New appointments to Kent ACF

I am sure that everyone will be delighted to hear that a Brigade Promotion Board has confirmed the appointments of our two new Deputy Commandants, to succeed Lt Col's Pankhurst and Masters, who retire from their posts at Christmas 2012 and Easter 2013 respectively.

The first appointment will be Major David Steele, who will take up his post on promotion in January 2013. Major Steele is currently the County Training Officer in South East London ACF, where he has established an impressive portfolio of achievements for the Sector and its cadets and adults. One of his key developments and achievements has been the establishment of a formal association between the Italian Army Cadet Force and South East London ACF. This has enabled a large number of the Sector's cadets and adults to have the opportunity to train in Italy and for Italian cadets to train in the UK. I am hoping that this initiative may migrate over the border from London and provide our adults and cadets with similar opportunities!

Maj Chris Gilbert needs little introduction to the County, where he has an outstanding record of service to Kent ACF. Major Gilbert will take up his post on promotion on 1st April 2013.

Both Deputy Commandants will be taking up slightly re-defined roles and duties and line management responsibilities, details of which will be promulgated through the chain of command before Christmas.

The incoming RSMI, RSM Sullivan will be taking up his post at County Headquarters in December this year. RSM Sullivan has a bold vision to take the county forward over the next 3-5 years, particularly with regard to AI training and development. In this, he will be working closely with the incoming Deputy Commandant, the County Training Officer and the OC County Training Team.

The fourth new appointment is that of Lt Tara Yong as the next County Adventure Training Officer, to succeed Capt Mo Morris who retired earlier this year. Tara has an impressive record of delivering the AT experience in B Coy and will now be looking to expand this to the County as a whole. Finally, Lt Mark Johnson will be taing over County wide responsibility for CVQO awards for cadets and adults in the new year. Lt Johnson has lately been serving with B Coy.

I know that all adult members of Kent Army Cadet Force will support all the newly appointed adults and work with them to develop and enhance the opportunities that we able able to offer our cadets.

New Honorary Colonel

I am very pleased to be able to confirm the appointment of Colonel James Partridge TD DL as our new Honorary Colonel, to succeed The Viscount De L'Isle MBE, who retired in the summer.

Col James Partridge was commissioned from Cambridge University OTC into the Royal Artillery in 1981, serving with 100 (Yeomanry) Regiment, which he commanded for two and a half years, until 1998.  Since then he has held several staff appointments, including TA Colonel, Royal Artillery and Deputy Commander 2 (SE) Brigade.  His last active post was in Reserve Forces & Cadets Division in the Ministry of Defence, where he sat as the Reservist member on the Cottam Review of the Reserve Forces.  He is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court and practises in Tunbridge Wells.  He has two grown up children and lives just over the County border near Crowborough.  When time permits, he is a keen walker and dinghy sailor and enjoys touring in England and France.

It is my intent that OCs invite Col Partridge to a weekend event, certainly well before Annual Camp 2013, in order to give him the chance to meet Officers and Adult Instructors and to see cadets undergoing training.

Commissioning - 2Lt Ian Packer

I would like to congratulate Ian on his outstanding success at the Cadet Force Commissioning Board. He is now the newest officer to join Kent Army Cadet Force from our Potential Officer Cadre and will return to his detachment in his new role as the commissioned Det Comd. I would like to think that Ian's success will provide an inspiration to the remaining 14 Adult Under Officers. There is now a vacancy in the cadre! Please apply to me through your OC if you are interested in taking Ian's place.

Officers' Study Period 13 Oct 12 - EX YPRES RIDE

After a very early start on Sat 13th October, Officers from Kent ACF embarked on Exercise Ypres Ride, a short battlefield tour of the Ypres Salient in Belgium, with a focus on locations signifcant to the 3rd Battle of Ypres and the cap badges worn by members of Kent ACF. Sites visited included Larchwood, Hill 60, Hooge, Tyne Cot and Essex Farm, before completing the day with a meal in Ypres and the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate. Lt Col John Pankhurst laid the wreath with Capt Keith Bloor on behalf of the County.

Special thanks go to the four OCs for leading their teams in the research and preparation of presentations on the ground, on topics of particular significance to their Coy cap badges.

The Salient lived up to its reputation from WW1, being wet, cold and muddy!

There are pictures of the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate from Saturday evening on the Last Post website. See the link below:

http://www.lastpost.be/en/x/60/photobook?album=314

Officers' Study Period

The Officers' Study Period is confirmed and will go ahead over the weekend of 13/14 October, with a visit to the battlefields of the Ypres Salient in Belgium.

The administrative instruction, MEL and pre-reading packs have been produced and distributed electronically to OCs. RV by 2000 on Friday 12th October at Dibgate, for an early sea crossing on Saturday 13th. The visit will conclude with a wreath laying at the Menin Gate in Ypres on the Saturday evening at 2000.

Have a look at the website below:

http://www.lastpost.be/

Autumn 2012

I am conscious that it has been a fair time since my last post, during which time we had the slightly odd experience of an August without an Annual Camp. Hopefully adults will have taken advantage of this opportunity to have a family holiday! The reality however is that we return to the normal cycle now, with planning already underway for Annual Camp 2013 to Okehampton in Devon.

My focus remains as before:

Firstly, the development of cadet opportunities, whether that be through BTEC, the D of E, shooting, first aid or the APC syllabus. I am particularly pleased with the developments and successes in shooting and would urge all those with ranges to make the fullest possible use of them. I am particularly grateful to Capt Roberts for his efforts in respect to shooting and raising the profile across the 4 sub units. There was also a successful D of E Gold expedition to the Peak District and a visit to Arnhem organised by the RE Sqn.

Secondly, the development of our CFAVs. We have extablished our Potential Officer Cadre, which now has 15 AUOs, the first of whom will attend Westbury at the end of October. Training in the Cadre will start in earnest on Sat 06 Oct at CHQ under the leadership of Maj Kevin Nisbet.

The Officers' Study period is still on track to take place over the weekend of 13/14 Oct with a visit to the Ypres area for a battlefield tour, which should be an enjoyable exercise and a potential starting point for cadet visits to the area.

Also in November we have the opportunity to recognise the contribution of three of our adults who will be presented with The Lord Lieutenant's Certificate of Meritorious Service. I am particularly pleased that at the same time the Lord Lieutenant will appoint two of our senior cadets (CSM Beckley and CSM Cobb) as Lord Lieutenant's Cadets (one for the East and one for the West of the County).

We will be dining out the Honorary Colonel, The Viscount De L'Isle at a special dinner at the beginning of November, details of which should have been passed down through the chain of command.

The Board for the next RSMI will take place shortly and it is encouraging that there have been a number of applications.

I will be attending the national sports officer conference at Frimley Park in January, after which time I will be looking out for an individual to take on the role of County Sports Officer - Watch Out - It could be YOU!

Finally, keep an eye out for the latest edition of "Footprint", which should be published over the next couple of weeks.

County Shooting Team

I am very pleased to be able to report that the Kent Army Cadet Force County Shooting team took part in the National Cadet Target Rifle Competition held at Bisley Ranges over the weekend of the

5th to 8th July 2012, competing against over 460 cadets from all over the UK,  and also against cadets from Australia and Canada.

The cadets shot the L81-A2 Cadet Target Rifle in different individual and team events at ranges at  300, 500 & 600m.

The team was made up of Cadet Sgt Major Blair, Cpl A Swallow, Bdr B Hutchins, L/Cpl Callaway and our Butt Marker Bdr M Roberts. The team and the team coaches  (SSI Blair and WSI Green) , worked tirelessly  to shoot well in wet and windy conditions.

The highlights to the weekend were Sgt/ Major Blair was placed 227th in the Cadet 100 Full bore out of 465 cadets, and 133rd in the Patriotic 600m Cup. L/ Cpl Callaway was placed 130th in the Patriotic 300m.

I was very pleased to be able to present our cadets with their Bisley 2012 Crossed Rifles Badges and look forward to following the fortunes of the team in the future. I extend my thanks to Capt Roberts for his work in supporting and developing cadet shooting in the County.