choose

to keep on your person is entirely your responsibility. Annual camp packing lists are available from the DC. Please note that luggage is once again limited to one large holdall (or equivalent) and one piece of hand luggage. If you have not already done so you must complete a new enrolment form (AF E529) before going to camp.

Cadet Vocational Qualifications Senior cadets (2 star, aged 16 years or older) can obtain a BTEC First Diploma in Public Services alongside their APC training. The diploma, the vocational equivalent of 4 GCSE grades A-C, is achieved by completing 6 out of 7 units:

* The first three units are compulsory.

• Public Services* • Public Services Skills* • Public Service Fitness* • Outdoor Activities • Land Navigation • Expedition Skills • Nautical Skills

For an ACF cadet, completion of the units will involve leadership tasks, a small project, a short presentation, map read-

ing, expeditions, first aid training and completion of the CVQO resource book. You may have even already completed some of these units through your APC or D of E training. Participation in the scheme is free of charge to cadets.

obtain a BTEC First

For more information check out the Army Cadet magazine or the Cadet Vocational Qualification Office website: www.cqvo.co.uk

equivalent to 4

tary to the APC: you can gain a D of E award by very little extra effort on top of your ACF training. The Award can be achieved at three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level includes four sections: Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Expeditions. Additionally, at Gold level, participants complete a residential project. You can start working towards Bronze

at the age of 14 years, Silver at 15 years and Gold at 16 years. The upper age limit for completion of any level of the award is 25 years. To enroll on the scheme you need to buy a record book (~£8) and fill in a form. Further details from the DC, or check out the website: www.theaward.org

The first W Coy weekend of 2006 will be on 12th-14th May. Everyone will be on expedition that weekend: it

Do not bother coming if you are expecting an easy weekend and intend to moan all the way.

PI Alan Gibson (Rothbury) is on the ITC. will involve hard work and about 10 miles of walking each day. Cost of the weekend is £6, to be paid ASAP.

Diploma in Public Services….

GCSE grades A-C.”

“Learn new skills, help other people and experience adventure…. Employers and universities take a good view .”

News from Around the Company Three PIs from W Company are attending the Easter ITC up at CTC Otterburn. They are PI Billy Hall (Berwick), PI Alan Gibson (Rothbury) and PI Wendy Aitchison (Berwick). We wish them all a successful course and look forward to welcoming them back as SIs at the end of April.

“Senior cadets can

To participate speak to the DC.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (D of E) is a challenging programme of activities which will help you to learn new skills, help others, experience adventure and gain a great sense of achievement. What’s more, many organisations such as employers and universities take a good view of the Award and the person who has achieved it. The award is complimen-

Volume 1, Issue 4

Twelve cadets from W Coy have been selected to attend a commemorative march in Holland at the end of June. Cdt A. Mallaburn and Cdt M. Sargent have been selected to represent Alnwick Detachment on this free trip abroad (lucky them).

Contact Details Cadets: If you have a mobile telephone and email address please can you leave your contact details at the office. If I need to get a message to anyone I intend to either text or email them (so I don’t need to disturb their folks at home). Thank you.

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Army In Focus: Army Medical Services The Army takes good care of it’s most vital resource: the serving soldiers, officers and animals. The Army Medical Services (AMS) operate wherever in the world our people are, whether in times of peace or war. The AMS is made up of four healthcare corps: - Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). Looking after the human health of the Army. From first aid on the battlefield to fullyequipped general hospitals. - Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC). Looking after the human teeth of the Army. If you have bad teeth you can’t eat well. If you can’t eat well you can’t fight

well. Good oral hygiene = less disease = better soldiers. - Royal Army Corps (RAVC).

Veterinary

Looking after the Army’s animals, whether they trot down the Mall in London or sniff out explosives in Northern Ireland. - Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC). With their distinctive grey berets the QARANC support the work of the RAMC in hospitals across the globe.

education, travel and benefits package. If you want to know any more about the AMS best speak to someone in the know like the MO, NO or even Commandant (who used to be the boss of 201 Field Hospital). We also have a large TA AMS presence in the North-East: 201 Field Hospital in Newcastle and 251 Field Ambulance in Sunderland. More info: www.army.mod.uk

Volume 1, Issue 4

“The Army takes good care of it’s most vital resource: the serving soldiers, officers and

www.201fdhosp.co.uk

animals.”

You can join the AMS as a professionally qualified officer (if you’re a doctor, dentist, vet or senior nurse), support officer or soldier. Either way you’ll get the usual top-notch

Credit Where Credit’s Due

Forecast for the Next Few Weeks •

Sat, 15th April: County Athletics: Monkton Stadium (Jarrow): MAX ATTENDANCE

•

15th-23rd April: ITC/SCIC: CTC Stainton: Selected cadets only

•

28th-30th April: Adult Training: CTC Otterburn: MAX ATTENDANCE (AIs only)

•

5th-7th May: Ex. Magpie Flutter (Cdt Competition): Catterick: Selected cadets only

•

12th-14th May: W Coy Weekend: CTC Otterburn: All enrolled cadets can attend

If you want more information about any event ask the DC.

News from Around the County It’s been an exciting month at Cramlington: the new accident form has been made available to all the adults in the County. Hopefully more excitement next month (maybe an update to the list of authorised power washer users).

Last week I purchased some more RAM for my desktop. First stop was PC World online. After browsing their site I found my chips and placed my order. When I read the small print I realised I had made a mistake. Not wanting to be £60 out of pocket I tried to cancel. PC World don’t like customers cancelling orders so they make it impossible to do so online. Naughty PC World: a trick befitting a third-rate unscrupulous company like Dell rather than a major high street retailer. On the other hand I tried Dabs.com and they were very, very good. They had a very comprehensive website, cheaper then PC World and very quick delivery. Well done Dabs: I’ll certainly be using them again and highly recommend them.

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Volume 1, Issue 4

April’s Adult Profile 1 SI Ralph Brown shows he has nerves of steel by becoming the first W Coy adult to volunteer information for a profile. So who exactly is the man underneath the distinctive ginger crop?

Name: SI Ralph Brown (but you can call him Sgt) Detachment: Broomhill Appointment: DC Marital Status: Single Quote: (honest).

I’m

not

ginger

Hobbies: ACF, curries, football, cycling, computers and socialising (beer).

Alnwick Detachment News Recruitment and Attendance:

SI Ralph Brown in close-up (very scary). Nice hat. a bit of a thing about the lovely ladies in Girls Aloud. He isn’t too fussed about which one. Civilian Job: SI Brown works as an accountant with pharmaceutical and household giants Proctor and Gamble. Car: SI Brown drives a Seat Ibiza of which he is particularly proud. To the untrained eye he may appear a bit of a boy racer. Home: Ralph owns his own bachelor pad in Red Row. Birthday: (Sagittarius)

15

Dec

Achievements in the ACF: SI Ralph Brown enjoys a quiet pint (or two) on the foothills of the Alps. TV Programmes: Lost (has nearly finished season 2, whatever that means), 24, Sleeper Cell and Smallville. Website: SI Brown enjoys surfing the internet. He particularly likes football related sites. SI Brown owns the www.armycadet.co.uk domain name and hopes to have this site up and running again very shortly. Ideal Woman: SI Brown has

Cadet: Young Ralph was a 4star Master Cadet Company Sergeant Major. He led the W Coy team to victory in the 1998 RRF badge competition. Adult: Old SI Brown was the top student on his ITC in October 2004. He was also top of his AI’s course at Frimley (was invited to ADS) and was the top drill instructor in 2005. He now looks after Broomhill Detachment. If you want to know anything else about SI Brown please ask him. He is a very friendly and talkative chap!

As everyone will be aware Alnwick Detachment is small but perfectly formed. With only one adult we don’t want to recruit too many new cadets, but we could take another half dozen bringing us up to about 20. It is very important that all cadets on strength make the effort to turn up for parade nights and weekend training. If anyone knows they are unable to attend in advance please let the DC know. Promotion: Seventeen year old Cpl Stephen Allan was recently promoted to Cadet Sergeant. Sgt Allan attended the Senior Cadet Instructor’s Cadre in October 2005 and completed his APC 4-Star. The Detachment Commander expresses his congratulations to Sgt Allan and looks forward to him contributing fully to W Company as the senior Cadet NCO. Drugs Dogs: Two dog handlers from HMYOI Castington near Morpeth visited the Detachment on 10th April. They gave a talk about the dangers of drugs and then a Prison Officer Paul Bateman and his demonstration dog check out a very shifty looking Sgt of how the dogs Allan. Cdt McNab breathes a sigh of are used to relief as the dog passes him. search people and rooms. Cadets from 1801 Squadron ATC also attended the demonstration. Thanks to SI Michael Weightman of Amble Detachment for jacking up the visit. London Visit: I have four places to visit London for a long weekend on 8th—11th June (Thurs to Sun). The trip is free of charge, but anyone attending will have to bring enough money to buy their own meals over the four days. It will include sightseeing and a trip to Horse Guards Parade to see a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour. Sadly, I have to be selective (having only 4 places) if you are a well-behaved, well-attending cadet who doesn’t have exams on those days I may ask you.

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April’s Review 1 V FOR VENDETTA Cert: 15, Dir: James McTeigue Duration: 131 mins

Alnwick Detachment, Northumbria ACF TA Centre, Lisburn Terrace, ALNWICK, NE66 1XQ Monday Evenings: 7-9.30 pm Det Mobile: 07776 475089 Email: [email protected]

Inspiring to Achieve

WE’RE ON THE WEB: W WW.NACF.ORG.UK

Disclaimer This document is not an official publication of Northumbria ACF. It is produced for the guidance of Alnwick Detachment cadets only. Any opinions expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of Northumbria ACF or the Army.

Submissions Deadline for May 2006 edition: Monday, 8th May 2006

Publication of May 2006 edition: Monday, 15th May 2006

The following items can be published: Personal notices and announcements, adult & cadet profiles, reviews of weekend camps, photos. Items do not have to be ACF related. All items will be vetted and may be edited.

Imagine a tyrannical state where the ordinary people live in fear, the authorities are corrupt, open to bribery and censor the media. A world where people are locked up for following the wrong religion, expressing the wrong opinions or even leaving their homes at certain times of the day. This is Britain, and the year is not 2006: it is worth saying that the film is based on a comic strip and not real life. Evey Hammond (Natalie Hugo Weaving sports Portman), a young TV executive working at the state-controlled spin ma- this distinctive Guy chine, wells full of resentment at the way the state murdered her parents Fawkes mask as cenin her childhood. One night she is out dodging the curfew and is appre- tral character ‘V’. hended by a couple of state-flunkies looking to cause her trouble. Out of the shadows strides the masked figure of V (Hugo Weaving) to dispense with the aggressors and save the day. V also wants revenge on the Nazilike regime of President Sutler (John Hurt) and demonstrates his intent by blowing up the Old Bailey. V issues the ultimatum that he will blow up Parliament on 5th November the following year. He spends that year reeking havoc on the state, ably assisted by young Evey. At one point V tests Evey’s resolve by Natalie Portman stars as Evey incarcerating her in a bleak cell. Having proved her determinaHammond, a young TV executive tion and survived her captivity Evey helps destroy the Palace of seeking revenge. Westminster and watches as Sutler’s regime crumbles. Nice.

April’s Review 2 INSIDE MAN Cert: 15, Dir: Spike Lee Duration: 129 mins Inside Man is narrated by the bank robber himself, played with an icy cool by Clive Owen. 'My name is Dalton Russell,' he confides. 'Pay strict attention to what I say because I choose my words carefully and I never repeat myself. Recently I planned and set in motion events to execute the perfect bank robbery. Why? Because I can...' Dalton's opponent is NPYD hostage Jodie Foster and Denzel Washington star negotiator Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washing- as Madeline White and Keith Frazier in ton), a man who enjoys living on the edge. Alongside bank robbery thriller Inside Man. his partner Detective Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Frazier's resourcefulness and cunning are tested to the limit during the tense stand off between police and the robber. Details of the heist are sketchy: according to the CCTV footage, four people dressed in decorator's suits and masks marched into the Manhattan Trust bank in full daylight and took the staff and customers hostage. In a series of tense telephone conversations, Frazier and Russell attempt to size each other up, engaging in a frenetic game of cat and mouse with the lives of the hostages as the ultimate prize. The encounter is poised on a knife-edge; one wrong decision could lead to tragedy. The siege takes an unexpected twist when enigmatic Manhattan power broker Madeline White (Jodie Foster), secretly in the employ of Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), the chairman of the bank's board of directors, interrupts negotiations. She is determined to follow her own agenda, regardless of the repercussions for the hostages, throwing the already precarious situation into deeper turmoil.