COMMANDANT’S FOREWORD
Welcome to the 2015 edition of Inspired, the annual
magazine of Northumbria Army Cadet Force (NACF).
The adult volunteers and cadets have been involved in so
many activities this year that it was difficult to decide what
highlights to include. I congratulate the editorial team of
Major Thompson, AUO Lomas and SSI Peters on capturing
Colonel David Middleton MBE TD
the broad themes and major events of the year. For NACF 2015
was characterised by success. Our cadets excelled in shooting competitions, on the sports
fields, in military skills competitions and in achieving their First Aid, Duke of Edinburgh
and BTEC awards. This was underpinned by the majority of cadets achieving progression to
the next “star” level in their Army Proficiency Certificate, or in music, sometimes both. Of
note we had ten individuals achieve the prestigious Master Cadet qualification. For the
second year running this was more than any other ACF unit in the Country!
Our offer to adult volunteers and cadets continues to include opportunities for overseas
travel. In 2015 this included shooting in Canada, a band tour of Italy, battlefield tours in
Belgium and France, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions in Bavaria, scuba diving in Malta and
skiing in the Alps. A similar package of activities plus an ACFA expedition to South Africa
are on offer in 2016.
Our profile across the Region has continued to grow, and in June 2015 Berwick Detachment
received The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for their work in the local community.
The QAVS is the organisational equivalent of the MBE and Berwick join Morpeth who
received the award in 2013.
I end by setting every adult volunteer and cadet a personal challenge. That challenge is to
recruit one adult or cadet into NACF. Use this magazine to show them what we get up to
and the benefits they can gain. To those who left NACF this year to move into higher
education or to start their working lives, I say well done and thank you for your
contribution. Please stay in touch and let us know how you get on. I hope that one day you
might return to one of the very best youth organisations in the world.
2016…make it yours!
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