G And D Jan 06

Alnwick Detachment, Northumbria ACF

The George and Dragon Online at www.nacf.org.uk

Northumbria Special points of interest: • Annual Camp 2006. The situation so far. • Gain more from your ACF memberships: BTEC and D of E. Gain extra qualifications for little extra effort. • The latest news from around W Company. • Forthcoming events.

Inside this issue: Cadet Vocational Qualifications

2

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

2

News from Around the Company

2

Frimley Focus

3

Forecast for the Next Few Weeks

3

News from Around the County

3

16th January 2006

Volume 1, Issue 1

Annual Camp 2006: Otterburn The Army Training Estate Otterburn (ATE O), a place very familiar to us all, is the venue of annual camp 2006. ATE O, covering some 60000 acres, is the second largest training estate in the UK. Only ATE Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire surpasses the vastness of Otterburn. The varied nature of the ground makes Otterburn a popular choice for infantry, artillery and airbourne units, although the wet and boggy ground precludes the use of heavy armour. Otterburn is one of only two places where the Army can fire the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and AS90 gun. Recent multi million pound work on the range has concentrated on getting

communications, roads, drainage and accommodation up to the job of hosting the big guns. The camp itself

W Company in action! Fighting battles up at Otterburn (again).

has enough facilities to support 1600 troops at any one time. Military training has taken place at Otterburn since 1911, long before the advent of the National Park which now encloses much of the estate.

August and finishes on 19th August 2006. The training programme has not been finalised but it is expected that week 1 will be for adult training and cadets will attend for week 2 only. We will probably do most of our training in the field. As usual, there should be adventurous training, visits and competitions. The cost of camp should be £20 for the week. To go to camp you need to be enrolled. The deadline for enrolment (the day the DC must have your completed AF E529, size roll and enrolment fee) is 15th April 2006. If you don’t make the deadline you don’t go to camp.

Annual camp begins on 5th

New Year, New Newsletter As promised late last year, we have a new detachment newsletter this year.

publication, but don’t send anything offensive, liableous or that breaches copyright.

Please contribute towards it. I want your articles and your photos. If you want anything in particular included let me know.

Everything will be vetted by me and I reserve the right to refuse an article and to modify articles before publication.

I will consider everything for

The

newsletter

needs

a

catchy and relevant title that reflects the Detachment, Regiment or town (or all three). If anyone has a better suggestion than that above, feel free to put it forward. Get those pens and cameras working!

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

“Senior cadets can

Diploma in Public Services….

GCSE grades A-C.”

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 1

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

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

News from Around Company Captain Michael Grey of Amble has returned to the Company as 2ic. Captain Grey, already a familiar figure to most people in W Company, has been in the ACF for more than 30 years. He has been a Cadet, Detachment and Company Commander, Adventure Training Officer, County Sports Officer and recently Officers Mess PMC: experience which will be of benefit to W Company. In his spare time he enjoys hill walking and

Captain Michael Grey

has recently completed his Mountain Leader (Summer) qualification. SSI Paul Elliott, formerly of Amble Detachment, has been

appointed acting Company Sergeant Major following the retirement of SMI Michael (Mitch) Mitchinson. SMI Elliott is the only person in Northumbria ACF to have attended, and passed, the prestigious All Arms Drill Course at ATR Pirbright. SMI Elliott has previous experience of being a Cadet, Detachment Instructor and Detachment Commander.

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Volume 1, Issue 1

Frimley Focus Frimley Park is the national Cadet Training Centre (CTC) in Surrey. It carries out training for adults and senior cadets in the ACF, CCF and, to a much lesser extent, the ATC and SCC.

the scent of rose and honeysuckle drifts in the breeze. The housekeeping staff make everyone’s stay at Frimley an enjoyable experience, with a helpful manner, comfortable surroundings and good food.

The CTC is a old Manor House nestled between lofty ancient trees and edged by beautiful gardens and a lake. The house itself dates back to 1699 and holds lavish furnishings in dark oak paneled rooms. Despite being in one of the most populated parts of the UK the gardens offer a peaceful retreat for the students. A walk around the grounds reveals an enchanting world of colorful blooms, painstakingly trimmed hedges and perfectly mown lawns as

Training is carried out by Regular Army personnel. ACF adults first attend the ‘Adult Instructor’s Course’ in the second year of their adult service. This qualifies them for promotion to Lt (officers) or SSI (adult instructors). More experienced adults attend the ‘King George VI Leadership Course’, often just called the ‘KGVI’, which qualifies them for promotion to Captain (officers) or SMI (adult instructors). Captains, or recently appointed Company

Commanders, attend the ‘Area Commanders Course’. For three weeks every summer, senior cadets of the 4 cadet forces can attend the prestigious ‘Cadet Leadership Course’. Senior ACF cadets can also attend the ‘Master Cadets Course’. Every year master cadets from ACFs across the UK take part in the Claire Short competition. www.ctcfrimleypark.army.org. uk

“An enchanting world of colorful blooms, painstakingly trimmed hedges and perfectly mown lawns”

Students put through their paces on the Adult Instructor’s Course.

Forecast for the Next Few Weeks • NCO weekend 1, 20th-22nd Jan 2006, CTC Otterburn • W Company Staff Meeting, 25th Jan 2006, 1900 hrs, Alnwick • County First Aid Competition, 4th-5th Feb 2006, County HQ Cramlington • County Cross Country, 11th Feb 2006, CTC Otterburn (MAX ATTENDANCE) • W Company Skill at Arms Weekend, 18th-19th Feb 2006, Alnwick If you want more information about any event ask the DC.

News from Around the County

It has been a quiet month due to the Christmas break. Nothing major to report from County HQ. Hopefully more news next month.

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January’s Adult Profile No adult profile this month. Nominations for next month.

Alnwick Detachment, Northumbria ACF

TA Centre, Lisburn Terrace, ALNWICK, NE66 1XQ Monday Evenings: 7-9.30 pm Det Mobile: 07776 475089

January’s Cadet Profile No cadet profile this month. It could be you next month! If you want to appear here and you want the entire world to know all about you (by the magic of the www) send a short note about yourself to the DC. Photo also needed.

Inspiring to Achieve

W E ’ R E O N THE WEB : W W W . NACF . ORG . UK

Disclaimer

January’s Review

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 February 2006 edition: Monday, 6th February 2006

Publication of February 2006 edition: Monday, 13th February 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.

JARHEAD Director: Sam Mendez, Rating: 15 Forget the usual high adrenaline actionpacked war shoot ‘em up: Jarhead is a movie with a difference, We hear about the more routine, mundane and boring life of accidental Marine sniper Tony Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his best friend and spotter Troy (Peter Saarsgard), as they protect Saudi oil fields on the Iraqi border. Despite long and exhausting days of training they never fire in anger. Air power has all Jake Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard as US Marines in but made the infantry obsolete. They spend 1991 Gulf War drama Jarhead. most of their days staving off the hot, sandy tedium with illicit booze, football and war flicks. The war, when it does arrive, is plagued by friendly fire and faulty equipment long before the first sight of an Iraqi. The most dramatic scene comes as Swofford catches an Iraqi officer in his sights. As he takes up the first pressure on the trigger he is stopped from firing, for fear the shot will give the enemy prior warning of an air strike. There is more tension as the Marines stumble across eight Arabs with five camels in the middle of the desert. Sensing a trap the men adopt a defensive formation and are poised for action. Much to their frustration the only anger the Arabs show is to the men who killed their three missing camels earlier. Is it any good? The critics seem to think so. The lack of gory action is compensated for by the realism and fascinating personality of Gyllenhaal’s character. Worth a look.