350 Army Cadets from Cambridgeshire Army Cadet attended an 8-day residential trip to West Tofts Training Camp, near Thetford.
The cadets, aged 13-17 years came out in record numbers. The camp is the highlight of the cadet year with a challenging and interesting training package. The activities they tried included:
- Driving 125cc dirt bikes
- Climbing up the outdoor climbing wall
- 2 nights living in the field under “basha” (shelter) and cooking army 24hrs ration packs.
- Archery
- Canoeing
- Clay pigeon shooting
- Shooting a 5.56 rifle at targets 200m away
- Drill and marching
- Expeditions along the North Norfolk Coast
The cadets for most of the time lived at West Tofts Camp in barrack blocks with food provided by army contracted catering staff.
Richard Barnwell DL presented Sgt Keira-Narice Liddington, from Chatteris Detachment with a Letter of Commendation from the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire for her actions is assisting casualties at scene of a road traffic accident near March where both cars caught fire.
A welfare team under Senior Padre Ryk Parkinson (Priest in charge of Wisbech St Mary Parish) provided welfare support to the cadets. On a sad note this is Ryk’s last annual camp before retiring in early 2020 after 12 years service.
Col Mark Knight MBE DL, Commandant said: “ It was cracking 8 days for the cadets, they worked hard, played hard and I am sure enjoying a rest once back home. Being away from home without the access to playstations and phones and undertaking our training builds confidence and making new friends”
to find out more about Cambridgeshire Army Cadets visit their facebook page @cambsacf