Once again as the year draws to
an end I would like to thank all the adult staff in Kent Army Cadet Force for
their unstinting loyalty, support and determination and to wish you all a
thoroughly enjoyable and well deserved Christmas and New Year break. I look
forward to continuing the challenge of training and working with you throughout
2014. Again, I would like to commend and to pass on my special thanks to our
Civilian Assistants whose work very often goes unseen (and without pay), but
without whom the administration of our detachments would be an additional
burden on the uniformed staff.
2013 was another busy year, but
at least saw a return to the traditional annual cycle of training and a
successful annual camp in the summer at Okehamption in Devon. We know the dates
for annual camp in 2014, which will take the County to Wathgill Camp in North
Yorkshire, over the period 16-29 August. Plans are already in preparation for
recces in the new year and I have set the charge at £80. Annual camp will
feature all the normal activities you would expect at camp, including the
opportunities for AT and at Coy level a day out if OCs so wish. Coys will be
responsible for 1 and 2 Star training and testing, with County organising 3
Star, Ranges and AT, very much as it was this year.
I am very pleased that 3 newly
commissioned officers joined our ranks during 2013 - 2Lts Robinson, Ambrose and
Moore. With 21 Adult Under Officers currently undergoing training I am looking
in 2014 at maintaining a steady outflow from Westbury of officers who have the
ability to lead from the front at detachment level. If anyone else is
considering the challenge of commissioning I would urge them to make contact
with Maj Kevin Nisbet who will continue to run the PO Cadre. A Pre-CFCB
assessment weekend for our own and invited AUOs from 2 Bde and LONDIST Sectors
will take place in January at Dibgate.
2013 has seen a consolidation of
the County’s leadership team, which is now set to take us forward for the next 3-5 years. This
year we also welcomed Major Tony Pellet as the CTO and Major Sean Twyman took
over command of D Coy. 2014 will also see a change in leadership in A and B
Companies. Maj Tony Elderton, after a highly successful tour as OC A Coy will
move on to a new challenge as OC B Coy, to replace Maj Simon Dean. Simon is not
being lost to the ACF and will himself take up a new challenge in February.
Turning to memories of 2013, I
could write reams about the many achievements our cadets have enjoyed,
supported as always by our CFAVs and permanent staff, who combine to make the “cadet
experience” possible and memorable. I am particularly pleased that we had a
successful exercise in Cyprus, hosted by 2RRF, another first class visit to
Arnhem and the start of what should be a profitable exchange programme with the
Italian ACF. As a County we signed the UK’s first Community Covenant with a Further
Education provider (Canterbury College) and were the lead force in Kent Cadet
Week in October. I am incredibly
grateful to everyone who has worked so hard this year to ensure that our cadets
continue to be seen as world class young people who are an inspiration to
others. Our CFAVs too are the envy of many other voluntary youth organisations
and I pay tribute to their talent and their dedication - we simply could not
exist without you!
Looking forward to 2014 I am
confident that all 4 of our sub units will provide opportunities for CFAVs and
cadets to participate in activities in relation to the 100th
Centenary of the start of the First World War, whether though battlefield tours
to France and Belgium, support for events in Kent, or local level involvements,
such as “adopt a war memorial” schemes. I am also confident that 2014 will see
some of our first CFAVs enrol on PTLLS courses as a direct result of our
Covenant with Canterbury College. The RSM is also taking a lead in organising a
County Families Day for July at Dibgate, for which I give my full support and
encourage the same level of support from OCs, for what should prove to be a
highly enjoyable experience for all.
As a County I would like to
encourage our support for charity and commend the efforts made across Kent ACF
in support of the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes. I would like to
nominate the Pilgrims Hospice as our non-military focus for charity support for
2014.
Looking back to the
start of the year I set out the key aims and objectives for this year and 2014.
These aims were to:
1. Increase the uptake of cadets
on CVQO awards. It goes without saying that all cadets who fulfil the qualifying
criteria should be registered and should complete the assessment package. BTEC
awards add real value to the life chances of our cadets and engage directly
with parents, schools and other stakeholders. We are achieving this and I was
particularly pleased to see so many Level 1 awards for our younger cadets this
year, in ceremonies at Canterbury Cathedral and at County Headquarters.
2. Continue to improve the uptake
for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, at all levels. As with CVQO awards
the County is currently behind the curve with the uptake and completion of
awards well below the levels we should be achieving, despite the considerable
personal efforts of Captain Woods and his team.
3. Further develop shooting as a
core activity available to all cadets. The introduction of the new air rifle
should be used as a stimulus to putting shooting back on the map. It goes
without saying that shooting is one of the key incentives to joining the ACF,
forms part of the overall "Cadet Experience" and is an excellent tool
for so many disciplines. The County has had some notable achievements of late in
2013 and I commend the Shooting Officer for his efforts.
Looking at these
three areas, they should continue as our ME for 2014.
For adults, I would like to see further
development of potential officer and junior officer training and development
and with encouraging CFAVs to develop their own skills, competencies and
military, career and AT qualifications.
The Honorary Colonel, Colonel
James Partridge TD DL passes on his warm regards at this festive time of year and
will continue to visit us on training in order to meet as many adults and
cadets as possible.
Have a very enjoyable Christmas
and New Year and I look forward keenly to working with you in 2014. Please don’t
forget to follow the activities of the County on our website and Facebook page.
Yours
Jeremy Wilson
