Tiverton Army Cadet works towards his DofE Gold

CADET Staff

Serjeant Richard Salter of Tiverton Army Cadet Force Detachment was one of 150

specially-selected teenage cadets from all over the UK to work towards his Gold

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Britannia Royal Naval College last week.

The cadets, who are

all working towards their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, stayed at Britannia

Royal Naval College Dartmouth for a week to complete the residential section of

the DofE.

This unique camp is part of Cadet150, a year-long celebration of the 150th

anniversary of the UK’s cadet movement.

The cadets spent the first two days on board Royal Fleet Auxiliary Argus, the

Royal Navy’s aviation training and casualty receiving ship, living alongside

her crew at Portsmouth.

The tri service

cadets spent the rest of the course at BRNC where the Royal Navy has been

training its officers since 1863, the same decade that saw the birth of the

cadet movement.

Once at BRNC the cadets undertook a series of challenges and tasks designed to

teach teamwork and group management.  Modules studied included trust and

confidence, leadership and military information.  They also had the

opportunity to go sailing and power boating on the River Dart, to try out

motorcycling and enjoy sports competitions.

As well as contributing towards their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the

cadets all gained accreditation for the Level 2 Award in Team Leading from the

Institute of Leadership and Management. Richard also received a Foundation

Certificate in DofE Leadership.

The residential

week concluded with a formal parade and prize giving in front of VIP guests,

followed by a ceilidh.

The camp involved 150 members of the Army Cadet Force, Sea Cadets Corps, Air

Training Corps and Combined Cadet Force, aged 16-18, each working towards their

Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

A spokesman for the

Cadet150 said: "The aim of this exciting venture was to provide a

challenging environment in which cadets can develop their leadership, teamwork,

self-reliance and inter-personal skills in situations outside their normal

experience.

“We are very grateful to the Royal Navy for providing the world-class

facilities both on board RFA Argus and also at BRNC Dartmouth to enable this

unique camp to take place”.

The Gold Award camp, which took place from 12 to 19 August, is one of over 150

events taking place at national and regional levels to mark the 150th

anniversary of the UK’s cadet movement - one of the oldest and most successful

voluntary youth organisations in the world.

The Army Cadet Forces South West Region’s D of E Officer, Major Steve Frost

said, “Richard is very good at assimilating information and he also has very

good communication skills. He fulfilled all the conditions of the Residential”.

Tiverton Army Cadet

Detachment meet at the Cadet Centre in King Street, at 7pm every Monday and

Wednesday night. The detachment recruits anyone aged 12 – 18. Anyone interested

in joining Devon Army Cadet Force, either as a cadet or Adult Instructor,

should call 01884 252342 or visit the website at www.acompanyacf.co.uk.