COMMANDANT'S HANDOVER

As most people will be aware I was mobilised for service on Op HERRICK in June and find myself commanding a logistic unit for the final phase of the operation. In the meantime I have handed over to Lt Col Chris Gilbert, who will lead the County on a successful Annual Camp to Wathgill.

After 6 years as an ACF Commandant I have decided to call it a day and handover in September or October to my successor. I am sure that there will be considerable interest in the post and I wish my successor every success.

I have enjoyed every minute of my time in Kent and the loyalty and support of the Officers and Adult Instructors. I wish you all every success at Annual Camp and in the future.

Should anyone wish to make contact while I am deployed the CEO has my contact details. I will not place them on this site for security reasons.

I wish you all every success,

Jeremy Wilson

NEW CSM FOR D COMPANY

I am very pleased to announce that SMI Jason Smith has been appointed as the new CSM for D Coy. I am sure you will all join me in congratulating CSM Smith and wishing him a successful tour.

EPIC PAYMENTS AT ANNUAL CAMP

We have been used for many years to being paid at Annual Camp in cash. This was known as an EPIC payment (Emergency Payment In Cash). I am sorry to report that these payments will now cease unless there is a very genuine requirement because of genuine hardship that would be caused to an adult volunteer. Payments will now be made via JPA directly to bank accounts. Because of the timing of this year's Annual Camp (16-29 Aug) it is unlikely that payments will reach bank accounts before the first pay run in October.

 

If you believe that you should still receive an EPIC payment at Camp you should contact the CEO, justify in writing why you think you should receive it.

Letter must be received before 01 Jun 14 and CFAVs will be informed by 14 Jun 14 if they have been successful.

EPIC payments will now be the exception rather than the rule.

NEW OC FOR A COMPANY

I am delighted to report that Shaun Spilsbury has been appointed as the new OC of A Company. Shaun is a long serving member of A Coy and will oversee three key events during his first year in post:

Annual Camp to Wathgill in North Yorkshire
The start of Op REFLECT and the commemorations of  the First World War
The move of Coy HQ from Canterbury to Sandwich

I am sure that everyone will join me in wishing him and his Company every success in the next three years.

OP REFLECT

Op REFLECT is the Army's approach to the First World War commemorations and is a national commitment identified in LF Op Order13/3 dated 12 Dec 13, involving a  5 year programme of events. The national focus, as directed by the PM is on youth and that includes the cadet forces. Please be quite clear that Kent is sure to be in the “front line” of events because of its geographical position and as the main route way to France & Belgium during 1914-1918.

 

Scale of commitments:

 

1. National/Regional – “Step Short” Folkestone 04 Aug 14. Led by The Lord Lieutenant. This WILL involve the ACF and the whole County, but ME towards A/B Coys. Start trawling for cadets with great grandfathers/great great grandfathers in the war. The BBC will want details for TV coverage!
2. Local Coy/Sqn Level – support for town events. This may come as “last minute.com” and we must be prepared to act accordingly. Close liaison with civic community,RBL, etc will help minimise the last minute requests.
3. Det Level – Local projects for Dets, eg “adopt a war memorial, grave, etc, in liaison with churches, parish councils, etc. Also see the National Project.
4. Coy/Sqn Battlefield Tours – 2 are so far planned for 2014 (KRE and D Coy). I expect ALL sub-units to carry out a tour.
5. Remember, the war lasted from 1914-1918 so there will be ample opportunity to support Battlefield Tours in other yrs, eg 2016 (100^th anniversary of Battle of Somme, 2017 – Passendale. I  will approve funding to support Coy/Sqn events.
6. Local projects – Kent has a wealth of relics from WW1 from the “Secret Port” at Sandwich, fortifications, the grave of Sir John French at Ripple nr Deal, etc that could provide a focus for research and visits over the whole period.
7. Remembrance- This is likely to grow in significance in the run up to 2018.

 

I have produced a Warning Order and timeline for OCs.
 

National Project. Each ACF Det nationally is to research a WW1 local hero or person of importance. A competition is being held for the best piece of research, coordinated by the Regional Bdes and RFCAs. Kent ACF will run an internal competition where the research will be presented via a PP presentation to a County panel. This will take place at Annual Camp 2014. Our best will then go forward to a 11 Bde panel in November and then the national finals in Dec 14.

ADULT UPDATES AND USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

These two very important topics have been raised over the last two weeks as a result of several incidents which have occurred in the County. I wish all adults, whether they be officers, adult instructors or civilian assistants to be aware of the importance which is applied to these. No one is immune from compliance and no one is exempt from the consequences of failure!

 

ADULT UPDATES

 

As part of our ongoing commitment to the Safe System of Training (SST- Safe Place, Safe Person, Safe Equipment and Safe Practice) it is the duty of every one of us to ensure that we are personally qualified and current for the job we are performing within the ACF in Kent. This also extends to those individuals with responsibility for weapons and equipment to ensure that such items are safe and serviceable and that management responsibilities and checks are in place and working. We are currently as a County underperforming with regard to our targets for Safeguarding, which needs to exceed 90% of the County’s adults at any time. Indeed, none of the personal annual mandatory tests, which count as “Safe Person” should ever drop below 90%. Ample opportunity is provided through Adult Update weekends, at Annual Camp and throughout the year at sub unit level to ensure we are always fully updated. There is in short NO EXCUSE!

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

 

We should all be aware of the very real reputational damage that can be caused by the inappropriate use of social media to express grievances and to convey opinions which do not reflect national or County policy, The rules for inappropriate adult use of social media are regularly published on County Part 1 Orders and disseminated through the Chain of Command, together with the sanctions for abuse.  Please be clear, that the rules for use of social media apply equally to cadets. Posting abusive or defamatory posts on media sites such as Facebook, which threaten the reputation of the ACF, or the confidence which parents and carers place in us will not be tolerated. The sanctions applicable to cadets are no different to those sanctions that would be applied to cadets for bullying, sexual misconduct or any other serious offence. Please advise your cadets that if inappropriate posts have been added, they should be removed immediately. I will allow February as a grace month before action is taken. Please be aware that Facebook, whether on official ACF sites or unofficial sites is policed regularly at national level. Inappropriate posts, including pictures of Kent cadets have been posted and are to be removed!

COMMANDANT'S WEEKEND 2014

You will recall that we had a successful Commandant's Weekend to Ypres in Belgium in October 2012. This was intended as a "Train The Trainer" exercise ahead of the 1914-2014 Commemorations, to enable Officers to investigate the opportunities for cadet battlefield tours in 2014. I am pleased to say that the bulk of our sub units have carried out recces of the Ypres area and plans made to take cadet parties this year. I will follow with interest the exercises that have been planned.

 

2014 will be the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France and my plan this year is to take the Officers to Normandy in October for a battlefield tour, with a focus on the events of 6th June and the days immediately following. Please treat this post as an outline Wng O! there will inevitably be some personal contribution towards accommodation, but the weekend will be fully remunerated and should be an enjoyable experience for all who participate.

The TSA is also planning a charity fundraising cycle ride (as he did from Kent to Okehampton in 2013), with a ride from Kent to Normandy. We are looking at the logistics of the event and co-ordinating it with the battlefield tour, so that he arrives at Arromanches when the County's Officers are present on the beach!. The TSA's efforts last year raised sufficient funding for 35 of our cadets to achieve a BTEC Level 1 award through CVQO and the TSA has indicated that the intent should be the same this year.