Accolades for Army cadets
Paul John Coulter • Published 12 May 2012 13:00
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TEAM GAME: Rear, Shaunie Gordon, 12, from Dumfries, and Daniel Irvine, 14, from Greenock, front, Ellie Mitchell, 12, from Port Glasgow, and Andrew Booth, 15, from Dalbeattie.
STANDING TALL: Marc Irvine, 15, from Greenock, receives his certificate from the commandant colonel Kevin Connor;
Jacqueline Nordmann, 16, from Greenock, receives her certificate from Captain Billy McPike.
Adam Peden, 13, from Greenock, receives his certificate from Lieutenant Eddie Grady.
Caitlin McFettridge, 13, from Port Glasgow, completes her map test by drawing a map.
TOP young army cadets have mapped out their future career in the military after claiming an important accolade.
Youngsters from the local army cadets took part in recent map drawing exercises and also learned important aspects of military life.
It was part of an introduction course for new recruits run by the Army Cadet Force, encouraging boys and girls from the age of 12 to learn about the armed forces and sign up for the cadets.
One of the benefits of the five-day basic course is to get young people familiarised with being away from mum and dad for longer periods of time.
The course started with 59 cadets, ending with all of them taking part in a passing out parade - with local kids from Greenock and Port Glasgow all involved.
And it was the second year in a row without any of the budding cadets returning home due to homesickness.
All the young recruits were given an introduction to basic military training ranging from marksmanship to first aid and fieldcraft to the expected visits to the drill square.
The tasks help give the recruits a good grounding and progress them quickly through their basic training.
Captain Billy McPike, who ran the course, commended the young group from Inverclyde who excelled.
He said: "One Thursday evening there was a group of youngsters that knew little about the Army Cadet Force.
"They have had a long weekend of instruction, and now I see a group of confident young people that are keen to learn new skills.
"I must also congratulate the group of officers and adult instructors that have given up their time for the benefit of the youth of our communities."
The determined young bunch also learned key life skills including cleaning up, getting up early, ironing their own clothes and polishing their own boots.
A passing out parade was recently held at the training centre in Ayr, attended by more than 150 proud parents and relatives of the young cadets.
And the new members of the Army Cadet Force did themselves proud by putting on a professional parade after being presented with their certificates and their basic badge.
The Army Cadet Force is open to both boys and girls from 12 years upwards, and constantly seeking adults as potential officers and instructors.
Visit www.armycadets.com or call 01292 264612 for more information.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 12 May 12
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