Grantham Detachment QRL

Welcome back to the QRL page for the latest update on what’s been happening in the squadron’s best detachment.
Let’s just have a quick recap on what’s happened since the last jottings then.

Annual Inspection 2008 – 26th Feb

It seemed know time at all from last years inspection to me when the paperwork for this years came landing on my door step, 26th Feb, only 9 months since our last and I’ve only just got back in to the swing of things!!!! Welcome back Staff!!!!
So….how did the night go? Well this year we had the pleasure of being inspected by Major Smith, OC 3 Coy (at the time) who arrived early and straight away put me at my ease with the way that he wanted to carry out the inspection.
With all cadets on parade we got cracking with an inspection of turnout and our annual prize giving which saw the following winners:

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vvvvvBest Recruit vvvvvvvvvvvMost improved cadetvvvvvvvvBest Female CadetvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvBest Male Cadet

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vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv Detachment Commanders Cadet of the Year

Congratulations to all of you, and for those that would like to have there name up there next year put the work in now and it just might be.

Next came the Newtons Fraction half marathon…..no we didn’t run it…..well not all of us anyway!!! A big congratulations to LCpl Matt Muffett who did take on the challenge and competed in the race coming in as the first under 21, I wont mention that you were the only under 21 Matt…oh ooppss just did!!!
The rest of us however were involved in the event in other ways namely the marshalling! This is the first year we have been asked to do this and it was a great honour for us to do, I’m very keen for the detachment to be involved in community activities like this so stand by for some more in the future.
The day went well for us although not quite to plan! The sight of 400 bikers trundling past looking for Easter eggs whilst the competitors were also trying to cross the road was a very bizarre one but unfortunately unavoidable as an accident had seen the bikers planned route altered which then clashed with the race.

Next up was three lucky individuals going off to London for a visit to the regiment on public duties, this was a very rare treat for us and we made that very clear to those that went and I think they realised how true that was on the day! Well done to all of you who went for displaying the kind of personal pride and dedication on the day that saw you selected to go in the first place.

So after that came the squadron weekend….13 Cadets deployed from the detachment to Wretham in the middle of nowhereville for all the usual fun and frolic’s that a squadron weekend involves, our cadets we’re involved in pretty much all training levels except basic and from the initial feedback I got from speaking to you as I bumped into you all it seems that we managed to get a fair few star passes cracked.

Again well done to you who passed subjects this weekend and for those of you who didn’t, remember it isn’t a race if you ended up doing subjects you’ve done already, good, the more you practise a skill the better you become at it, passing the relevant test at that level doesn’t mean you can forget it all and never do it again, at three star level and above you will be expected to do the junior stuff without thinking about it and if you cant they wont have time to teach you it!!

So what’s happening next for us:

APRIL 19TH 1 AND 2 STAR TESTING DAY AT GRANTHAM!!!!
TESTING:

SAA
DRILL
SHOOTING
MILITARY KNOWLEDGE

REMEMBER ALL OF YOU GOING TO ANNUAL CAMP MUST HAVE PASSED 1 STAR SAA!! IF YOU HAVEN’T YOU NEED TO BE THERE!!!!!!!

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 Annual Camp 2007

Queen Elizabeth Barracks Strensall

Well just back from camp and after several days of recovery I’m finally able to put into words my thoughts on this year’s annual camp.

This year for me was one star junior’s, for those that haven’t had the experience, one star junior’s are probably the most challenging star level to take!!!! The cadets generally haven’t been in the ACF long, they generally have only just passed there basic but despite this they generally insist that they have finished there one star and have been put on the wrong cadre by mistake!!!

After sorting out those that have genuinely been put on the wrong cadre (normally 1 or 2) from those who think they have it time to get down to the tricky business of taking that raw model cadet and turn it into something that looks like a one star cadet, that acts like a one star cadet and well….is a one star cadet!!!

 The training week started for us with APC training taking the form of, Military Knowledge, Skill at arms, and Map and Compass. I had to raise a few eye brows in the military knowledge with some the group suggestions were for some of the key personalities within the county! Apologies to those county staff who found themselves demoted at the hands of cadre 2, rest assured they have all now been well educated in the who’s who of Lincs ACF and should be able to address you in the manner befitting your positions.

 Then came the ranges!!! This saw us having to break the cadre down into those who had passed the 1 star Skill at arms test, those that needed a little extra training on it and those who have a career ahead of them in the RAF!! Only kidding those who had taken a little longer to pick up the skills needed to be safe on the ranges or who’s behaviour put limitations on what we could allow them to do safely!! Some good shooting was done and even I had a go and I’m a self confessed  reluctant  shooter!!! Ranges aren’t my cup of tea!.

 Next came the commandant’s exercise! After a few words with the exercise director about what we wanted to achieve with this we set about a very good 24 hour exercise which started with the cadet’s map reading there way out to the harbour area. There was only one point really where the adult staff had to step in and guide in the right direction and even then the golf tee in the middle of the training area really had us confused as well!!!

The exercise went well with some really constructive work being put in by all and as always the stalk exercise seemed to be fun for all.

 After the exercise came the AT! First canoeing then climbing, two of my favourite things!!!

As the photos show!!!   I love messing about on the water and so did the cadets by all accounts but they seemed to gang up on me when the word came to drench folks!!!!

Kata Kanu’s- Never been on these before but well worth a go

Me (SSgt Deans) posing before going in

Sgt Carl Gelder from 13 Cadet Training Team ensuring none of us left the water dry.

Or Andy Gelder if your reading this, dad.

Fun and games on the water

 Next day came climbing with some sterling efforts put in by all.

A nice steady climb to start with

Happy face, but more than likely a bit of nerves!!

Staff Deans taking a moment to admire the view.

 Well the camp soon came to an end for us all and back on the coaches for home ready for some well earned rest!

 The new cadet year has started already and its back to the planning board to take the detachment forward even more.

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